I decided to create a second post (and may even lead to a third) instead of just one really, really, really long one. I have already told you about my last few days, but I did promise you more on Dr. Hermann's History of Christianity. Now the technical course is called Introduction to Historical Theology. However, our main theme is the History of Christianity, so I will probably use both titles interchangeably. Now as I said Dr. Hermann is a major history buff with a great, dry sense of humor. We started the class with what is history, why is it important to learn, and what is the difference between "church history" and "history of Christianity." There were two parts we specifically talked about that I want to share with you. The first is while we were talking about the History of Christianity, he made the very crucial point that most faiths are based on the revelations of the founder of the religion. However, there is normally little importance placed on the actual person who founded the religion. Our entire faith is based on the actual man who is responsible for our religion, that being Jesus Christ. If He had not become flesh, lived, died, and risen again, as Christians we would all be fools telling lies. Our entire faith is based around the actual Historical events of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. So when we started looking at that, Dr. Hermann made a point that I stopped to ponder on. In fact I think I missed the next five or ten minutes of the lecture because my mind got lost in meditation about this one point. Dr. Hermann raised the question (although I am pretty sure it was rhetorical). The question was, "What if God had chosen a different time in history for these events to unfold?" It was literally one of those thoughts, which I have many, that hit me like a brick wall. What if God had chose a different time in history? Which really leads to why did God chose that certain time period? And I believe that answer is not for us, but only for the Father to know. However, it does the mind some good to wrestle with the idea of what if Jesus had come at a different time. What if Jesus came a hundred years later, or the big one, what if Jesus had come during our life time for the first time? Course any time you start playing the what if game with history, you really always lose because if you change the fact that it happened the first time in history, you are really changing the entire rest of history which could change everything we know as truth. However, all that aside, stop and think about it? That is my challenge to you. Wrestle with your own ideas about why God chose the certain 33 years of history He did, and what if it had been a different 33 years.
The second place Dr. Hermann lost me because his profound wisdom caused me to distract myself, was a quote he used. By this time we were discussing the history of the church from the time of Acts, after Jesus ascended until now. We were talking about the question are the acts of the church God's work or human works. Some people say everything the church does is the works of Christ since He truly is still with us today. However, that leaves a lot of room for humans to justify their own works as the works of Christ. (For example the Crusades!) So while we were trying to decide the test or way to separate the works of us humans apart from the works of God through the church Dr. Hermann stated, "The finger of God can easily be found in history, we are just never quite sure which way it is pointing." I know you just paused there to reread that quote and I am glad you did. It is one of my new favorite quotes. We know He is there. We know He is guiding us, and protecting us, and will inevitably steer His church where He wants it to go. However, we can not use that as a way to explain our own works or efforts as God's. I just really fell in love with that quote and the idea behind it. For example, did God want David to sleep with Bathsheba, and have her husband killed to cover up the pregnancy? I highly doubt it! But does that mean God's hand wasn't involved in that point in history, did God just leave David and let him be destroyed as a kingdom. No, He stayed by David's side, forgave, redeemed, and sustained His child, just as He does with each of us every time we fall to sin. His finger is constantly there, but we don't know which way it is pointing. And quite frankly, we as stubborn sinners would probably not follow it even if we did know which way it was pointing. We just simply trust He is always with us, and rejoice in that trust.
A hymn verse I have memorized instead of the usual prayer:
It comes from the hymn In Christ Alone (Which is not in the Lutheran Hymnal)
No guilt in life, No fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, No scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns, or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
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