Faith Through Millennia
with quotes from K.Latourette, ed. by D.Gander
The importance of Easter is the significance of Jesus Christ in life. In personal life. In the life of our church community. In the life of man throughout history. And in the end of life as we know it, in the kingdom of God inaugurated in Christ and due in good time for the consummation of history on the final Easter morning, the resurrection of all mankind.
One of the finest summaries of the Christian experience has come from an historian, Kenneth Latourette, in his "History of Christianity". The real skill in the examination of the centuries and millennia of human existence lies not so much in the retelling of events as such. Latourette's exceptional contribution is his interpretation of events as they are inspired and shaped by human response to the gentle but persistent call of God in the midst of the struggle of life. He says,"It is incontestable that from Christ issues unmeasured and immeasurable power in the life of mankind. We know that because of Him across the centuries untold thousands of individuals have borne something of His likeness. Thousands have been so reared in the knowledge of Him that from childhood... they have followed Him and have increasingly showed the radiance of the faith, hope, and self-giving love which were in Him."
And is has been this radiance of life in Christ which has so greatly inspired outward expressions of charity and other good works which are almost unique in the missionary flavour of Christian people, through the ages. Latourette points out that love for God is "inseparably joined" with love for others.
"Across the centuries, Christianity has been the means of reducing more languages to writing than have all other factors combined. It has created more schools, more theories of education, and more systems than has any other force. More than any other power in history it has impelled men to fight suffering, whether that suffering has come from disease, war, or natural disasters. It has built thousands of hospitals, inspired the emergence of nursing and medical professions, and furthered movements for public health and the relief and prevention of famine."
Human frailties and foibles inevitably break through any expression of Divine life and love, freely given and freely received. Latourette points out that, unlike the wars and conquests of pagan conquerors, the western expansion that accompanied the growth of Christianity was often softened and regulated by Christian ideals. In the founding of the League of Nations, the Red Cross, the reform of prisons, the inspiration of great art, music, and architecture, Christian influence has contributed to the betterment of human life.
The greatest "perversion of man's free will" brought about the Crucifixion, he says, in that those in religious authority who persecuted the prophets now killed the Son of God Himself. However, "Christian faith goes on to declare that the Cross did not end all, that through God's power Christ rose, triumphant, and ever lives in what to men is the mystery of His unity with God the Father."
This triumphant life we receive in freedom. We are renewed by its freedom, by the bonds it loosens. Only in God can our heart, mind, soul and strength (our "will") become truly free. And we then freely share Him and His kingdom with others. This life in Jesus Christ is the key of Easter, and the doorway to eternity.
The importance of Easter is the significance of Jesus Christ in life. In personal life. In the life of our church community. In the life of man throughout history. And in the end of life as we know it, in the kingdom of God inaugurated in Christ and due in good time for the consummation of history on the final Easter morning, the resurrection of all mankind.
One of the finest summaries of the Christian experience has come from an historian, Kenneth Latourette, in his "History of Christianity". The real skill in the examination of the centuries and millennia of human existence lies not so much in the retelling of events as such. Latourette's exceptional contribution is his interpretation of events as they are inspired and shaped by human response to the gentle but persistent call of God in the midst of the struggle of life. He says,"It is incontestable that from Christ issues unmeasured and immeasurable power in the life of mankind. We know that because of Him across the centuries untold thousands of individuals have borne something of His likeness. Thousands have been so reared in the knowledge of Him that from childhood... they have followed Him and have increasingly showed the radiance of the faith, hope, and self-giving love which were in Him."
And is has been this radiance of life in Christ which has so greatly inspired outward expressions of charity and other good works which are almost unique in the missionary flavour of Christian people, through the ages. Latourette points out that love for God is "inseparably joined" with love for others.
"Across the centuries, Christianity has been the means of reducing more languages to writing than have all other factors combined. It has created more schools, more theories of education, and more systems than has any other force. More than any other power in history it has impelled men to fight suffering, whether that suffering has come from disease, war, or natural disasters. It has built thousands of hospitals, inspired the emergence of nursing and medical professions, and furthered movements for public health and the relief and prevention of famine."
Human frailties and foibles inevitably break through any expression of Divine life and love, freely given and freely received. Latourette points out that, unlike the wars and conquests of pagan conquerors, the western expansion that accompanied the growth of Christianity was often softened and regulated by Christian ideals. In the founding of the League of Nations, the Red Cross, the reform of prisons, the inspiration of great art, music, and architecture, Christian influence has contributed to the betterment of human life.
The greatest "perversion of man's free will" brought about the Crucifixion, he says, in that those in religious authority who persecuted the prophets now killed the Son of God Himself. However, "Christian faith goes on to declare that the Cross did not end all, that through God's power Christ rose, triumphant, and ever lives in what to men is the mystery of His unity with God the Father."
This triumphant life we receive in freedom. We are renewed by its freedom, by the bonds it loosens. Only in God can our heart, mind, soul and strength (our "will") become truly free. And we then freely share Him and His kingdom with others. This life in Jesus Christ is the key of Easter, and the doorway to eternity.