In the Middle East the Israelis have renamed the former site of Israel, Israel. This might sound obvious but it makes a relationship; the people (Israelites) tied to their land (Israel). Note: before 1948 it had not been called Israel for over a thousand years. However, today the Palestinians call the same chunk of land, Forty Eight. In this way, none of the Palestinians can ever forget the land was taken from their relatives. Palestinians are calling to mind the moment when the UN recognized Israel as a legitimate state and simultaneously usurped it from the farmers living there, simply by naming it.
History is important, and if you let others define it you can lose a lot. For example, there are two canon texts (it would be great if someone could remember the titles) detailing the history of Israel. If you want to know anything about that area and its people, you read these. Yet, Jesus gets a line or two in these thousands of pages of history, as if He didn't really have any impact on the fate or history of Israel. Yet the very years themselves, if we remember, are not Common Era (i.e. 2007 CE) but rather 2007 years from Christ's birth (AD). Subsequently, all time before that is referred to as BCE, formerly BC, meaning the whole history of the world was but prelude to Christ's birth. But whatever, not a big deal. Jesus didn't make a blip in the history books.
I'm also thinking along the lines of why didn't I hear about folks like Hudson Taylor, Brother Yun, Jackie Pullenger, John Lake, or the Reductions and the Jesuits, or how the Benedictans probably saved knowledge as we know it from dissolving during the dark ages. All these world-changing stories of missionaries with real sacrificial love are left out while the paternalistic ones and their failed attempts to indoctrinate the 'savages' get all the face time in my (insert grade level here) school history books. Thoughts anyone?
5 comments:
The histories of the Jews you reference are, I believe, by Tacitus and Josephus.
I agree with your point Rus. We'll definitely need good historians in our cities to remind us of how God has moved with power in the past, and that we can count on him to do the same now.
You enjoy your history classes while I will be busy in math class learning things that are really important (like matrices).
I agree: how we view history must be done cafeully. It cannot be isolated into mere events, but should be examined from both perspectives. I just read a great book (young adult literature) called "One More River" about a teenage girl living in the kibbutzim along the River Jordan. I recommend it for an easy read that makes you think!
Go to my blog for more thoughts. :)
Hey Rus,
I agree that many followers of Christ and Christ himself, who have done major things in history get a bad reputation or no reputation at all, yet I am not surprised. They were not of the world, but in it, and this prince of this world (Satan) will stop it at nothing do devalue their contributions to making this world better. I think what we can do is get the word out, and the People of Praise has started doing that. We have schools that teach history. we are starting to write our history ( talk to Amy Decelles dad). Also, people have begun writing books about these great people. They just don't make the best seller list, but there is word of mouth. Let's continue to tell their stories and ours to everyone we meet. After all you have heard about them now :)
When we have cities with news media, information will get out much faster and in a well balanced way. Until then we will have to work at a slower pace.
Peace be with you,
Gianna
"I'm also thinking along the lines of why didn't I hear about folks like Hudson Taylor, Brother Yun, Jackie Pullenger, John Lake, or the Reductions and the Jesuits, or how the Benedictans..."
Yea, neither did I. Some of it might be because we went to public school, heh. In truth, Jesus came so that the blind could see and the wise to be blind. Have we been good stewards by proclaiming the gospel, announcing these truths? And is it no wonder that Satan tried to blot out the name of Jesus in our textbooks? Some thoughts to chew on...
I'm diggin the Thought Book, keep it up.
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