Church.History@WhyBother?

By Peter Elliott

“What’s the point of studying Church History?” “How can things that happened so long ago be relevant to life today?” The book you’re holding tackles these and other similar questions, demonstrating that the past perpetually informs the present. Written as an email dialogue between a Church History lecturer and

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morling Press
• Release date: Dec 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9780992275587

Peter Elliott

Peter Elliott was born into a family that had been involved in an offshoot of Mormonism for five generations. It was the study of history that led him out of this group in 1980. Peter's youth was spent traipsing around the world visiting about 40 countries; he became a Christian during a visit to Israel in 1981. Since then, he has occupied his time writing, fundraising and lecturing in Bible colleges and theological seminaries. Since 1975 he has had numerous articles, books and poems published. Peter holds degrees in English Literature and Theology, culminating with his doctoral thesis Edward Irving: Romantic theology in crisis (forthcoming from Paternoster). He is currently affiliated with Murdoch University, Vose Seminary and Harvest West Bible College. Based in Perth with his wife Deborah and sons Joel and Jason, Peter is passionate about black coffee, pungent cheese, anything with chilli, and Church History.

Book preview

Peter Elliott

Church.History

@WhyBother?

Morling Press

First Published 2012

120 Herring Rd Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

www.morlingcollege.com

© Morling Press 2012

The publication is copyright. Other than for the purposes of study and subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act, no part of it in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, micro-copying, photocopying or otherwise) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-9922755-8-7

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Foreword

As this book goes to press, I’ve been lecturing Church History for sixteen years. In every class I find a mixture of students who can’t see the point of studying the subject at all. Some can’t see the relevance of the past to the present; others have a deep-seated fear that they will have to remember hundreds of dates; some expect to be bored into a catatonic state. Along the way, most of them realise that history involves the tumultuous clash of people and ideas and, properly presented, can truly never be boring.

This book represents a factitious email correspondence drawn from many of the conversations I’ve had with students over the years — both inside and outside the lecture room. Like all authors, I have an agenda. I want to convince people that studying Church History is not only fascinating but essential if we want to understand what the church is today and what it can be. I believe that lack of knowledge of the church’s story contributes to many problems at all levels, from global issues to personal relationships. In other words, I believe Church History can be a profound pastoral care tool.

Perhaps most importantly, I believe lack of knowledge of the church’s past strips us of the ability to hope for the future. When we have some grasp of the great things God has achieved through this ongoing parade of sinful, rebellious humanity, we not only gain deeper insight into grace — we also have the audacity to expect its continuance and the willingness to participate in its unfolding.

Peter Elliott

June 2012

Why bother studying Church History?

To: Peter Elliott

From: Ryan

Date: 23 February

Dear Dr Elliott

I hope you won’t mind receiving this email, although if you do, there’s not much I can do about it! I found your email address in a journal article you’ve written. I know nothing about you except you’re obviously into Church History, and that’s what I need right now.

I’m 21 years old and I’ve just started a course of theological study. I think I’d eventually like to be a pastor, but I’m not completely sure. I’ve got at least three years of full-time study ahead of me, and it’s all a bit daunting. We’ve just done our first week of lectures, including Church History. Why on earth do I have to study that? I’m not going to be pastoring a church in Ancient Rome — how can things that happened centuries ago possibly be relevant to ministry today??

I know I’m treading on your toes, because this is your chosen field. I’m sure I’m being rude somehow. I don’t think I can ask my lecturer these questions for two reasons: firstly, he might get upset with me and mark my assignments harshly; secondly, he’s so ancient, I’m sure he’s actually lived through so much history he’ll take it personally.

I just think studying Church History will be a total waste of time.

Regards

Ryan

PS: I don’t really expect you to answer this.

Re: Why bother studying Church History?

To: Ryan

From: Peter Elliott

Date: 25 February

Hi Ryan

Thanks for your email. No, I’m not offended because students ask me this all the time. I think I have at least ten different ways of answering your question, but I’ll only give you one at the moment. Broadly, you’ve queried the relevance of the past to