According to this article in World (subscription req.), the editor of the large Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, George Kurian, believes historical arguments from the Christian camp should accentuate the positive and overlook the negative. World reporter Mark Bergin asked, “Why not include such historical realities [as the follies of Christians or those who called themselves Christians] for the sake of truth?” Mr. Kurian replied, “It’s a question of motivation. This is a Christian encyclopedia. It has to be on the side of Christians, because that is the purpose of the encyclopedia.”
I can’t say I agree with Mr. Kurian. Christians are on God’s side, which is also the side of the truth. We side with the truth, regardless how good we look in its light. Even when Joshua prepared to conquer Jericho and met an angel of the Lord, he asked the angel (thinking he was a man) whose side he was on. “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come” (Joshua 5:14 NIV).
That’s where we are with any history; we are with the Lord, not the church or other Christians genuine or nominal. We are on the side of the truth, of what’s real, of the Lord of all creation.
Good point. Very good point. I feel this is a big key in understanding history. I dislike liberal revisionism as well as “Christian” revisionism. Some folks on the right, where I live, dissappoint me with describing early America as a New Israel. Also, having lived overseas for a significant part of my life, I love America. That said, I appreciate this quote:
“A nation is a society united by delusions about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbors.”
William Ralph Inge
Very good thoughts.
I’ve struggled my entire life whenever I’d heard a group I’m involved with say that “God is on our side”. Even as a child, that never “sat” right with me.