With another General Election upon us, the contesting parties and prospective MPs are rightly evaluated in terms of their track record. It is not only their promises that we consider, but their ability to deliver on those promises. For that, reputation is crucial.
The church is also tested for its track record. That is presumably why many areas of media will often emphasise moral failure and corruption. We do not have to look far in church history to multiply the examples of ungodly leadership and behaviour. Indeed, the Reformation itself, particularly at the time of Martin Luther, was a response to the depravity of the Roman Catholic Church exemplified in the wicked leadership of Pope Leo X and the money-grubbing ministry of Johann Tetzel.
Good track record
However, before we throw up our hands in despair at some of the things done in the name of Christ, it is crucial in apologetics to emphasise the good track record of God’s people down the centuries. If we would judge Christianity by its track record, then judge it by those who have faithfully sought to do the best – not by those who have distorted it for their own ends.
Care for the vulnerable
Opposition to the practice of infanticide in the classical world was a strong theme among the Church Fathers. To deliberately leave an unwanted baby out to die of exposure was a common practice in the Roman world. It was opposed by Clement of Alexandria (c.150–215AD) and Tertullian (c.160–240AD). The pressure built up on secular authorities so that the practice was banned under Emperor Valentinian in 374AD. In the meantime, Christians had developed orphanages and systems of adoption that would become a feature of Western civilization. In the 19th century it is estimated that Bristol-based evangelist George Mueller provided care for over 10,000 orphaned children.
The dignity of and provision for the poor is a feature of the New Testament (James 1:27) that continues in a history of Christian social reform. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea (c.330–379 AD), established hospitals for the poor and denounced the greed of the wealthy. As this message continued through church history it is not surprising to find Baptist minister Roger Williams (1603 –1683) working tirelessly for the rights and protection of the native American people. Or Christians like George Williams founding the YMCA in 1840 to help young men out of lives of crime. Lord Shaftesbury (1801–1885) introduced labour laws to protect children and the name of William Wilberforce (1759–1833) is indelibly remembered for his role in the abolition of the slave trade.
Wherever we look, we can find the influence of evangelical believers – in social reform, liberty of conscience, the rise of modern science, the arts and music. BBC broadcaster and historian Tom Holland recently published Dominion, in which he makes a persuasive case for the debt Western culture has to the Christian faith. Despite the failures, which he notes, we would have no modern liberal society without Christianity.
Christians make great claims for both the objective truth and practical value of their faith. The unbeliever has a right to expect to see evidence (John 17:23). History provides just such evidence. In the case of genuine believers who sought to follow the way of Jesus Christ, we can multiply the evidence for a transformed people who in turn transformed society.
