Why Study Church History? part 6

The study of church history illuminates how the world came to be as it is today.

            In the summer of 2007 I spent two weeks touring Israel and the West Bank.  We spent three days in the city of Jerusalem and it was absolutely amazing.  Two things permeated that ancient city.  First, there were remnants of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam everywhere.  From the Temple Mount, to the Dome of the Rock, to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, constant reminders of past occupation and domination stand at every turn.  Second, there were just as many people from each of these faiths throughout the land.  How did Israel become place with such deep seeded animosity and hostility?  The answer, of course, lies in the study of church history.

            Touch your finger to nearly any place on a globe and the story of the influence of the church will explain the current culture.  Why are there so many abandoned cathedrals in England?  Why is there a church on every corner in much of the US?  What is the source of conflict between Northern Ireland and Ireland?  Knowing the history of the church is the key to understanding the world as it is today.