History is an amazing field to study because it not only teaches about our past, but it testifies of a living Heavenly Father, who gave His all, including His son, Jesus Christ, for us. I have often heard it defined as HIStory, because that is what it is; history is the story of what Heavenly Father has helped guide mortal men to do, to bring about His work and His glory.
Although history shows the evidence of a loving Heavenly Father, it is important to not view history in a biased way. Utilizing the Christian worldview to help view history is fine, it becomes problematic when the Christian worldview is used to interpret historical events; trying to judge what God had intended. History is not to be over spiritualized or used with a providentialist approach (Smith, 2014).
God is in charge, we are His creation and this is His world, but He has also given men free agency to choose as they will, that result is the history that we study. God does not come down and dictate to men how they should act and respond, but when they are in the right mind set they allow God to divinely inspire them. I love the image of George Washington in prayer at Valley Forge. The story of Valley Forge is a pivotal event in American history and it is humbling to hear the story of George Washington kneeling in prayer for guidance from Heavenly Father.
It is important to remember that God is in control (Smith, 2014). It may be hard to understand that while viewing historical events such as the Holocaust, The Crusades or any of the wars that ravaged the world. Having a Christian worldview should not handicap a historian, but should allow for an open and complete view of what the purpose of this life is, and who we are trying to live our life for.
Resources:
“Christus Statue.” Statue of Christ standing in front of a mural of the solar system, n.d. Salt Lake City Temple Square Visitor Center. Salt Lake City.
Frieberg, Arnold. “Prayer at Valley Forge.” George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow at Valley Forge, n.d.
Olsen, Greg. “O Jerusalem.” Christ sitting on a mountain overlooking the ancient city of Jerusalem, n.d.
Smith, Samuel. “Christian Worldview and History.” HIST491. Lecture presented at the Christian Worldview and History, 2014.
