Priests of History: Stewarding the Past in an Ahistoric Age

by Sarah Irving-Stonebraker

How can Christians engage meaningfully with history?

In an age underpinned by the idea that life is about self-invention and fulfilment, contemporary Western culture holds that the past has nothing to teach us. We live in the "Ahistoric Age," in which we are profoundly disconnected from history.

In the attempt to appear relevant, the church often embraces this ahistoric worldview by jettisoning the historic ideas and practices of Christian formation. But this has unintended consequences, leaving Christians unmoored from history and losing the ability to grapple with its ethical complexities.

In Priests of History, Sarah Irving-Stonebraker as an academic historian, and her experience as an atheist who has become a Christian as an adult, to examine what history is and why it matters. If Christians can learn how to be "priests of history," tending and keeping our past, history can help us strengthen and revive our spiritual and intellectual formation and equip us to communicate the gospel in a confused and rootless world.

Genres: History, Christian, Theology, Church History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Clark Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irving-Stonebaker adds to that list of books that helps you understand the water that we are swimming in. Her book is very accessible in how she shows the ahistorical shift that our culture has taken and the ways we - as a society and as a church - have atrophied from that. Her emphasis on the Christian task of “tending and keeping” the past is something needed in conversations today. And the ending chapters on the application of these ideas are worth thinking through as individuals, families, and churches.

[Glen Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irving’s diagnosis is a fever called “Ahistoricism”… and the only prescription is more history. Much of the rootless grasping for novelty found in the evangelism church is surly a symptom of this problem. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially the last third where she demonstrates how the riches of history can shape our relation to time, sacredness, beauty as well as intellectual and spiritual formation. I was introduced to many figures from history did not know about or knew very little. One of those was George Herbert, the pastor poet. One line from him poem will stick with me:

Who says that fictions only and false hair
Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?
Is all good structure in a winding stair?
May no lines pass, except they do their duty
Not to a true, but painted chair?

Is it no verse, except enchanted groves
And sudden arbors shadow coarse-spun lines?
Must purling streams refresh a lover's loves?
Must all be veil'd, while he that reads, divines,
Catching the sense at two removes?

*Shepherds are honest people; let them sing:*
Riddle who list, for me, and pull for Prime:
I envy no man's nightingale or spring;
Nor let them punish me with loss of rhyme,
Who plainly say, My God, My King.

[Collin Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most today simply ignore history. Some twist history for partisan gains. Few sit underneath the wisdom of the past and learn to discern God's work in this fallen world still marked by his grace. Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is a reliable, inspiring guide for receiving that wisdom. The stories, examples, and arguments in this book will change you, whether you're already convinced of Christianity or still wrestling with its claims.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A really important and timely book. I agree wholeheartedly with the author that we live in an "ahistorical" age, and that this attitude has a firm grip on so many in the church. She argues well that a knowledge of the past, and an engagement especially with church history, holds wonderful promise for our Christian formation, while ignorance of church history impoverishes us as Christians. It helped to solidify my desire to teach my own kids about Christians from the past, and help place them in that bigger story. The book also gave some thought-provoking examples of different rhythms of life and practices of Christians from the past that I'd love to shape our own family life by.

My only qualm is the title of the book. I would love this to get a broad readership, but I can't imagine "Priests of history" standing out to most people as something they'd think important to read.

[Stephen Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really grateful that this book exists, and somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars is probably more accurate rating. I confess that I began the book on something of a false assumption (my own fault entirely), that it was primarily a foray into historiography instead of into the "uses of" and "need for" reclaiming Christian historical consciousness. There are elements of historiographical discussion scattered throughout the book (and I resonate quite deeply with most of Stonebraker's instincts), but these are primarily included as a part of her argument for putting historical studies back into the basic catechetical framework of the church -- an incredibly worthy goal, just not the one I expected.

That being said, one of the things that I most deeply enjoyed about this book was Stonebraker's unabashed loyalty to her own Anglican ecclesiological commitments, and it was manifestly evident that these commitments have significantly shaped her approach to her scholarly discipline. This was truly a breath of fresh air, and a main reason for my gratitude in being able to read her work.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading in every Christian school. In every Christian liberal arts college. And perhaps even evening church study groups.

