I grew up in a self-described “independent, fundamental, bible-believing, Baptist church.” You’ll notice that I capitalized Baptist and not bible. Oddly enough, I typed it that way before I’d even realized. Perhaps my heritage is more ingrained in me than I care to admit. I greatly appreciate the emphasis my home church placed on doctrine, belief system, and especially memorization. The contents of the Old and New Testaments quickly became second nature to me and those early days of instruction are still paying off.
Yet sadly, the history lesson stopped at the book of Revelation. I remember nothing ever being said about the life of the church between the close of the New Testament and present day. That left nearly two millennia of church history completely ignored. I don’t believe that I ever considered the fact that two-thousand years worth of Christians roamed the earth between myself and the Apostle John. I suppose, looking back, that our ignorance was in part reactionary due to the tendency of the Catholic church to ignore the canon in favor of church tradition, not to mention the tendency of mainline Protestant denominations to rely too heavily on traditional liturgy resulting in disconnectedness with modern society. Yet, I fear, my church swung too far in the opposite direction and completely ignored the rich heritage of the church.
It wasn’t until my thirties (post-college and seminary, which is sad in itself) that I began to study and better appreciate the history of the church. I often see churches to their specific models as a New Testament church. I know their reason for doing so: needing to create a much needed connection with the church of Christ rather than unbiblical church tradition, but I worry that many in our churches don’t actually know what the New Testament church was like, and more important to this discussion, what the post- New Testament church was like. What were their struggles after the death of the Apostles? How did they understand the New Testament? What did they know that perhaps we have long forgotten? These questions should and do matter. The modern-day church is built on a two-thousand year foundation of rich history, and tradition should play some role in it. If for no other reason then to prevent us from repeating the mistakes of the past.
We know more about the America’s forefathers than we do the Church Fathers. The word ‘creed’ means nothing to us and most couldn’t result a single line from any historical church creed. To us, the word ‘reformed’ means Calvin and the doctrine of election.
That is why I am thankful for a day like All Saints Day and Reformation Day to help us get out of our historical short-sightedness. We should be spending time telling stories about the neglected heroes of our faith. Do your churches know how St. Athanasius defied the entire Roman Empire as he championed the Biblical doctrines about Christ’s divinity? Do they know the moving story of how St. Augustine wandered from the faith and eventually returned to Christ, aided by the constant prayers of Monica, his devout mother? Do your children know the stories about St. Bonaventure and how he challenged the barbaric Germanic tribes? Do your children know how he electrified the pagans with his courage and how he proved that their gods were no gods at all? Do they understand the phrase “Reformata et semper reformanda” and why it was so important then and now?
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son. Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.