Do I Need to Go to Seminary to Learn Church History?

For many years as an early believer, I thought John penned Revelation and then an abyss of time unfolded until DC Talk recorded Jesus Freak. If you know me, you have to appreciate the DC Talk mention here.

Sure, I had heard about the work of the church in the 60’s against the sexual revolution. I had heard about the Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention in the 70’s–80’s. Even I had heard about the Purpose Driven Life. But what about before that—when services were in Latin, or before that when John put down his pen and the church grew?

A Growing Passion

In the past 10 years my interest and pursuit of knowing church history—or better, knowing my history as connected to the church—has grown in passion and zeal.

Reading about Polycarp, an 86-year-old pastor that knew John and laid his life down for the sake of the gospel, fueled such passion. His final words, “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong,” captured my attention.

Soon I found myself poring over church history books and uncovering the development of theological precision. I saw the wrestles with the Trinity, baptism, transubstantiation (SAT word here), and so many other things. In history I find church members and leaders that don’t write like I do and found ways with words that my efficiency and simplicity seem to leave out.

The Beauty and the Brokenness

Church history is rich with thought and worship; it is also rich with death and suffering. One can see the death of Tyndal as he sought to translate the Bible into common English.

The noble pursuits are also met with colossal failure—such as when certain church members and pastors stood with Bible in hand to defend slavery, and when relics and indulgences littered the church for profit to build earthly kingdoms rather than the heavenly kingdom.

We come from a checkered past, but that is expected when you understand the depth of sin and the grace of Jesus Christ.

An Invitation

Maybe you have an interest in the church and its robust history. Hopefully something in this post or from the pulpit is stirring your heart to learn more about what happened after the close of the canon of Scripture.

How did early believers face disease, conflict, joy, prosperity, and think about Jesus and heaven often?

If you have those interests, plan to join me each Wednesday night in the chapel at 6:15 p.m. (beginning August 27) as we cover the church’s history. I promise you will not be bored by all that the Lord has done in and through His church.

-Pastor John Richardson