Medieval. Nowadays, this adjective is used to describe something antiquated, even cruel. In turn, many today see the Middle Ages as little more than a long period of decadence. This second volume of Christ and His Church Through the Ages shows us how history is more complicated than that.
It is true that the medieval age seems the most distressing age in the history of Christ’s church: the rise of the papacy, widespread false teachings and superstitions, the conquests of Islam, and countless battles and wars in the name of Christ. In this sense, these were the dark ages. But the medieval age is also the most fascinating age in the history of Christ’s church: the conversion of the barbarians, the Christianization of Europe, the blossoming of Christian education, the shining of many theological lights, and the labouring of pre-reformers such as John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. This was the age of faith.
Herman Hanko tells the story of how God, in His mysterious ways, made His church to be both a witness to the nations, and the cradle of civilization and culture. Despite much apparent evidence to the contrary, the Lord was preserving his church even in these strange and troubled times. Through it all, God was preparing the great Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century.
Through this and future volumes, students of church history and interested readers alike will surely grow in their love and appreciation for the saga of Christ’s church. They will find church history to be, as the author once affectionately described it, “the exciting adventure of the marvelous work of grace.”
Herman Hanko served as professor of church history at the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed Churches from 1965 until his retirement in 2001. He is the author of several books, including Portraits of Faithful Saints, Contending for the Faith and For Thy Truth’s Sake: A Doctrinal History of the Protestant Reformed Churches.
Dan Van Uffelen is a church history teacher at Covenant Christian High School in Walker, Michigan. He has taught church history for almost two decades.
