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.