Evangelicals Examining Middle Ages

For many evangelicals, Christian history went on hiatus from the formation of the Nicene Creed early in the fourth century to the appearance of Martin Luther in the 16th century.

However, as both the theological and social walls between evangelicals and Catholics keep shrinking, there is a new openness among conservative Protestants to revisit a time when Christianity was deeply entrenched in public life, even if the Catholic Church was the dominant representative of Christendom.

One sign of the changing times: A recent issue of Christian History, an evangelical publication, is devoted to everyday faith in the Middle Ages.

Evangelicals are trying to have a broader perspective of what it means to be a Christian and, upon reflection, find it difficult to accept the idea that God would abandon the church for 1,000 years, said Mark Galli, editor of Christian History.

“It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Much of the research in Christian History is not shocking: There were both saints and sinners in the period from the end of the fifth century to the 15th century. For example, in an article on the Christian response to the devastating plague in the mid-14th century, Galli notes that many clergy were as frightened and self-serving as the general population, with some refusing to hear confessions or gouging people for their services.

However, there also were extraordinary acts of Christian charity, Galli said.

In France, the nuns at one city hospital showed no fear of death in treating the sick with sweetness and humility. Other nuns replaced those who had died, until most had died.

What may be more surprising to evangelicals is the extent of biblical knowledge in the Middle Ages.

The spiritual writings of Gregory the Great, Julian of Norwich and Bernard of Clairvaux were filled with biblical references, some with several in a single sentence.

Most Benedictine monks and nuns chanted all 150 Psalms once a week. The first thing required of new monks or nuns who did not know how to read was to learn. Then they were required to memorize the Psalms, according to Christian History.

Although literacy was not widespread, Bible manuscripts were available in Latin.

For the ordinary believer, the key events and teachings of the Bible were transmitted by visual means, in mosaics, paintings, book illuminations, dramas, stained glass and sculpture.