Christian Worldview of History
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]
It 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.
[1]
Augustine, The City of God against the Pagans, ed. R.W. Dyson
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), 968.
Liberty
University
Presentation, 16:22,
https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_531145_1&content_id=_32834252_1.
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.
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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