history

History on the Table

by Ben Zornes · Apr 12, 2023

From the opening salvo of Genesis’ creation account, to the adventurous romps of the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Kings; from the scrupulous chronologies to the precise measurements for the tabernacle & temple; from the glorious conquests to the disastrous exiles, the Scripture is clear. It isn’t just a collection of moralistic assertions. It isn’t a book of food for thought for philosophers or theologians.

It’s a history. It’s our history. It’s a book about the world we live in, how God made it, and more to the point, how He redeemed it. Of course, it’s not only a history. Nevertheless, too often Christians are lured into thinking that the Scriptures are written to bring us to some higher plane. However, the Resurrection brings home to us a vital truth. Christ’s Resurrection is not merely a wonderful idea to meditate upon, it is a historic fact which changed everything.

Christianity isn’t an attempt at escaping to a world of shapeless ideals. The Resurrection isn’t a fable about liberation from the prison of this material world. Rather, the Resurrection is the beginning of a total renovation of this world. The Old Management has been tossed out on his ear, and New Management is running this place: the Risen Christ.

And to make the point clear, King Jesus tasked us with placing a sign of running water upon all who are His, and then those who are His must also share a regular meal of bread and wine. In this respect, the old adage is true: the victors write the history. Since Christ arose, your destiny isn’t the corruption of the grave, but a new creation. Your body shall be made like His glorious body. Christ arose bodily in this world, and that means this is now His world & His story. And that means, for those who are His, He is also your glorious future.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

Book Review: “Revival & Revivalism” by Iain Murray

by Ben Zornes · Jun 15, 2018

Revival and Revivalism by Iain H. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Iain Murray’s book The Puritan HopeÂ was one of the most influential books I have ever read. It knocked over all sorts of theological dominoes, which set me on the current course of ministry I am on. This book, Revival and RevivalismÂ is a rich historical analysis of the Christian culture in early America. He quotes extensively from early American pastors and theologians during the time of the Second Great Awakening to reveal their view of revival.

He then shows how the emergence of “altar calls” and physical responses (i.e. standing, coming to the front, falling down, etc.), were at first a matter of concern, and then a matter of contention amongst ministers of the Gospel. One camp convinced that these means were vital to procure converts, the other camp wary that mere external signs of repentance did not mean true conversion. Murray points out that the older view of revival was that it was like the wind and the rain, you never know when God might pour it out, you need only be faithful to preach the Gospel and implore souls to repent and flee to Christ. The later view (popularized by Charles Finney) was that you couldÂ generate revivals, and have massive numbers of converts by following a certain formulaic approach (i.e. camp meetings, pressuring people to respond in some physical manner, etc.).

Murray is a really insightful historian, and this book was really a treat. It familiarized me with godly men I’d never heard of before, and helped me fit others I had heard of before into a more full-orbed historical context. In essence, the church should yearn and pray for revival, and be quite wary of revivalism. Otherwise, we will adopt unbiblical means of laboring for converts, instead of faithfully obeying how our Lord commanded us to rescue lost sheep.

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Book Review: “Worship” by Hughes Oliphant Old

by Ben Zornes · Oct 5, 2017

Worship: Reformed According to Scripture by Hughes Oliphant Old
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Old is very skilled at tracing the history of certain practices, doctrines, and traditions. Throughout this book, he devotes a chapter to various elements of Christian worship (preaching, sacraments, psalm & hymn singing, etc.) and demonstrates how they developed over time and how the Church in various ages understood and taught regarding those various practices. He doesn’t shy away from pointing out where there was error or misunderstanding. Old’s writing style is dense but not tedious, rich rather than technical. This was quite enjoyable, informative, and I’d highly commend it to those who enjoy history, and especially to those who are in Church leadership. Our calling is to worship God, so we ought to do so according to Scripture; Old does a marvelous job of demonstrating how Christian worship has comes down to us through history and where it is in alignment with Scripture, and where our worship may need some reformation.
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Book Review: “The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times” by Ralph Gower

by Ben Zornes · Jun 30, 2016

New Manners & Customs of Bible Times by Ralph Gower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gower’s “Manners & Customs of Bible Times” is the sort of reference book that should sit on a nearby shelf and be consulted often. Very helpful in getting the “dust” of ancient Israel into your eyes. ItÂ reads much like an illustrated encyclopedia of sorts, with short descriptions on a range of life and culture from the whole of Israel’s history.

Wonderfully illustrated with great picture, drawings, charts, etc. Will be the sort of thing I’ll go to for reference on a fairly regular basis.

Also, plenty of worthwhile lessons to be learned from more fully understanding what cultural forces were behind many of parts of the biblical text. Also, a very easy read, and highly recommended for Bible students of all stripes.

