Book Comment: An Encyclopedia of African American Christian Heritage

Many people would rather stick a pencil into their eye than to read a book of history.  That really is a shame, because history helps us to understand where we have been and how that affects where and who we are now.  Christians, especially, are a historically based people.  To really understand Christianity, it is necessary to learn about the mindset and history of a world almost totally alien to our modern world but on which our modern world is based.

All Christians worldwide are part of the same family.  All those who belong to Jesus, have the Mind of Christ.  Yet, often, we misunderstand one another.  How much does a Christian in Norway know about Christians in China?  How much does a Christian in Belarus know about Christians in Greece?  Do you know about the military saints or the Fools for Christ?  How much do we know about Christians in other religious traditions existing side by side with us in our own home areas?

In the United States, how much do white Christians know about black Christians and vice versa?  We have lived together for four hundred years but many whites have never been into a black church and many blacks have never been into a white church.  Study of books such as An Encyclopedia of African American Christian Heritage (Judson Press, 2002) can help us understand one another.

The book by Marvin A. McMickle is divided into chapters of short essays on the following subjects: Denominational Founders and Leaders, Preachers, Teachers and Scholars, Politicians, Prophets, Nationalists, Cult Leaders, Singers and Songwriters, and Movements, Terms, and Events.  Good historical studies do not turn away from discussing the unpleasant along with the positive and this book exposes the warts along with the beauty.   I heartily recommend this interesting and useful book.

___________________________________________________________________

A general caution: books may give you wonderful new insights and explanations of subjects, but you should never base your Christian beliefs on any one book or the teachings of one person, no matter who they are. All teachings must be consistent with scripture. Read as the Bereans did, with discernment. “… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB

Any doctrines must be consistent with the historical full body of Christian thought. Doctrines or teachings inconsistent with scripture in any way must be rejected. You would not eat cheese which had a fuzzy fungus growing on it.

Film Comment: KJB: The Book That Changed the World

KJB: The Book That Changed the World (2010) is a sort of narrated documentary drama. Modern actor John Rhys-Davies walks among the actors portraying persons from the late Sixteenth and early Seventeenth centuries.  The film documents the events which led to the creation of the King James Version of the Bible, a masterpiece of scholarship, translation, and literary English.

The film concentrates on the childhood and education of James Stuart, who, as James VI,  became King of Scotland in 1567, when he was thirteen months old.  When James was named as her successor by the childless Queen Elizabeth, he became also James I, King of England.  James was superbly educated by his tutor, James Buchanan and became a writer, linguist, intellectual, and theologian.  KJV depicts his political maneuvering for power and respect.

 

The actual places are shown where the fifty scholars spent seven years producing the English translation of the Hebrew and Greek documents.  Checks and double-checks and strict rules of translation were practiced.

The KJV was not instantly accepted and James did not live to see its worldwide acceptance.  His historical reputatiop as a king has been highly controversial but respect for his rule has grown in recent years.

I very much enjoyed this film as history.  I would personally like to see the producers make a sequel which focused on the translators.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Some of those listed may surprise you.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Isidore of Seville: (b. ca 560, Spain – d. 636: aka: Saint Isidore of Seville, San Isidro de Sevilla, San Isidoro de Sevilla) Archbishop of Seville, historian, encyclopedist. Brother of Leander, Florentina, and Fulgentius. He has been called “the last scholar of the ancient world.” Roman Catholic.

Leander of Seville: (b. ca 534, Spain – d. 600/601; aka: Saint Leander of Seville, San Leandro de Sevilla) Bishop of Seville. Brother of Isidore, Florentina, and Fulgentius. Leander was instrumental in the the conversion of the Visigothic kings Hermengild and Recared.  Roman Catholic.

Florentina: (6^th century, Spain; aka: Saint Florentina) Abbess over 40 convents and over 1000 nuns. Sister of Leander, Isidore, and Fulgentius. Roman Catholic.

Fulgentius: (6^th century, Spain; aka: St. Fulgentius) Bishop of Ecija. Brother of Leander, Florentina, and Isidore. Roman Catholic.

Jesus: Child Genius

Child geniuses or prodigies are children who exhibit, often at extremely young ages, abilities equal to or surpassing those of adults.  Surprisingly, there are many thousands of these children.  Here are a few of them:

Jackie Evancho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKhmFSV-XB0 (child operatic singer)

Kaitlyn Maher (4 year old singer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwAbtizFCzo&feature=related

Dhannat Plewtianyingthawee (4 year old painter/violinist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bW9P5Z6sI&feature=related

Matthew Brown  (4 year old drummer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ZMDnuMeEI&feature=related

Brianna Kahane  (6 year old violinist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fXufBMkrEg&feature=related

Emily Bear (6 year old pianist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUx4t4W4eVY&feature=related

Marko Celasari (computer genius)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMHjf9Z7GKE

Adora Svitak (10 year old author)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lowYW2HlMZc&feature=related

Lady Xeona  (preschooler who can write in cursive)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQiA_aZkEg&feature=relmfu

Moshe Kai (admitted to college at the age of 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPXZgWlpfwE&feature=related

Lim Ding Wen (computer and iPhone programmer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8G4o_9Ojks&feature=related

Akiane Kramarik  (child painter, poet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzKz3RuZXU0&feature=related

Gregory Smith (nominated for a Nobel Peace prize)

http://www.hiphopmusic.com/best_of_youtube/2010/01/child_prodigy_gregory_smith_photo.html 

Willie Mosconi (professional pool player at age 6)

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=55267 

Wolfgang Mozart (concert pianist and symphonic composer at the age of 4)

http://www.8notes.com/biographies/mozart.asp

John Stuart Mill (read Greek and Latin before the age of 5)

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill/

Added to the list the next day, amazing!  A three year old Korean violinist playing Vivaldi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01QUSEONOg&feature=related 

And a warning:

William James Sidis (IQ estimated at 250-300)

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi969.htm

Jesus of Nazareth was such a child and his abilities were just as shocking as those of the children above.  As the son and apprentice of a carpenter in Nazareth he would have had little opportunity for advanced study of the scriptures, yet, at the age of twelve, he amazed the scholars in the Jerusalem synagogue.

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.   And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.   And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.   But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.   And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.   And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.   And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.   And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.   And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?   And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.   And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."  Luke 2:41-52