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 Sadly, there are many believers today who are wholly ignorant of Church history. It is important for a Christian to study Church history as it not only enables us to understand the present, but also to understand how we should live today as well.

 

By studying Church history, Christians can cultivate wisdom by learning from the mistakes and good ideas of those who preceded them. As Man does not change over the centuries, neither do his ideas. Therefore, if a believer thinks he has a good idea to advance the kingdom of God, he should study Church history to see whether this has been done before and what its effects were, as well as the particular circumstances in which it was applied. There is nothing new under the sun (Eccles. 1:9); even the best ideas have often already been used in the past. There is usually no need to reinvent the wheel, studying the saints of old provides those who are preparing for the ministry with many guidelines for serving today.

 

Moreover, studying history is important as it helps to cultivate humility by showing believers that they must rely on the Lord in order to have an impact on the world and on individuals. Proverbs 21:31 states that “the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” Studying Church history shows how true this is. No matter how much a Christian has worked for the Lord or has planned to bring about a particular outcome, history shows that, ultimately, Man cannot is not the master of his destiny and he cannot go against God to shape his present or future. Studying about men like Martin Luther who was on his way to becoming a lawyer but became a clergyman by God’s intervention reminds those who are preparing for ministry that the burden of conviction does not rest on them, but on the Lord. Church history reminds believers of the importance of prayer and of relying on the Lord, not their own strength.

 

When looking at the Church, many believers might not understand why their church or the Church functions the way it does: why there are different factions and what separates some denominations. By studying Church history, believers can understand why divisions happened and whether or not the initial schism is still relevant today or should be applied with another emergent group. Like two clans may still be at war today over a rift that happened a long time ago but have since forgotten what the initial problem was and whether it has been resolved since then, believers should study Church history to know who their allies are in preaching the gospel. This can often be determined by studying the disciples a denomination has produced and whether they contributed to the fulfilling of the Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. This understanding is especially important to those preparing to enter in ministry as they must be able to discern who they can align with and against whom they should warn their disciples.

 

Finally, studying Church history is crucial as it is a call to action for believers and those preparing for the ministry. Christians today have no excuses to not take part in the Great Commission. A study of the “greatest Christians in history” shows that they used the same ‘tools’ which are available today: the Bible (Ps. 119:105), prayer (James 4:2), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). Then as now, individual believers, churches, and denominations encountered great obstacles when seeking to serve the Lord. Yet, history shows that God is faithful to those who follow Him no matter the cost. The study of Church history is an encouragement to all who face, or expect to face, great trials as they seek to obey the call God has put on their lives as they see how God has been active throughout the centuries.

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