While Teaching History
<Cambodia
Missions, May 15 – June 1, 2013>
Pastor Daniel Kim
For two weeks I taught “The Church in the
Middle Ages and the Reformation” at Westminster Theological College &
Seminary in Cambodia. While teaching church history, I have learned some important
lessons.
Surprised. When you look at medieval church history, you cannot
help being surprised at how terribly wrong the church was. She was filled with
wickedness, corruption, and sinful practices. Moral laxity of the clergy, a shameful
simony (selling and buying of ordained positions), power struggles with civil
governments, unbiblical monasticism, foolhardy attempts of the Crusades to fight
Muslims using swords and spears, and many other evil acts — all these showed us
the church’s dark side during the Middle Ages.
How was it that the church had fallen
so low? How could she become so ugly? More than once, there had been three
popes at the same time in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. What a shame! My
students and I have found that lay church members and the clergy in the Middle
Ages trusted in man-made rules, traditions, and human efforts rather than
trusting in Almighty God, Christ’s grace and His saving power.
While studying church history, the
students and I were repeatedly surprised to see all those ugly, incredible sins.
The spiritual decline of the church saddens true believers’ hearts.
The
Beauty of Grace. “…but where sin
increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20). Amidst such abysmal darkness of the Middle
Ages, we noticed in the course of history bright lights shining from a band of
people: those saddened true Christians who clamored for reform, especially of
the Roman papacy. They were those who truly loved the Word of God; they were
tired of corrupt church members biting and devouring one another, thirsting for
wealth and power, indulging in worldly pleasures, dishonoring God’s holy name.
At last the light began to shine
most brightly from the Reformation movements. The Reformation leaders were strong
believers in Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith alone, and God
Alone to whom all glory is to be rendered. Many of them were persecuted, tried,
and burned at the stake. Hundreds of thousands died martyrs’ deaths for the
sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.
My students and I were glad to
learn that the church in the dark the Middle Ages was eventually blessed to see
the light by God’s grace through faith in Christ, the centerpiece of Scripture.
The LORD says, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am
God, and there is no other” (Isai 45:22). Glory be to God!
We are convinced that no matter
how ugly we have been as sinners, at the end of history we will be the most
beautiful BRIDE by God’s grace!
Unto Death.
I exhorted the students, “You are the lights of the world. Aren’t you going
to let your lights shine in your neighborhood, your country, and all over this dark
world?” “While shining the light in your lives, are you willing to die for the
Lord?” Their answer was a resonant “Yes.” Hallelujah!
Our Lord said, “Do not fear what
you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be
faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10).
The Lord of History. From the beginning to end, our God runs the
world’s history. He has a perfect plan and purpose for all of history. He is
especially concerned with His church — how it is to start, endure difficulties
and trials, struggle, be sanctified, and eventually be glorified. Yes, His
church will ultimately be perfected and marvelously glorified! While teaching
church history, I was reassured along with my students that our God is the Lord
of history and especially of church history. He is absolutely in charge of
whatever happens inside and outside the church, whether it looks good or ill
now, so that the church, His BRIDE, will be perfected.
“Let us rejoice and exult and
give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has
made herself ready…” (Rev 19:7). Again all the glory to God!
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