With a name like Stonebraker, I should have never doubted the quality of this work. Stonebraker wrote it like a novelist--many compelling narratives were throughout.

It also engaged the craft and field professionally. I wasn't expecting references to Collingwood and the like in a Zondervan volume.

Sadly, I am reading this as someone who is already convinced of the thesis

Take up and read if you are willing to have your views of history challenged.

B. Grizenko

Ages 13+

Note: this would be an excellent gift for a high school graduate before college, giving them grounding in the past for the future.

[Michael Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know. It was good. I think I've just read too many books with essentially the same thesis: we live in a very strange time, and it's important to study the past to know how we got here. I totally agree, but I'm not sure this book added much to the conversation. I don't think it actually gave me a clear picture of what it looks like to be a "priest of history," but it's a fascinating concept.

Update: I finally canceled Audible

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irving-Stonebraker champions both tending to neglected stories from the past and keeping/retrieving the best of its thinking and traditions. She’s an apologist for history in an ahistoric age, and she’s equally an apologist for Anglican piety.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will convince you that history matters, especially if you’re a Christian. It will open your eyes to why our current culture devalues, disregards, and misinterprets history, and I think you’ll be exhorted how history should be incorporated in your intellectual and spiritual formation, as well as in the church. This time I read and marked up a physical copy of this book. Worth having on the shelf to revisit. There are several vignettes of historical figures, many with portraits. The author’s story of conversion from atheism is so encouraging!

Previous review: Audiobook. Good thoughts on our responsibility as Christians to steward history well. Probably a physical book would have been better, too much to absorb as an audiobook.

[Mark VanderWerf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the framing of “priests of history” and rooting the task of doing history within the cultural and priestly mandate of “tending and keeping” creation - including history. We “tend/cultivate” the past by unearthing overlooked stories and “brining injustices to light;” we “tend” the past by preserving and passing along the wisdom of the past. I like that imagery.

The book makes the case for the importance of the humanities and history in our education and formation. That’s good. It highlights ways in which our culture and churches have become ahistorical. But it also verges on becoming a bit of a jeremiad.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm still positive about this book, I'm left with some mixed feelings. A caveat is that I listened to the audiobook rather than reading a physical book, so I may have missed some detailed nuance or gotten an unbalanced impression that the author did not intend.

I heartily agree with the author that we live in an ahistoric age. We've largely forgotten the past, don't care about the past, don't know what to do with the past. As result, we don't know how to live well in the present or build for the future. I also loved great number of her suggestions about how to better appreciate the past and tradition so we may be better connected with the people of all ages and be equipped to live faithfully and effectively. In some areas, I felt rebuked, probably for good reasons.

I particularly appreciated her challenge (by example) in chapter 9, Stewarding Our Time. For some years I had sensed that one of the malaise of modern Christianity is the lack of its own discipline around time. We're dominated and disciplined by the atheistic secular schedule of time, from work hours to school terms to sports match fixtures. To counter this, I thought about adopting the traditional ecclesiastical calendar for our church, such as Advent, Lent, Ascension Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, Trinity Sunday, etc on top of Christmas and Easter. But I quickly realised that most Christians find the weekly rhythm of attending Sunday service difficult enough. Keeping the Sabbath (or the Lord's Day) has become a legalistic imposition to most Christians, rather than a joyful and meaningful way of spending our time, growing deeper in God's love for us and our love for the Lord and His people. We would do well to consider what Sarah Irving-Stonbraker suggests in chapter 9 and take a serious look at how we spend our days and weeks.

However, as a whole, I wasn't quite convinced how crucial history is for people's spiritual maturity. If all she is saying is that history is important and can be very helpful, then I can't agree more. I do think modern Christians (and non-Christians) need to get better aquainted with history. Being more aware of the Christianity's historical depth and practices of the past would help us be better equipped to live our present day to the glory of God. But how exactly is history connected with spiritual maturity, I'm not sure.

Sometimes, I felt as if the author was simply saying, "history really helped me become a Christian, and also grow as a Christian. So you should know history, too." That's okay, and I love hearing people about how they became or are growing as Christians. But I expected a bit more (or different?) from this book.

Also, there were a few moments in the book where it felt as if the kind of Christian life she was envisioning and encouraging felt a bit too "elite". One example is her encouragement to read old Christian books together as family at dinner time. I think it's a great idea, but realistically, how many families would be able to do that? I know she doesn't mean everyone could do this or that it has to be structured exactly as in the example she provided. But it does come across to me as an ideal too high for many average Christians whose literacy levels aren't as high, their meal times chaotic, their working hours shifting all the time. I hope such people aren't put off by the author's suggestions here, because I do think they are good ideas. Maybe a bit more explanation and encouragement as well as some other examples could have balanced it out.

Another example of feeling "elitism" for me was when the book discusses beautiful (or sacred) spaces. I love beautifully constructed (or renovated) church buildings. I do believe aesthetics and theology intersect. But when the Christianity and Christians are on the margin, or when people on the margins have become Christians and form a majority of a small church, I don't know how we can hope to channel such amount of resources to build an asthetically impressive buildings and worship places. Is it possible that her vision of historically informed Christianity is somewhat narrowly confined to the time and places where Christianity was the major force and norm in the culture? After all, early church Christians were meeting in all kinds of places (someone's home, public spaces, educational spaces, outdoor spaces, etc). I'm not against beautiful church buildings at all. If resources and wisdom permits, we might as well build beautiful AND practical buildings. But let us not be discouraged when we can't have such buildings, either. The New Testament insists that the Spirit of God dwells among His people, not in a building.

The book's still worth reading (or listening), especially if one hadn't thought about the importance or usefulness of history. That probably include many modern day Christians, so I do recommend this book.

[Colin Michaelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main thesis of this book is that we now live in an ahistorical age. We do not read or value history. We are content to tackle life and think through life's big questions on our own or with nothing more than the insights our culture throws at us. The individualism of western cultures, the impact of social media, our shortened attention spans, abysmal levels of reading and the arrogance of chronological snobbery have all contributed to raising our apathy to and ignorance of history.

The premise is easily compelling. Irving Stone-Braker goes on to show how this is not only tragic (or dangerous) in society at large, but especially so for Christians. Our faith, theology, creeds and the practical outworking of these are impoverished when we do so without realizing that we stand on the shoulders of Christians and other thinkers that have formed our orthodox beliefs.

I am convinced we need to read and study history, and the author makes this case well using the biographies and writings of many as if a little sampler for us. This book has convicted me to read and study more.

Perhaps this quote will give you a sense of the premise. You will need to read the book to see the clarity of thought with which Irving-Stonebraker writes, and just how compelling her argument is.

"Let us have the robust intellectual resources and the proper attitude of humility to read not only the great thinkers of our own traditions but also more broadly, including authors outside of our own tradition and outside of the traditional canon. We should read authors as diverse as Aristotle and Aquinas, Cicero and Hume, Luther and Calvin, Dante and Dostoevsky, Nietzsche and Mary Wollstonecraft, Virgil and Locke, Confucius and Siddhartha, Augustine and Chesterton, Flannery O’Connor and Marilynne Robinson, and Wendell Berry and John Finnis. Reading these works places us in a dialogue, enabling us to develop the doctrinal and intellectual rigour we need in order to resist the tides of culture that undermine the historic orthodox Christian tradition."

[John Koeshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide-ranging conversation around history and the Christian faith

Granted, history is a topic that touches on everything. This book reflects that. She starts with a very well summary and critique of the secular age, citing well-known thinkers such as Charles Taylor. Probably one of the better summaries out there.

She ties this into how it affects history, including the secular tendency to make identity politics and power dynamics. She instead writes an apology for the study of history, but in light of her title to see the historical pursuit as a particularly Christian responsibility, to tend and keep it.

Her book is full of examples where the secular historical pursuit (such that it is), is narrow and oversimplified, and how to properly read history to both keep it and critique it.

The book then turns towards how to live historically embedded as a Christian, where, rooted in her own conversion story which happened in a liturgical setting and her own subsequent life lived out in the Anglican church, her preference for that particular strand of Christianity comes to the fore. She is quick to say that the liturgical path isn’t the only way to live out a life that has deep roots in scripture reading, worship, church calendar, and the church fathers.

I am not Anglican, but I’ve been deeply influenced by that tradition, and practice the daily prayer. Her depiction of living life framed and rooted by practices that keep her (and her family) anchored in a life of scripture, prayer, worship, and Christian community, was both inspiring and encouraging. I was helped to see both where I have been sucked in by the ahistoricity of the secular age (e.g., individualistic tendencies of quiet time, consumer-oriented worship, a lack of seriousness when it comes to God’s presence), and encouraged me to make changes in my own life and practice.

Why 4 stars? It would’ve been great for some examples of living out a historically-rooted Christianity outside of the Anglican tradition.

[Chandler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This book asserts that contemporary Western culture has now entered an Ahistoric Age. At heart, we have lost the ability to engage meaningfully with the past.
I am particularly concerned that ahistoricism is seeping into many parts of the church, leaving Christians rootless, unmoored from their history, and largely unequipped to grapple with the ethical complexities of the past. We are thus rendered even more susceptible to the idols of non-Christian culture. The Ahistoric Age also has dire consequences for discipleship: Christians are increasingly living without an inherited identity that frames the practices of formation and discipleship.”

“When we focus our thoughts on edifying texts and great books, we participate in the Holy Spirit's transformation of our minds.”

“History and time [can] have purpose and meaning through the astounding biblical story of creation, sin, and redemption.”

A pretty good book on the importance of reading, studying, and preserving history for the sake of intellectual and spiritual formation. This is a book for lay audiences and academic audiences alike. Irving-Stonebraker highlights many historical figures who have been overlooked in popularly history to show us the nuances and complexities of the historical discipline. For the author, historical study forms us into critical and empathetic thinkers as we enter historical worlds and seek to understand things from the historical context and point of view. The most unique contribution of this book is that the author shows the value of history for discipleship, evangelism, and Christian cultural engagement. Though, when it comes to the discipleship aspect, I feel that the author can be a little rigid as she points to some obscure Anglican spiritual practice, explains how her own family follows that practice, and recommends that Christians do the same. Many of the practices she highlights deal with historic Anglican liturgy, so non-Anglicans will not see certain applications in many of her points. Still a great read, though!

[Guilherme Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely splendid reading.
Sarah diagnosed the problem some couldn't put into words in our Secular Age: our lostness, craziness & disenchantment stems from our disregard of history.
As Christians, we are called to be priests of history: tending & keeping the intellectual & spiritual traditions & stories that enriched our forefathers in their pilgrimage. Sarah talks about the forgotten stories of brave Christians who gave their time, talent & treasure during slavery, sex-trafficking & other injustices throughout history. Not only this but she mentions brothers such as George Herbert , J.S. Bach, & William Law & how sacredness & beauty through the arts are often overlooked in our discipleship, worship, & evangelism. Sarah goes on to show the importance of reading widely & deeply like John Calvin, John Milton & Isaac Watts did. They interacted with Cicero, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Thucydides, Aristotle, Aquinas, & the church fathers. And how that develops our intellectual formation as followers of Christ. How? by helping us glorify God with our minds by reasoning with difficult but necessary life topics. However, also by developing empathy in our day to day lives when we're interacting with people we disagree with. We're able to better understand their struggles without giving a fundamentalist knee-jerk reaction of shame to their anti-god ideology but gently, patiently yet courageously journeying it through with them for Christ's glory. Why? So they may join in the history of histories: God bringing a people to himself in history through Christ for all time.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel badly for reviewing this when I didn’t finish it, so I’m rounding up to a 4 because her thesis is spot on and so important. We are living in an ahistorical age both in the world and in then church, and the dire consequences are becoming evident.

My lack of engagement with her book might stem from the fact that I agree with her from the start and so after the first few chapters I felt like she was reiterating the same point. It also feels very much like reading an academic paper or text book and I was hoping for more historical and personal stories woven in as illustrations to her points. I listened to the audiobook and even the narrator was very dry - I actually thought it might be AI. I was hoping to hear her conversion story which after 2/3 of the book I never got to. I did fall asleep a few times listening so maybe I just missed it.

Still, her topic is incredibly important, well researched and biblically grounded. Ultimately, her style of writing was just not engaging for me. I found this book after hearing her interviewed on a podcast and so I would actually recommend looking up her personal interviews instead because I found her very engaging in person. I am grateful for Christians in academia who are not afraid to share their faith.

