Learn from recent leaders also
by Theron F. Schlabach, Goshen, Ind.
Thank you for Nancy Heisey’s article, “Why Church History Matters” (Dec. 4, 2007). Her points were keen and valuable, and I certainly bring no objections. Of course, she could not say everything. Almost all her illustrations came from history remote enough that few of us are wrestling with that history in an intensely personal way.
What I have seen in our church life, as I write history of Mennonites in America, is our great difficulty accepting our history of the last three or four generations. So often the tendencies are to say, “Those leaders claimed to keep the church pure and faithful—but in fact, they were ruthless with power.” Or, “Those folks were so limited—we have all these broad, urban and global experiences and training.” And, in sum, “We’re smart, progressive and enlightened—they were pious, all right, but naïve at best, benighted at worst.”
Our more immediate spiritual ancestors were indeed human, and not all were paragons of wisdom. Where they made choices that we believe betrayed the gospel, we don’t want to follow. But they also passed on a deep commitment to following Jesus. They nurtured our faith. They were fellow members of the church, across time as well as across geography and cultural divides. They were part of what we now celebrate as the church’s diversity. And Nancy Heisey’s central point applies to them as well as to more ancient examples: Many of the issues that earlier Christians faced resemble choices we wrestle with now.
Can we not learn also from our more immediate spiritual ancestors? Can we not learn also by studying them and their faith (or sometimes their unfaith), even if we tend to react against them? Can we learn, even if our doing so calls for a little more humility?
Associated Issue: Ready for retirement - Dec. 4, 2007
Associated Article: Why church history matters
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