History

Christian History & Biography Celebrates 25 Years

The first issue of Christian History magazine, launched by Kenneth Curtis in 1982, was clear about its purpose: "An awareness of Christian history is one of the most neglected but necessary ingredients in the spiritual diet of Christians today. … We are too easily captive to the contemporary and become unthinking assenters to our culture's seduction by the now, the latest, the present moment. understanding of Christian history will help us in many ways. We will uncover precedents in the past of how God has worked. We will gain perspective that will help us see our current situation in a new light. We will develop a sense of continuity and see how the unfolding of God's purposes transcends any single generation, century, denomination, geography, or ideology."

Twenty-five years and 94 issues later, Christian History & Biography still strives (as our mission statement says) "to explore the Christian heritage in a nonsectarian and warm-hearted spirit." We firmly believe that we're not just providing intellectual food for history buffs; we're giving Christians theological tools and historical models for wisely thinking and acting in the present. In short, the church cannot move forward into the future without listening to those who came before us.

But the leap from "Hmm, that's interesting and helps me understand our heritage better" to "This will change the way I think, worship, and act today" is not an easy one for many people. How often, in contemporary moral debates, do Christians refer to the past 2000 years for help in facing the current situation?

For our 25th anniversary issue, we wanted to take a sample of modern problems and historical figures and show how this could happen. We e-mailed scholars and long-time friends of the magazine and asked them to nominate one or more people from church history from whom they believed we have the most to learn in order to face certain pressing challenges in the 21st century. The open-ended invitation sparked a fascinating online conversation as suggestions poured in—proving to us that this is indeed a vital question for Christians today. Will we settle for collective amnesia, or will we take seriously the fact that being part of the body of Christ means acknowledging the whole body of Christ—across cultures, across denominations, across centuries?

We are saving many of these wonderful suggestions for future issues. The current issue represents only a small selection—a sampler box of chocolates to tempt the palate—focusing primarily on our social responsibilities in a fallen world. There are many more Christians from history who give us principles or models that we can carry with us into the coming century, and that's why we exist as a magazine: to introduce you to these spiritual ancestors.

The articles that follow include a wide range of perspectives—both on the part of the authors and the people they are writing about. How can history inform our lives today? It's worth talking about for another 25 years, at least.

Next issue: Johann Sebastian Bach: Preaching Through Music

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History & Biography magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian History & Biography.

Our Latest

Taylor Swift Makes Showgirls of Us All

Something compels us to perform our relationship with the pop star’s music. Maybe that’s her secret to success.

Public Theology Project

The Loss of One Forgotten Virtue Could Destroy the Country

We’ve all become numb to this unserious, trivializing age.

News

Amid Floods and Heat Waves, Indian Church Fights Climate Change

Christ Church in Kerala tends to its garden while helping its parishioners and neighbors live sustainably.

A Civil War of Words

Evangelical factions can increasingly be identified by our speech. We agree on big issues yet insult and talk past each other.

The Manosphere Gets Discipline Right and Dependence Wrong

Young men are right to want agency, clarity, and strength. But grit alone cannot carry them.

The Russell Moore Show

Benjamin Watson and Russell Moore on The Just Life

Christian justice, gospel-centered living, and faithful action

Is a Ban on Conversion Therapy Constitutional?

In her Supreme Court challenge, evangelical therapist Kaley Chiles calls the Colorado law a violation of her free speech.

Wire Story

Tony Evans Will No Longer Pastor Dallas Megachurch After Restoration

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship announced that its pastor of 48 years won’t return to leadership. The church expects son Jonathan Evans to succeed him.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube