Beliefs From Historical Christians That Can Inspire Us Today

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If you listen to our increasingly secular culture, you might think that Christianity is slowly fizzing out. They think that churches and prayer are a thing of the past. However, Christianity has completely defined the history of the Western world and continues to do so today. Christianity is thriving and it can be incorporated into the daily lives of those who live in the modern century.

One of the best ways we can spread Christianity and learn about the faith is by studying the history of it. Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus died. The faith quickly grew and became the religion of countries all around the world. Throughout time, there have been important Christians that have stood up and fought for the faith, spread God's Word when no one would listen, and changed the way we see Christianity today.

Who were some of these important and influential theologians in Christian history? How can we learn from them? These five Christians changed the world, and their beliefs can inspire us today.

C.S. Lewis

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Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. One of his most popular works is "Mere Christianity". However, C.S. Lewis wasn't always a Christian. He led a life of atheism for many years before finally admitting God existed. His beliefs about the faith grew and change as he grew older. While we grow up, our view of God may also change. This is a normal part of anyone’s faith journey, and something we can be comfortable talking about.

Martin Luther

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Martin Luther was a German monk who began the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, becoming one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of Christianity. Luther called into question some of the basic tenets of Roman Catholicism, and his followers soon split from the Roman Catholic Church to begin the Protestant tradition. His actions set in motion tremendous reform within the Church. A prominent theologian, Luther’s desire for people to feel closer to God led him to translate the Bible into the language of the people, radically changing the relationship between church leaders and their followers. Everything that Luther did completely changed how many of us learn about Christianity today. We can study him to understand how Christianity has transformed.

John Wesley

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The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley was born as the son of a Church of England clergyman. In 1738 he had an intense religious experience at a meeting on Aldersgate Street, London. Following this he began to preach throughout the country. He was a prolific preacher and writer, and his writings provided a core of standard doctrine and interpretation to guide the new Methodist movement. Wesley took his faith and transformed it to an entire denomination, inspiring the lives of millions. Through his religious experiences, he came to God in his own, fantastic way. If we choose to listen out for God, we too can have more intimate religious experiences with the Holy Spirit.

Augustine

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Augustine is almost universally loved by Christians. Augustine’s writings are best known for how they challenge weak theology. He pointed out the fatal flaws of Manichaeism, which was a popular syncretism in his day of Christian, pagan, and mystical insights. Having himself embraced these views as a young man, Augustine made sure to forever close the door to these teachings for his readers. Another major area of Augustine’s writings focused on the nature of grace, free will, and the gospel. He understood that humans had free will, and that doing good or bad in the world didn't matter. The only thing that did matter was that we repented for our sins and chose to accept the gift of salvation from the Lord. To the modern Christian, it might be surprising that in the olden days people thought they could get to heaven simply by doing great things.

John Calvin

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John Calvin was a French theologian, pastor and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of Christian theology that was later called Calvinism. Various Congregational, Reformed and Presbyterian churches, which look to Calvin as the chief originator of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world. Like Martin Luther, Calvin saw Christianity in a different way. Instead of following what society believe Christianity was, Calvin broke the mold and spoke up about what he believed in. He published many controversial documents about the faith, which let people question and evaluate how they read the Bible. We, too, should feel empowered to question our faith. Can you chat with your Christian friends or leaders about real Christian issues? The more you dig into the faith, the more you can understand it and get closer with God.