©2008, Covenant Media Press, 444 pp. in hardback

For many people today, history earlier than one’s own life is irrelevant and thus not necessary for study. Such thinking is errant. Ben House repeatedly reminds the reader of this erroneous thinking in his wide-ranging, well-written book. His reminders are not in the format of brow-beating, instead he introduces the reader to a number of his favorite historians and takes readers on a brief tour of many historical events. He brings in numerous applications for our day in addition to pointing us to God, the author of history and the One Who gives purpose to every event. He writes with hope for the future because he sees history, properly understood, undergirding such a future.

The author correctly believes that one’s presuppositions will determine how history is taught and understood. If God is not involved, then history is man-centered and ultimately meaningless. The Christian approach is God-centered and very hopeful. Events are to be viewed in the framework of creation, fall, redemption, and judgment. Our world is fallen; however God has brought redemption through Christ. History manifests the working out of this redemption throughout the world as we move toward the culmination of history with Christ’s second coming.

The author not only has a passion for history, he has a passion for teaching history correctly and getting others to do likewise. Again he shows the reader how this is done, not by chapters on methodology but by chapter after chapter in which he integrates Christian thinking into historical events – many of which are little known today. He shows the importance of looking at original sources by including many excellent quotes describing bygone events and days.

In thirteen of the essays the well-read House ably takes the reader on an overview of history from Greek civilization to the twentieth century. Admittedly he only scratches the surface of historical events. His purpose is not to provide a text on western civilization. Instead, he wants to show the providential work of God in the maintaining and spread of Christianity and how a proper study of the past is urgently important for a wise preparation for the future.

The author takes the reader to monasteries and shows how some isolated Irish monks’ work was crucial for the spread of Christianity. We journey to a Mediterranean island and read about a dramatic and critical sixteenth century stance against Ottoman expansion. Chapters are devoted to the multi-faceted influence of the Protestant Reformation on colonial America. One chapter is devoted to the influence of Presbyterians in the American War for Independence. World War I is addressed through its effects on several well-known writers of the early to mid twentieth century – Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Lewis, and Tolkien.  A final essay is centered on the legacy of Francis Schaeffer and his impact on the thinking of many in the late twentieth century.

Earlier in the book House introduces readers to a number of authors who have approached history with an emphasis on God’s work therein. These authors include Augustine, Christopher Dawson, and R.J. Rushdoony.

Throughout this work, House refers readers to numerous books for further study. His annotated bibliography provides insights to many books readers can read and use as resources for further study.

This book should have broad readership. Those who love history and a study of it from a Christian perspective will find this volume a joy to read. Those who teach or desire to teach history will see how to integrate Christianity into this subject through Ben’s consistent implementation. Parents who want their children to see that history is more than dates and dead people will find much encouragement to make this study an interesting and essential resource.

Review ©2009 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia