The history department at our school encompasses studies in four main areas: history proper, geography, economics, and government. These four areas may be seen as the study of God’s working among men (as opposed to a study of the creation itself, such as in science or mathematics for example). Much of the following material is taken from Ruth C. Haycock’s Bible Truth for School Subjects: Volume I: Social Studies (Whittier, CA: ACSI, 1983).
Introduction
All areas of study in the history department, as with all other subjects, are governed by one’s world view. There is no neutrality in any area of study, as if one can think about the subject matter totally uninfluenced by one’s religious presuppositions. One’s ultimate assumptions about the nature of reality, the nature of truth, the nature of knowledge, and the nature of good and evil all influence the results of study. In the area of history, for example, one’s presuppositions will determine which historical events are selected as important for study, and which are ignored (since it is impossible to study every historical happening). When students learn history, they must know how to see chronological relationships and patterns, but what those relationships are will be determined by one’s underlying presuppositions about causality in history, which relate to the ultimate assumptions listed above.
Since our school is a Christian school, we teach all things based on the assumption of the truth of the Bible as the Word of God. This underlying assumption will influence and govern all of our studies in the department of history. For example, since the Word of God is seen as our authority, in our study of United States history we will avoid the extremes of both jingoism (America is and always has been right) and cynicism (America is and always has been evil). Rather, we will present a truly patriotic point of view: God has providentially placed us in the United States, and so we will honor and respect her, praising those things which are good (in accord with the Bible), and seeking to correct those things which are not good (contrary to the Bible). The Bible, as the Word of God, sits as the authority over every area of studies in the history department, and it is only in terms of the Bible that we can determine right and wrong.
History Proper
A Christian study of history proper will include three main points. First, we consider our attitude toward history. The study of history is important because we have examples in Scripture of God directing that written records be kept[1], and of His exhortations to know[2] and learn from history[3]. The Bible teaches that God has a plan which He is working out, and history is a record of the progress of that plan[4]. As we study history, we will learn more of God Himself, since history shows His handiwork[5], and we will learn how God holds men responsible for following His revealed will[6].
Second, we must see God’s relationship to the events of history. Because God is sovereign, no man or nation can overrule Him[7], and He is never taken by surprise – all that happens fits into His all-wise plan[8]. Scripture teaches that God plans the history of nations with a distinct purpose[9], including the rise and fall of rulers of those nations[10], and even the use of heathen nations to accomplish His purposes[11]. We learn that God will guide rulers when they look to Him[12], and that he deals with individuals as well as with nations[13]. God also brings judgment, in history, upon individuals and nations, although He may withhold judgment for the glory of His name[14], and He may spare individuals from judgment which comes upon their nations[15]. Because God is in control of history, and nothing happens outside of His will, He has, at times, revealed to His servants future events not known to others[16].
Third, our study involves nations and their relationship to God. Scripture teaches that God is interested in all nations[17], that they are responsible to Him[18], and that their history is dependent on their responses to God and to His people[19]. Thus, no nation is secure if it departs from God, or exalts itself above God[20]. To carry out His purposes, God may use one nation to judge another. However, this does not relieve the first nation from its own responsibility to God[21]. Although Satan’s opposition to God has affected the history of nations, and has led them to turn from God[22], Scripture teaches that one day all nations will ultimately worship God[23].
[1] Exo. 17:14; 34:27,28; Deut. 17:18-20; 31:19,21,22; Jer. 30:2; Dan. 12:4,8,9; Lk. 1:1-4; Rev. 1:11,19;2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14; 19:9; 21:5
[2] Deut. 1:1-4:2; Josh. 24:1-13; Ps. 78, 136
[3] Deut. 4:32-34; 7:17-19; 2 Chron. 20:6-13; Ezek. 5:13; Dan. 5:18-23; 9:2,3,11-14; 1 Cor. 10:11
[4] Gen. 1:26; 3:15; 12:2; Ps. 150:6; Isa. 45:18; Jer. 32:37-44; Matt. 5:17,18; Lk. 24:27; 1 Cor. 15:23-28; Eph. 1:10,12; 2:7; 3:10
[5] Gen. 6:8,13,14,21; 7:1; 8:1; Ps. 107, 136; Jer. 44:20-23; Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:13,14
[6] Rom. 6:13; 12:1,2; Eph. 2:10
[7] Judg. 7:1-8; Ezra 6:22; Job 12:23; Ps. 22:28; Prov. 21:1; Isa. 23:7,8; 40:13-17; Jer. 46:1-26; Ezek. 25:5; 29:3,9; 38; 39; Obad. 3,4,8; Mal. 1:4; Matt. 28:18; Acts 5:39
[8] Gen. 45:4-11; Ex. 3:19-21; 4:21-23
[9] Deut. 7:7,8; 8:3; Dan. 7; 9:22-27; Zeph. 3:8,14-20; 14
[10] Prov. 8:15,16; 20:29; Dan. 2:20,21,44,45; 4:17; Hos. 13:11; Rom. 13:1
[11] Judg. 2:14,15; 2 Kings 17:6-18; Ezra 5:3-17; 6:1-14,22; 7:6-26; Neh. 2:4-9; Isa. 44:28; 45:1-4; Jer. 5:15-17; 25:8-11; 36:1-3; 46:24-26
[12] 1 Sam. 23:2; 1 Kings 5:2-4; 12:22-24
[13] Jn. 1:12; 21:21-23; Eph. 1:4-6
[14] Ex. 32:9-14; Num. 14:11-21; Isa. 48:9; Ezek. 20:7-22
[15] Gen. 6:5-8; 8:1; 9:1; 19:17-24; Num. 14:23,24,35-38; Mal. 4:1-3; Heb. 11:31,36-40
[16] Gen. 18:17,18; 41:25,38,39; 1 Sam. 2:27-36; 3:11-14; Dan. 9:21-27; Amos 3:7; Matt. 24:15-26,29-51; Mk. 13:4-37; 1 Thess. 4:16,17
[17] Gen. 12:3; Ps. 96:1-10; Jonah 1:1,2; 3:1-10;4:11; Matt. 12:41,42; 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 2:10; Jn. 1:6,7; 3:16; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 16:26; 1 Tim. 2:1-6; 1 Jn. 2:2
[18] Isa. 13:19-22; 14:22-27; Ezek. 7:27; 14:12-20; Dan. 2:37-45; 4:34-37; 5:22-31; Amos 1,2; Obad. 15; Matt. 25:32
[19] Gen. 6:5-8,13; Deut. 23:3-8; 25:17-19; 27:14-26; 28; 1 Sam. 7:3; 1 Kings 9:4-9; 11:14,23,30-39; Prov. 14:34; Jer. 46-51; Ezek. 28:1,2,6,8; Joel 3:1-8,12,19; Jon. 3:5-10; Zech. 1:14,15; 2:8,9; Matt. 25:32-46
[20] Isa. 47; Jer. 48:7,29,30,42; 49:4-6,15,16; 50:35-40; 51:13,36,37; Ezek. 29:3,9; Hos. 8:14; 13:16; Obad. 3,4
[21] Isa. 10:12-15; 30:31; Jer. 25:11,12; Zech. 1:12-15
[22] Gen. 3:14-24; Job 1:7,12; Isa. 14:12-17; Jn. 8:44; Eph. 6:12
[23] Ps. 22:27,28; Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 15:4