The Story of Christianity
Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation
Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day
By Justo L. Gonzalez
Christianity is not the invention of American fundamentalists from the 1920s. Christianity reaches back 2000 years and beyond. From the time of ancient Judaism, those who believed in the one true and living God have looked forward to a Messiah to pardon their guilt before a holy God. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father, as God the Son, to accomplish our salvation on the cross and stand as perfect surety for our salvation under the New Covenant of grace. In this New Covenant age, the calling of God unto salvation by the preaching of the gospel is broadened to include all gentile people. The book of Acts, in the Bible, records the transitional period from God’s people known as the Jews, to God’s people being known as all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. The gathering together of these believers is known as the church. The history of how followers of Jesus Christ began to gather into local organized churches is the beginning of church history.
This history includes the formation of the New Testament scriptures and the various church councils that debated major aspects of Christian doctrine early in church life. Church history includes the persecution and martyrdom of Christians, and the condemnation of heretics. As the years went on, government structures and traditions began to grow up around the Bible and church life. These structures and traditions began to rule over the authority of the Bible, until the Bible was nearly lost in the normal body life of the church. This was a low point of the church, filled with moral corruption, infighting, greed, and false teaching about the salvation of Jesus.
From this low point the Lord Jesus raised up courageous men across Europe to resurrect the authority of Scripture and directly challenge the authority of the Pope and councils. The period became known as the Reformation. The reformers did not seek a new form of Christianity, but to restore the faith to its original and pure founding. This required a painful stripping away of centuries of encrusted tradition that had become authoritative over the clear teaching of Scripture. It required people of great power to lose lucrative positions, and most did not go quietly. However, this time of great upheaval led to a period of intense devotion, and ultimately to the age of intentional foreign missions.
In the mid-eighteenth century the first English and American foreign missionary societies were formed. From these support societies, the first protestant and church supported foreign missionaries were sent to India and Myanmar. Along with these missionary societies the first American seminaries were formed to educate and train pastors in the new frontier new world. Through the faithful biblical preaching of George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards the Spirit of the Lord brought a ‘Great Awakening’ of true Christianity to early America. This set the tone for the founding of our country 250 years ago.
With the introduction of the Darwinian theory of evolution, as an origin story of the world apart from God, the Christian church was thrown into crisis at the turn of the 20th century. Again, the authority and necessity of the Bible was attacked and undermined. This time not from tradition but from science. With scientific theory given ultimate authority and humanity riding high on technological advancement, the 1920s were a time of utopian visions. However, the reality of corrupt human nature came crashing back in with back-to-back world wars mid-century. That brought us to the 1950s and the memory of many still with us in the church today.
There has perhaps been more change in the landscape of humanity in the last 75 years than in any other period of history, yet the Christian church remains! Church history continues. The local church is God’s plan for reaching the nations with the gospel, and for making disciples of Jesus Christ. The church continues to adapt to changing culture and also cling to authoritative Bible truth. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change, and human beings created in His image do not change. Gospel truths applicable 2,000 years ago are still equally applicable today. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31)!
Every Christian should learn Church History. I invite you to join a Church History class I will teach at the church this fall. The class will begin August 24 and go each Monday night from 6:30 to 8:00pm through mid-December. The class is open to all people. I am giving you future warning to urge those interested to start reading the books over the summer. It’s a lot to read, but the more you read personally the more you’ll learn! We will use the two-volume Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez listed above (available at Christianbook.com). If you are a homeschooling parent, consider using this class for homeschool credit and attend with your child. If we have homeschoolers that want to attend, let me know and I will also include writing assignments and graded tests.
In many ways, the story of western civilization is the story of church history, yet it has been stripped away by secular history teachers. Come join me this fall and learn your own history as a Christian.
There is one church, with Jesus as its head,
Pastor Vic