Why history? Why writing the
history of a Church? Of what value is history? In order to understand where we
are going, we need to understand where we came from. This is the value of
history in general. Knowing your trajectory allows you to understand yourself
better, to put your experience in the proper perspective. What then is the
value of the history of a Church?
Without the history of the
Church, Christian theology becomes theoretical rather than practical.
Christianity is first and foremost the acts of God in time - and ultimately in
Christ - more than its morality, doctrinal formulations, or a worldview.
Engaging history of a Church
provides perspective on the Church’s interaction with surrounding culture and
communities. Telling the story of a local Church - how it came to be and how it
has grown and changed over the years - is always a worth-while task. If no one
ever stops to remember ‘what happened’ way back, the congregation has lost a
valuable piece of its identity and how it has managed to circumvent the varied
complexities and challenges faced. Once the memory is gone, it is all but
impossible to recover. And certainly in many Churches, long memories can
sometimes block much- needed change.
Unfortunately, many modern people
often think of history as a luxury, or a hobby for certain people with extra
time on their hands, or an aptitude for remembering names and dates. But truly
knowing and understanding your story is never a luxury. It tells you not just
where you came from, but who you are and where you are headed. In fact, it is
helpful to think of the local Church historian’s task as a research into a
congregation’s DNA, and its particular personality. No doubt, the present-day
character of a local Church often has deep historical roots.
Some of the fundamental questions
that often arise when writing the history of a Church are: Was the Church
formed as a result of a missionary effort, perhaps beginning life as a
struggling act of faith? Or what is it a result of a protest or an opposition
to a particular set of theological ideas or a denominational action? As it is
true with people, early circumstances do not completely determine what a Church
will become, but they can certainly set the agenda for what follows, often in
subtle and surprising ways.
Fundamentally, I am advocating
for serious efforts in documenting the history of churches. This will go a long
way in the understanding of the past & present challenges, achievements,
moves of God, etc. Importantly, trained historians should be contacted in order
to have a thorough and professional work.
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