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Ain’t No Shortcut to Sanctification

by Ben Zornes · Jun 28, 2016

A History of Worshipping History

It is no secret that I have an affinity for history, so much so that I pursued a major in theÂ “less than lucrative” field of history! I believe this love for history has been largely fueled by the Christian biographies which my parents made me read as a youngster, and those old stories fascinated and inspired me to live a life worthy of a story.

Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a tendency amongst sincere Christians to veer from the plain path of truth by being allured to paths that look older and present themselves as shortcuts to sanctification. This is an unavoidable temptation for us as Christians, and though it takes many forms,Â all such paths are dangerous tangents, and not shortcuts.

The Christian faith, after all, has 2000 years of history & controversy and we are built uponÂ 4000 years of Jewish history; thus there will always be a desire to have the faith beÂ “like it once was”. But, as my Grandpa Christie would say, “The shortcut is the way you know.” Meaning, be wary of the temptation to take an untested path for the simple fact that it might prove shorter, easier, or more direct. The narrowÂ way is the harder way, but it is still theÂ right way.

Old Don’t Equal True

Common sense should make it clear that loving ancient things only for the sake of their sense of antiquity, rather than their veracity and truth is just plain foolish, silly, and is hoity-toity snobbery. We should take great care to study the history of Church and of Israel, we must remain faithful to orthodox teaching. However, it seems to me that manyÂ are making the case that you’re notÂ truly faithful unless you do and say “old” things.

I have many acquaintances who haveÂ been drawn into Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, or (on the other end of the spectrum but with the same issue at heart) Hebrew Roots. These folks want to return to something thatÂ seemsÂ andÂ soundsÂ ancient, and therefore offers a sense of spiritual maturity. But a sense of spiritual maturity andÂ actual spiritual maturity are two different things. Despite all my admiration for the Reformers and Puritans, I must take great care to follow their example and avoid their vices. This can only be done by the indwelling Spirit of the Living God, not through a form, creed, liturgy, or correctly pronouncingÂ Jesus name (which apparently isÂ Yahushua).

All these “paths” offer a semblance of holiness, but it is only through conformity to their rituals, rules, and self-righteous practices. Furthermoreâ€“and this could be developed more fully some other timeâ€“butÂ at the bottom of the desire to align oneself with “ancient things”, is a lust for secret/hidden knowledge. I believe it is a form of gnosticism, pulling many Christians to seek their sanctification in doing and saying old things.

The Ancient of Days

Protestant Christianity says something profoundly different: you are saved not by what you do, but by what Christ has done. Do we hold to creeds and confessions, and are we wise to do so? Yes and yes. We have 6000 years of tradition inÂ worshipping theÂ God of Heaven and Earth. We must not think that truth can evolve based on the era. But to forsake Christ and His Word in an effort to achieve the sanctification that only His Spirit can produce, is certainly either unbelief or outright rebellion. The Word of God hasÂ rebuked errors throughout history (first the Jews, then the Eastern Church, then Rome). We should takeÂ heedÂ that we don’t return to errors which our forefathers shed their blood toÂ correct.

We serve the Ancient of Days, and His eternality should indicate to us that time is subservient to His “timelessness”. Our faith looks back to and rests on His mighty works in ages past (i.e. creation, covenants, and most of all Christ’s life, death, and resurrection), it looks forward to the consummation of His redemptive purpose, and it does so in the “now“. You’re reading this on a screen, which is communicating with a piece of metal outside the world, which is fetching these words from a server somewhere, after I pressed “publish”. It is in this “now” in which God intends us to trust and obeyÂ Him, looking forward toÂ when faith becomes sight, prayer becomes praise.

More should be said about these, and Lord willing, I’ll get to it in due time.

Like what you just read (and how couldn’t you)? Please share it &Â comment your thoughts down below!

Also, you might also read:

Worshiping the Bridesmaid

Beware Erasmus

Book Review: The Reading & Preaching of the Scriptures by H.O. Old

by Ben Zornes · May 4, 2016

The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church, Volume 1: The Biblical Period by Hughes Oliphant Old
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

H.O. Old’s work is very good; you can see the weathered features of many painstaking, tedious, and diligent hours of study, thought, and prayer. This is no slip-shod work. Full of very rich and well documented historical insights, all presented in a manner that is very accessible to most readers.

The wisdom & insight here is very helpful. The main thrust is to show that preaching is worship, and has been a part of the worship of God’s people from the beginning. It is not isolated to the 1950s, but rather is a long-honored tradition, worthy of continuation until the end of time. And preaching has always been solidly founded upon God’sÂ Word.

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