[Jesse Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year, I preached through Malachi verse-by-verse with a very patient congregation 😅. Of all the parts that stuck out to me, Malachi 2:7 continues to resonate. God says, “The lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge.” The call of ancient priests was to be guardians of truth—preservers of history.

You might then not be all that surprised, but when I heard there was a book called “Priests of History”, I was instantly hooked. In her work, Sarah Irving-Stonebreaker seeks to equip the church to be “priests of history” who ‘watch over and cultivate the past’ (p. xxvii).

From a youth ministry perspective, she helped me see that the neglect of history results in many issues, such as a ‘growing rootlessness’ among teens and their ‘uncritical embrace’ of secular practices (pp. xxiv-xxv).

This is a super helpful read, particularly for those working on the frontline of culture as ‘conduits of heritage that preserve the past’, chiefly the history of salvation in Jesus Christ (p. 19)

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I picked up the book I agreed with the author's thesis that we live in a time when people are very disconnected from their history and it means that we don't really understand ourselves and the world we live in. But Sarah also helps us to see how that is true in the church, and by encouraging us to be 'priests of history' who seek to tend and keep the past, she shows us how we can be enriched by the spiritual disciplines and thinking of those who came before us. This book is definitely a conversation starter because I have inherited an Anglicanism I don't really know anything about, and that is extremely cautious of ritual and aesthetics. What can and should we recover? Sarah's argument: a whole lot, but not without discernment, obviously. Would love to know what others take away from this, and am low key thinking I need to acquire a prayer book and invite friends to a late night prayer vigil but... baby steps.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots to like about this. And probably a good partner to Rosaria Butterfield's "The gospel comes with a house key," in terms of the practical outworkings of taking history seriously in our devotional life.

I must say, it was not at all what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be more stories about "priests of history" who have "steward[ed] the past"; instead it was more about how we need to be that. This meant there was a bit of "here's everything I see being wrong with the world and why ahistoricism is the problem." It doesn't mean those were wrong diagnoses, simply that that's how it read for me.

Despite not expecting it to be what it was, I am thankful for the challenges given and the examples drawn upon.

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book and very needed today. Sarah proposes that we live in an ahistorical age that not only neglects and ignores but despises the past. The result is a disconnected people who look for meaning but find none. She proposes us as ‘priests of history, tending and cultivating history which entails uncovering the past and then keeping, guarding, protecting and passing on past knowledge, practices, habits and traditions.”
She proposes this especially to protect Christians from inadvertently imbibing the ahistorism of our age.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book politely dismantles every problematic assumption underlying pop American and Western Christianity. Irving-Stonebraker invites us to shed our ahistoric bias and embrace the richness of our history, education, traditions, and liturgies of the church, with a particular emphasis on their transcendence. Her personal conversion story also quietly neutralizes any lurking arguments for the so-called "seeker-sensitive" church.

[Catherine Njeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be re-read

This is my first read of "Priests of History". I tried explaining it to a friend but struggled to find all the words that truly capture the divine purpose of this book. Perhaps even I only understood a bit of it. The idea that modern Christianity is Ahistoric and looking into the past reveals more about the awesome transcendence of God.
I will need to re-read this at least 2 more times if I am to simply explain it to someone else.

[Andrew Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5- Generally agree with the broad points here. Especially when it comes to using history as a tool for viewing the present in a proper context and accepting the wisdom that the past can offer. Don't think I agree with every way the author applies this advice to particular issues on which she deftly stops short of taking an actual stance.

[Leanne Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very definitely a Christian book and, for readers wanting to learn about how past generations of believers stewarded the stories of the past, it has lots of well-researched information. What I appreciated was the analysis of life in the ahistoric age. It inspired me to rethink how I treat the narratives which formed me and what they might yet offer future generations.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very well done. The author does a good job of covering a lot of different topics that naturally flow from the core idea she presents at the start (that we live in a time when people don't care about the past and Christians are charged with caring for and about history)

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb, even moving work.

[McKenah Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great examples of how we should tend the past, learn from history, and better emulate our church fathers.

[Zac Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stimulating, even if I disagreed with the conclusions. Raised important issues.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ TGC summer reading list.
Leaves me with lots to think about.