The modern education system endeav­ours to promote the philosophy that knowledge is the saviour of society. This is a bold claim. Many governments have justified their education budget with the philosophy that: ‘Without education, no nation can flourish and prosper.’ Others have argued that ‘It is a disinterest in education by some members of society, or the inadequacy of its implementation, that hinders nations from developing’. There is truth in both these statements and yet the conclusion drawn from them by our secular governments and edu­cation systems has almost always been wrong. The error lies primarily in a mis­understanding about what education is.

Let’s look more closely at how this secular principle is applied to the study of history (although the conclusion drawn does have a much broader application).

Why do we study History?

1. It’s good for you! Hardly a convinc­ing argument though, is it? Cod liver oil and kidneys are good for you (al­legedly) but that doesn’t mean we all enjoy them.
    
2. All the great leaders studied History! To be great you must study history! Two problems with this: not all of them did study it! AND, what do you mean by history? I could argue that most of the great leaders in history knew how to fight with a sword (Past knowledge). Does that mean our modern educa­tion system is failing our youth by not teaching swordplay?
    
3. Your dad was really good at it! He was good at back-flips on the trampoline but you don’t seem to be advocating that being a part of the curriculum.
    
4. Your parents tell you to. Okay, fair enough.
    
5. You can learn to write essays and argue your point effectively. Also true, but you can do this with lots of other subjects too.
    
6. You can learn from other people’s mis­takes. Now, this is the most common argument in favour of studying history, and it deserves some further thought:

Edmund Burke became famous for this quote: ‘Those who cannot remem­ber the past are condemned to repeat it.’ This is now an extremely common justification for studying the past. Yet is it actually convincing? Does knowledge of others’ past mistakes actually enable us to avoid repeating them? It bears men­tioning that this is not a new philoso­phy: Socrates, like Burke, also believed this was the case; that if people knew the truth then they were unable to act in falsehood.

There is a degree to which this is true – indeed, God constantly reminds the Israelites in the Old Testament about their history. “I...brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the house of slavery...” (Exodus 20:2) This was essen­tially a history lesson and God wanted His people to learn something. He told them about their forefathers so that they would not repeat the mistakes of the past. Yet, did those reminders actu­ally stop Israel from turning away from God again and again? What exactly is the lesson they were supposed to learn from their history? Are Burke and So­crates correct that knowledge redeems?

Unfortunately, their arguments indi­cate a lack of understanding about the human condition. The need for redemp­tion from sin is the actual primary issue here. We repeat our mistakes because we are sinful. Paul states that ‘I do what I do not want to do.’ Even when we know what is wrong we continue to do wrong. The human condition, as you see with the Israelites, is to continue turning away from God at every available opportuni­ty. God reminded them of their history, not to breed a dependency in their own strength, but to reveal to them the need to look outside of themselves for help.

Let’s face it: do we actually learn from the past? How much did the old super powers of America and Russia learn from Hiroshima and Nagasaki? There are still nuclear weapons all over the place! Didn’t Hitler learn from World War One that you shouldn’t take what isn’t yours? Nope, World War Two happened. What about the other nations? France tried to hold onto Vietnam immediately after World War Two even though they were still reeling from being invaded them­selves. The League of Nations publicized the sins of the Nazis because they were the common enemy, yet they covered up the atrocities of Russia because Britain and Russia were allies. Apparently, having knowledge of past mistakes doesn’t ac­tually enable humanity to avoid making future mistakes.

To be fair, there was a lot of learn­ing going on during this period of time. But, people sought to learn so that they could pursue their own sinful desires. Knowledge puffed up. As such, the focus of the learning (rather than the knowl­edge itself) is what is important. We can learn just as many bad lessons as good lessons from past mistakes because of our sinful nature.

This appears to be a bit defeatist then, doesn’t it: A history and classical studies teacher writing an article about why history shouldn’t be boring; and he is telling you that the most commonly-used argument for valuing history is actually flawed. Henry Ford said that ‘History is bunk’, arguing that it was a waste of time to study. Was he right then? Definitely not! History has massive value (that’s why God uses it!) – and the reasons why it’s precious are actually much more excit­ing than those listed above.

