Christian Worldview of History



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A historian with a Christian worldview analyses history to the best of their ability, working to the utmost to perform their tasks well. Ephesians 5:8 (New Living Translation) says, "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!" As Christians we need to make sure our actions at work reflect our Christian principles. We need to be as objective as possible, and always aware of our own biases. Humans cannot pretend to know with any certainty what God's plans entail. Augustine said that "the judgements of God are all the more inscrutable, and His ways past finding out."[1] Dr. Smith pointed out that while God is in control of human history, but we cannot see that control.[2]

Image result for image AugustineIt is important to me to be taken seriously in my work. If I were to cherry pick events from history to serve an agenda of my own, I would not expect my work to be respected. Dr. Samuel Smith said that being honest and ethical is part of being a Christian historian.[3] It is also important to me as a person to be seen as trustworthy and ethical, Matthew 5:14-15 (NLT) says, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” We need to show our light to share it.
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[1] Augustine, The City of God against the Pagans, ed. R.W. Dyson (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), 968.

[2] Dr. Samuel Smith, “Christian Worldview and History, 2014,
Liberty University Presentation, 16:22, https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_531145_1&content_id=_32834252_1.
 


[3] Dr. Samuel Smith, “Christian Worldview and History,” 2014.
 












Bibliography



Augustine. The City of God against the Pagans. Edited by R.W. Dyson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.



Smith, Samuel. “Christian Worldview and History.” 2014. Liberty University Presentation, 16:22. https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_531145_1&content_id=_32834252_1.








Comments

  1. Great looking blog and you made some great points. I agree with you that the perspective of a Christian worldview in history one must strive to do their best. Sometimes that may mean coming to conclusions that may go against the grain and even contrary to the results that one was hoping to attain. One must guard against agenda driven history, rather it be secular or Christian, and as a Christian we must strive to be honest in all that we do. Great job and God bless.

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