Thursday, September 12, 2024

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

 

It is the 12th of September 2024. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis. 

Today is Thursday? Who knows- I’m still gone off to Germany and thus am making a bunch shows in a row, and you have all sent in so many questions- I can’t get to them all, but having all of these has made it easier for me to do a bunch in a row, AND it always helps ground me when I know the kinds of questions people are asking.

We have a collection of regulars who have made the mailbag a few times. Today, we head to a woman whose name I can’t say properly, so she once sent me a phonetic spelling but without an accent- so, Vianey- V-N-A, at one time (and possibly still) in Katy, Texas. I was just in Texas. A bad, terrible, no-good airline lied about a weather delay when a jet bridge wasn’t operating, and so I missed my flight- they did nothing, and I had to wait overnight. But I won't hold that against the good people of Katy, Texas- official motto: Small Town Charm with Big City Convenience and a whole bunch of humidity. I added the last part myself. It was once called “the City of Churches”- a veritable “burned over district.” Which leads us to the question:

“In the last three weeks, I've had a pair of LDS missionaries and a trio of JWs come to my door, and it got me wondering why it is that those religions arose around the same time in history. What was going on in Christian history and American history that made it possible for these (errant) offshoots of Christianity to emerge when they did?”

LDS, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Adventists, Utopian Communities- this is the legacy of the late 19th century and a place called by Charles Finney, the “Burned over District” because so many revivals had taken place there was no longer any “fuel” (read: unbelievers) for new fires.

It was a distinct time in American history and Protestant history- a “do-it-yourself” politic and an “interpret scripture for yourself” as a theology can lead to… innovation. While that might make a better washing machine, the American model of religion was a do-it-yourself variety as well. It’s not just those new religious movements that came out of this- but it was the context for these, as you call them, “errant” offshoots. Here’s my thought: innovation in the church with no reference to history can lead to heresy. And, I’ve said on this show before, there is one heresy that rules them all…. And you get there by answering Jesus' question, “Who do you say that I am?” incorrectly. To Judaism, he is a false messiah. To Islam, he is one of the prophets. For all of recorded Christian history, people have been tempted to make a Jesus who is a good teacher, a good man, etc., but not fully divine. And a Gospel of works. Even if they are great works and they make for the friendliest families, etc… I have a few “Bible questions” coming up soon from a few listeners, and we will be looking at the Jesus presented by the New Testament- the God Man whose death and resurrection sets the world right again. I’m reminded of the line from the hymn “At the Lambs High Feast We Sing”- “Christ the victim, Christ the Priest.”

There are new religious movements, cults, errant bodies etc… that can get all kinds of silly. Trust me, this is my job and what I see in church history is a lot of variety and a lot of silliness. But, my advice, don’t major in those minor things. “You don’t drink caffeine!” “You wear special underwear!” “You have to call God what?”

Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you answer this question with help from others? It’s been the issue since the beginning and both the 4th and 19th centuries see, in particular, movements that have innovated out of historic Christianity with their doctrine of Jesus.

Really fast: because it comes up whenever I mention the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Its roots are Charles Waze Russell and the name for God- Jehovah is what the “New World Translation” translates to the divine name- the Tetragrammaton- YHWH. “Jehovah” is only a few hundred years old- used by William Tyndale- it’s YHWH but with the vowels from the word “Adonai”- another word for Lord. It's a curiosity that a group has made a defining feature of their religion- let that slide, though, and get to the “who do you say that I am” part of Jesus and always start there.

 

The last word for today is from that hymn I referenced- At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing:

At the Lamb's high feast we sing

praise to our victorious King,

who hath washed us in the tide

flowing from His piercéd side;

praise we Him whose love divine

gives His sacred blood for wine,

gives His body for the feast,

Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.

 

Where the paschal blood is poured,

death's dark angel sheathes his sword;

Israel's hosts triumphant go

through the wave that drowns the foe.

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,

Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;

with sincerity and love

eat we manna from above.

 

Mighty Victim from the sky,

pow'rs of hell beneath Thee lie;

death is conquered in the fight,

Thou hast brought us life and light;

hymns of glory and of praise,

risen Lord, to Thee we raise;

Holy Father, praise to Thee,

with the Spirit, ever be.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 12th of September 2024, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose name without any vowels would be  Chrstphr Gllsp.

The show is written and read by a man who jut learned that there is a company called “Tyndale” that makes flame resistant clothing…. Oh the irony, I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.