Christian heritage Part I

by Phil Bliss

A Heritage of Faith Human beings are unique creatures in that we live in the present, can vividly remember the past and so eagerly desire to know the future. But as the present becomes the past in quantities of days or minutes or even years and centuries, the present also gives way to the future at the same rate of change.

But nothing shapes us more than our past. If you had asked any American on September 10, 2001 what they felt the future of the United States was, not very many would have said War is in our future. Yet it has become a reality and with the events of September 11, 2001, we have learned from the past.

When I was a child, my world consisted only of a geographical section of North Eastern Ohio along Lake Erie. I knew there existed other states and memorized their names and their capitals while in school, but to me the world was Ashtabula, Ohio. In my world, I soon discovered that I was a child of a long family line of people that lived in this small world of Ashtabula. As I grew older, I asked my grandfather many questions about his childhood and his parents and even about my father as a child. I learned that my grandfather was an intelligent man and full of wisdom and incredible knowledge of geology. Though he never attended a single college class, I am certain he could have taught one with the skill of a seasoned professor.

Later in life, I learned of my grandfather’s faith as we had discussions about what it meant to be a Christian, but it was not until his passing that I discovered how deep his faith in God really was. I found his study Bible and when I opened it, I saw how God had transformed this naval World War II veteran and geology buff into a disciple of Jesus Christ. He had notes upon notes scattered throughout the Bible. I spent a couple hours just admiring the questions he posed and the answers he received from the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

It gave me a new appreciation for that small world I grew up in and the family that I was a part of. It also helped me realize that what I saw on a small scale reflected in my own life was also very apparent in a larger scale in the life of what we have come to know as “The Church”

What I learned about religion, I learned from my father and later in life from my grandfather and the discussions we had. But my foundation came from good ole Dad. I attended church probably five or six times before the age of 20. Perhaps a few more if you count the one summer I went to Bible School. However my father was very good at teaching me what I needed to know to make a commitment to Jesus Christ at the age of twelve years.

This commitment to the savior of the world was the beginning of a process that has brought me to where I am today and will continue to grow in me and transform me until the day my soul departs the body that God has given me. But the change and commitment was not strong in the beginning. It took many episodes in life to bring me to where I am today, a pastor in the United Methodist Church.

But the point of this article is not to tell you my life story. I am simply laying the foundation for what I wish to present to you: the need to understand and know our heritage as Christians. Why is it important to know our heritage? There are many reasons and someday, I may sit down and write a book on all the many reasons. But to make a long story short and able to be read by a busy generation, I will share a few highlights with you.

I do not recall who said it, but someone was once quoted as saying “Those who do not know the past, are doomed to repeat the mistakes of those who came before them.” Paul Himself exhorts us to learn from Israel’s mistakes. But rather I wish to exhort you to learn from Israel’s heritage.

Now when I refer to Israel, I am referring to the ancient Israel prior to the Assyrian Exile, the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the people of which later became known as The Jews, and the Jews and Gentiles of the early church.

In the 21st century, it seems that many church leaders and ministerial staff have forgotten the important aspects of our heritage and have little or no desire to return to that heritage to learn how we have come to where we are now. As I stated earlier, I received a greater appreciation for my grandfather after his death and seeing his Bible inspired me to learn more about certain passages, I had passed off as unnecessary or unexplainable. There is no such thing in the Holy Bible.

Reflections - One with the father and the son.

Reflection is a mirror of oneself. As Christians our reflection should be that of our Lord Jesus. The world around us looks at those who profess to be saved by grace and we are the mirror that they look into if our reflection is in a worldly attitude then that is the reflection the world sees.

John 18:20-21 I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. [21] My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one; Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

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