Recent Thoughts on
The Spiritual Dimension of the Study of History
The Conclusion
The historical method contains three major steps. First, one gathers evidence based upon a
hypothesis about a certain historical phenomenon. Second, one evaluates the evidence to
determine its worth in substantiating the initial theory. Embedded within that analysis is an
assessment of the legitimacy of the evidence.
Is it fraudulent? Is it credible
given the historical context? Is the
writing genuine or is it the rhetoric of purposeful legend to cloud the bitter
truth? Third, one synthesizes the
evidence to find meaning for the persons of a former era and practical
application for those of us who live today.
This analytical, critical method formalizes the spiritual discipline of
self-evaluation. Often, when we find
ourselves emotionally disturbed by the actions of others and the circumstances
of life, an intensive analysis of our thoughts, feelings and responses will
greatly aid us in identifying the root of the problem. Usually, our familiar emotional friends
(anger, bitterness, resentment, and strife) drop by for a visit during such
trying times. Their cacophony drowns out
the comforting and sustaining voices of meditation and wisdom. Yet, were one to pull aside from the rapidly
spinning merry-go-round of life and be still, one would gain a divine
perspective on one’s problems. Following
the steps of the historical method is a most practical and beneficial way of
resolving life’s daily challenges.
Additionally, the study of history insists upon a four dimensional
analysis: (1) politics, (2) economics, (3) sociology and (4) theology. These four significant perspectives capture
humankind’s attempt to find meaning in life regardless of the historical era,
geographical location or racial and cultural nuances. Contemporarily, clarity about one’s ideology,
use of one’s financial resources, relationships with and obligations to people
and one relationship to Almighty God is equally important to the quest for
determining one’s purpose in life.
However, more than an academic exercise in the discipline of history,
defining these four critical components of one’s worldview is a spiritual
experience.
Compartmentalizing our faith from our politics is one of the current
fallacies in the Church today. Some
believers vote for candidates whose philosophies and actions are diametrically
opposite our biblical and theological beliefs.
Superfluously, we separate the worlds in which we live. We identify ourselves as a member of a
political party during election season.
While at Church, we strongly proclaim our beliefs in the Lordship of
Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of the Bible.
In exhorting us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first,
the Lord directs us to align our faith and worldview. Parenthetically, I hasten to add that
striving for intellectual coherence and practical consistency in this vein need
not necessitate moral absolutism.
Pragmatism can be principled in many instances. What is most crucial is spiritual progress
toward a way of life that honors the Lord and obeys His Word.
The Bible contains more 2650 verses relating to purpose and use of
money. We cannot serve God and
mammon. We will love one and hate the
other. The Lord knows the temptation
toward self-reliance and egotism that lots of money holds for the average
person. Accordingly, He urges us to
develop a concept of faithful stewardship in which we humbly acknowledge that
He owns everything and that we merely manage the resources with which He
blesses us. It stands to reason that we
use our resources to obey The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) and The
Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
The second half of The Great Commandment instructs us to love our
neighbors as ourselves. The burgeoning
global village makes neighbors of all people in the world. The Iraq conflict looms large in the mental
horizon of most U. S. citizens. Have we
taken the time to learn anything about the people with whom we are joined
militarily? How do we understand the
people of Iran and their provocative leader?
The horrible situation in Darfur captivates our hearts and demands our
finances and activism. The twelve million
Mexicans who cross the southern U. S. border in hopes of making a better life
for their families are our neighbors.
They are the people about whom the Lord speaks in the immortal parable
of The Good Samaritan. Will we risk,
finding the strength of our faith, and live on the right side of history in the
present by advocating reasonable immigration reform that esteems these people
as children of God?
Inevitably, our worldview, stewardship relating to money and treatment
of other people emerge from our understanding and relationship with Almighty
God. God must possess four non-negotiable
attributes in order to be the Sovereign Creator and Lord of the universe:
omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence and omnipresence. If God were limited in any way, He would not
be a divine being worthy of worship and unequivocal devotion. Nevertheless, the Bible substantiates those
characteristics of God and further reveals Him as the Father of all
people. In order to love Him with all of
our heart, mind, soul and strength, we must be willing to love others with the
same fervor with which we claim to love God.
“A tree is known by its fruit.”
Consequentially, love is as love does.
We demonstrate our love of God by meeting the practical needs of
others. This effort requires that we
parallel our spiritual rhetoric with daily reality in the distribution of our
resources, politics and relationship with others.
The study of history is most fascinating in and of itself. I derive the same pleasure from reading a
good history monograph that others have when reading good fictional literature.
However, I am most pleased to posit that
studying history possesses some inherent spiritual dimensions which empower us
to grow closer to our Lord.
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