When does church history begin? Is it with Luther or the apostles? Or last year? Do the things the church argued about 2,000 years ago still matter? And if all of this matters—the creeds and the controversies and the commitment of ordinary Christians—how do you learn about it?
My parents introduced me to church history. I remember spending my Sunday afternoons listening to my dad read aloud various biographies of church leaders. I remember the collection of historical fiction my mom supplied when I was a little older. At my grandparents’ house, I’d read for hours about Martin Luther, Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, and others. There was never a particular book or moment when I discovered church history—it was a part of our family culture just as much as practicing hospitality or attending worship services.
Importance of Church History
As I grew older, I began to understand church history not just as cool stories from the past but as a deeply important part of my heritage as a Christian. It’s everything that has ever happened to the people of God since the beginning of time—the story of God’s work in his world through his people. Through studying the history of the church, we can understand how our theology was shaped and connect with our siblings in the faith who came before us.
Recently, I’ve been blessed to participate in the podcast Kids Talk Church History, where my cohosts and I discuss people from church history, interviewing experts to get a deeper understanding of those people’s lives and the issues they faced.
Through studying the history of the church, we can understand how our theology was shaped and connect with our siblings in the faith who came before us.
For example, the Council of Nicaea has come up multiple times on the podcast. When Arius brought errant theology about the deity of Christ into the church (claiming “there was a time when he was not”; in other words, that Jesus was a created being), it sent shockwaves across the empire.
Pastors, theologians, and even songwriters joined together to oppose the heresy, fighting for the truth that Jesus is “begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” Bishops from around the world gathered in the Council of Nicaea, where they condemned Arius’s teaching and composed what’s now known as the Nicene Creed. That creed—a super-condensed systematic theology—is still commonly used in churches today.
This connection we have to all believers, both across the globe and through time, is one of the most exciting things about Christianity. It never fails to fill me with wonder and delight. All history—both “secular” and “religious”— is really all God’s story.
My study has deepened my understanding not only of history but also of theology and philosophy. Through the application of theology to church life, we understand the objective truth and why it matters, such as when the church faced false teachings, recognized errors, and fought for the truth in the Arian controversy. The history of the church is full of practical applications of what we believe—from loving our enemies to apostolic succession. Without studying history, the church is in danger of falling into errors it has already faced countless times.
Church history is the story of God’s work and God’s people. It teaches us about our family in the faith, what we believe, and the character of the One in whom we believe.
Learn Church History
But how do we actually learn history?
There are a million ways in which history (church and otherwise) naturally shows up in our lives. Creeds, catechisms, hymns, and other aspects of worship are perfect opportunities to learn. Simonetta Carr’s books about key figures in church history have accompanied me since I was young. My family loves the biographies by Janet and Geoff Benge about various missionaries. Some of my other favorite missionary biographies and memoirs include The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose, These Are My People by Mildred T. Howard, With Daring Faith by Rebecca Davis, and Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. (Oh, and I’ve heard that the podcast Kids Talk Church History is pretty interesting as well.)
All history—both ‘secular’ and ‘religious’— is really all God’s story.
The apostle Peter reminds us, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people” (1 Pet. 2:9–10). The church is a holy nation; a people set apart.
As we seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, it’s good to remember that our historical family in the faith forms a long line of royal priests. We’re bound to our fellow members of the kingdom by our chief cornerstone, Christ. Our study of church history should always lead us to worship the God who does mighty works for his people. What a glorious thing.
The Gospel Coalition