78 legitimate concerns of Christian historians regarding the interpretive process. The providential historians represent well the concern that Christian historians be distinctive and follow the model provided in Scripture that suggests that God is at work in history. The technical historians represent well the concern that Christian historians not presume too much in their interpretation of the past and see God’s hand in every unexplained event. This latter group knows how challenging academia is, and they want to gain enough respectability within its ranks to gain a seat the table. Without it, they argue, there will be no Christian voice there at all. In Cedarville’s Department of History and Government, we believe in an inspired and inerrant Word of God. We unapologetically place revelation atop our epistemological hierarchy. When rational argumentation runs counter to clear teaching of Scripture, we will reject that which is gained empirically for that which is revealed by God. Our hermeneutic does lead us to a young earth Creationist position. As a result, these two distinctives set us apart from the vast majority of institutions within the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. As a result of these theological foundations, we tend to hold a distinctive position that recognizes the best elements of both of the integrative approaches discussed so far. We are very sympathetic to the providential approach that recognizes that God has a plan for us as Christians. It seems appropriate that God should have some purpose for America and it would be foolish to suggest that God has not blessed this country immensely. In studying the Puritans, for example, we recognize that they believed they were on a mission from God. In studying our nation’s founding fathers, we recognize that while they were not all Christians, they were generally committed to Christian principles that were either implicitly or explicitly implemented in the founding of the nation. This should not be a controversial statement given the influence of Judeo-Christian thought in all of Western civilization. So, for us today, we need to examine what all of this means. How did those Christian values impact the development of the nation? What has our nation done in this world that was in concert with God’s Word? Where are we failing in living by His principles today? It seems reasonable to believe that if the nation acts in a fashion that is glorifying to God and His principles, He might bless it. This is consistent with Old Testament principle. In addition, we should be willing to pursue judicial evaluation of the past based on scriptural principle without assuming God’s intentions behind the events that transpired.
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