[TruthTalk] The value of history

[Judy Taylor]

From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> John Smithson wrote: >> I am educated by the Word; >> I am entertained by history. Judy wrote: > Truly wisdom from above   Terry wrote: > What a great line!!!! Is that original?  Can I steal it?   Why is it that those who say such things always seem to be those who are least educated in history?    jt: How many 'great historians' has God chosen to use that you know of? [in scripture that is]   dm: I would take such comments more seriously if such statements came from historians.  I am not saying this as a jab, but to express my incredulity after reading these recent posts.   jt: So if Will Durant made these claims he would get your attention?   The truth is that history is a body of knowledge from which all of us interpret and understand truth, including truth found in the Bible. History is the record of the experience of others.  The Bible's foundation is history, so to say that history is for entertainment is to say that the Bible is for entertainment.    jt: The Bible is not history DavidM. It may contain history but it is primarily God [who is Spirit] revealing Himself to man.   If someone is going to start arguing that Jesus did not exist, that David did not exist, that Moses did not exist, that Abraham did not exist, that the genealogical records of the Bible are fictitious, that Jerusalem did not exist... come-on.   jt: And men have done all of the above - history and historians have not convinced them to change their opinion.  The Holy Spirit does not anoint history or men's opinions. Such reasoning is ludicrous and is going down the wrong path.  To argue that the acceptance of these historical facts is merely entertainment and not education is walking down the path that would consider anything material and experiential as having no basis in reality.   jt: The material and experiential is in the process of passing away while God's Truth is eternal. His Words are spirit and they are life.   Everybody reads the Bible and interprets words from their experience. If we read the word "prayer" in the Bible, we understand that from our own experience of prayer.  If we are educated in history, then we might have a more enhanced understanding of what prayer was actually like when it is mentioned in the Bible.   jt: Depends on whose history, the pagans on Mt. Carmel prayed.   Now I certainly will agree that historians slant their presentation of history, but that is not a reason to ignore history.  It is a reason to broaden our study of history to include other historians.  It is a reason to temper our historical knowledge with a trusted source of knowledge... the Bible.    jt: Noone is saying to ignore it, just keep it in perspective. I like history in it's proper place.   Knowledge is NOT the enemy of the Word of God.  Knowledge is a friend and companion of Truth.  Knowledge is not for entertainment.  Knowledge gives us understanding of our own personal history and gives us light.   jt: If the light within be darkness, how great is that darkness? To reject knowledge is to choose darkness.  To appreciate knowledge, especially historical knowledge, will lead us to wisdom and truth. Jesus and truth are inseparable in my mind, and this leads to an understanding that knowledge and Jesus is inseparable.    jt: Spiritual ignorance is a form of knowledge and without spiritual discernment darkness is called light. This is very evident on this list.   To posit that history is entertainment is to posit that knowledge is entertainment which equates with the idea that truth is entertainment and that Jesus is entertainment.    jt: Only if you are Mel Gibson. He combines the two. He did it with Braveheart and now he has done it with the crucifixion. Swallow it to your own peril.   Certainly Jesus and religion and history is entertainment for some people, but not for me.  More importantly, I do not think there is any Biblical justification for treating historical knowledge as entertainment. judyt   God allows the devil to raise up heretics to make his people study