History is your Story⤒🔗

Have you ever considered that the study of church history is the study of your own family? When God adopted you as an heir to His kingdom you became spiritu­ally related to well over 2,000,000,000 people throughout time. Although this number is an estimate and difficult to truly pin down, the size of God’s family is certainly much larger than simply how many Christians there are in the world right now (or in the four walls of your own church building).

Furthermore, this is not an impersonal or meaningless link, either. Our relation­ship to one another spiritually is closer and worth more than our relationship with our blood family. If I may say so, your relationship to me is closer before God than your relationship to your non­ Christian friend with whom you have grown up and worked alongside for the past twenty to thirty years! And we probably don’t even know each other!

This is an amazing thing. Consider for a moment: When you go to heaven, you will meet up with billions of broth­ers and sisters you don’t even know, and yet your father in heaven has adopted each and every one of them. Aren’t you vaguely interested in what they are like?

But this raises another issue. We have a tendency to limit our own stories to our work and family life. When we meet new people, those tend to be the topics we raise. We may extend this to our opinions on politics or the economy but really, why is this worthwhile? Why would we show an interest in a numeri­cal catalogue of over two billion families and a list of each of their jobs simply because the Bible says we are related?!

The answer to this is tied up in why we are related in the first place.

History is His Story←⤒🔗

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) One of the aspects I find most engaging in the study of history is that I am trying to work out what God is doing in different events. This can be dangerous – the book of Job gives some warnings against interpreting providence incorrectly. Nev­ertheless, God is directing every man’s steps. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) All things! Every! Single! Thing! Is used by God! Consider that for a moment.

Consider again Exodus 20. The be­ginning of verse 2 (quoted earlier) states ‘I am the Lord your God, who...” God reminded the Israelites constantly of His goodness to them through concrete examples and events. Prior to the repeat of the commandments in Deuteronomy, Moses says to the people: “For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.” (Deut 4:32). These reminders were not simply an excuse to have something to talk about during the weekend barbeque; rather, they served as a valu­able reminder of the Lord’s care and compassion. Even in Christian education this emphasis is so often lacking. If you study any event which happened on this earth you are studying the character of God and the works of His hands. This is where the true wonder of academia lies for a Christian.

Every moment of your life God is directing you towards Him through a myriad of tiny but magnificent means. We as humans tend to be blind and deaf to anything which doesn’t have a 42’’ viewing capacity and a high-quality sub-woofer. Take a moment to consider: God has been present in every decision made by every human who has existed since the beginning of time. How does that make you view your own life and your own decisions? What has God been trying to teach you? What has He been training you for? How can you pursue Man’s Chief End better now than you did a year ago?

History is the Story of Redemption←⤒🔗

But that’s not all! Church history should also be exciting because it points us toward the need for a saviour and the fact that God has sent a redeemer. What was God teaching the world through the tower of Babel? What was God teach­ing the world with His destruction of the Philistines? What was God teaching the world during the Civil War of America? He was teaching us (among many other things) that history has a greater purpose than to not repeat mistakes or to win pub quizzes. I encourage you to read Psalm 73. Take a moment to think about David’s view of others. What does he actually learn from his meditations? What is he reminded of?

Moses continued his history lesson to the Israelites in Deuteronomy by giving the purpose of their reflection:

Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

We cannot avoid repeating our mis­takes unless God enables us to do so. History, therefore, becomes a constant reminder of our need for God. Even with the best of intentions and exceed­ing effort we fail to be truly wise. The number of wars fought in our world’s history with Christians on both sides is staggering. “He (God) takes away the un­derstanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.” (Job 12:24). Seems pretty dire huh!? But: The study of history is the study of ongoing redemptive work in the lives of God’s people. Just as the Bible points to Christ, the entirety of history also points to Christ. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is always at work. He didn’t start working at Genesis and began His Long Service Leave after finishing Revelation. He isn’t leaving us all to our own devices because He is bored of His creation. God works to purify you and train you in righteousness. How can we not respond to Him in thankfulness, praise and worship? Glorifying our Father in heaven for His protecting and guiding hand?

Between the time you woke up this morning to right now as you were reading this article, God has been active in your life. What has He been doing? How has He blessed you lately? What has He been teaching you? How has He reminded you of His goodness? Who are you that He is mindful of you?