One of the greatest revolutionary events that has been downplayed by society is how Jesus Christ affected our cultural gateways and every area of life. The impact of Jesus’s life—and death—has touched and continues to affect every person on earth.
Entire populations are changed when they realize the value of how God has regarded mankind because of His love for us. God provides a better quality of life with inspiration, security, awareness, and unmatched love—things that the world tries to manufacture but seldom fulfills. Just look around you.
Years ago, a book was published by Dr. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe called, “What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?” It gives great insight into how and why Christ impacted the world.
How has the most influential figure in history impacted our world—
and especially you?
Jesus Christ has Impacted Every Area of Life
Christianity brought value to human life and came to the defense of those who needed protection and a voice:
- Christianity has provided a sanctuary for children. Through the ages, children have been sacrificed (even up to this day by abortion). Children were once considered property, and infanticide was widespread. They were enslaved in various forms of child labor and had no legal rights. Jesus came to define and secure life. Christian principles have become some of the bedrock laws of our land.
- Women were considered property in many ancient cultures and they had no rights. Killing baby girls was common because they were not wanted. Christian missionaries, who traveled the world, changed these abuses on women in most cultures. Feminists claim that Christianity oppressed women, but it actually set them free.
- The elderly have also been maligned throughout history. Many cultures had them killed off because they were a burden to society. Jesus Christ put value on all life, and the elderly have more respect and are better cared for today.
- Slavery was commonplace throughout the world in ancient times and continues in some places today. The teachings of Christianity set people free because of men like William Wilberforce, who ended the slave trade in England. Have people abused the teachings of Jesus Christ? Most certainly. The fact is, however, that because of the efforts of Christians worldwide, slavery ended. The majority of the members of the Abolition Society and Underground Railroad, for example, were Christians.
- Many early emperors made killing a spectacle—a form of entertainment. The influence of Christianity, which accentuated the value of human life, ended gladiator contests in the Roman Colosseum and the persecution and killing of civilians. Christians were among the first to embrace “All Lives Matter,” an honorable anthem today.
- In many ancient and primitive societies, cannibalism was very common. Many cultures believed that eating the conquered would give them strength. The modern missions movement and preaching of the Gospel have ended this practice in the majority of the world.
- Human life can be devalued in many ways, suicide being one. People may commit suicide either to escape life’s problems or because they see it as some type of valiant way of leaving this world behind. Christianity respects life and provides a message of hope, as well as gives people a reason to live.
- The theory of evolution has attempted to upset God’s divine order of life. The Bible explains that human life is more valuable than animal life. Regardless, the Bible has always been a proponent of animal rights. There are many Bible verses about kindness toward animals. God’s Word says to treat animals kindly and take care of them (Proverbs 12:10).
- The sanctity of human life is God’s highest concern. Christianity has prevented euthanasia from becoming widespread in the world. In 1994, the Michigan Supreme Court made a significant contribution to the late-20th-century debate over the “right to die” and the right to physician assistance in exercising it. That year, the court upheld a Michigan statute that outlawed assisted suicide, denying that neither Michigan nor the United States could guarantee a right to end one’s life.
The primary leader of the physician-assisted suicide movement, Jack Kevorkian, was defeated in his effort to assert death as a constitutional right. He was ultimately convicted of murder and imprisoned.
- Human suffering, poverty, oppression, and physical affliction have always been part of life. The teachings of Jesus Christ centered on helping the poor, unwanted, lonely, and oppressed. There is no other religion or philosophy in the world that focuses on and proclaims a love for our fellow man. Christianity gives a message of hope, charity, and truth that sets people free.
- Christianity originated the first orphanages, hospitals, homeless shelters, places to feed the poor, and mission agencies to care for the physically and mentally afflicted. It is also the most giving institution on earth.
- Jesus Christ never supported ignorance. The Word of God says that people perish for lack of knowledge and encourages learning and growing in wisdom. The greatest universities in the world were begun by Christians, with their foundation being Jesus Christ. Even though some of them have become opponents of the Christian faith, there is no denying these university origins.
- Christian missionaries and organizations, such as the Wycliffe Bible translators, transcribe languages of many obscure cultures. It’s through these Bible translations that people around the world are learning to read and write and become educated.
- The Protestant Reformation birthed the idea of education for all. We have found that nations emphasizing the Word of God have a more educated population.
- The origin of education in America was due to one purpose: to know and understand the Bible. The first Congress of the United States passed the Northwest Ordinance in 1787: “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government… should forever be encouraged.”
- A study of American history shows that this nation was based on Christianity. America would not exist if Jesus Christ had never been born. The first settlers who came to America in Plymouth, Massachusetts, wrote America’s birth certificate, called the Mayflower Compact. The pilgrims who wrote it were part of a separatist movement seeking freedom of religion, so they fled England and other parts of Europe.
This document stated that they came to America for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. Some secular books have ridiculed the Pilgrims and Puritans. Instead, we need to be grateful for their discoveries and contributions.
- The Founding Fathers of this nation cited the Bible more than any other work in their speeches and writings. The vast majority of signers of our Declaration of Independence were Orthodox Evangelical Christians. Other legal scholars and political philosophers, such as Montesquieu, Blackstone, and Locke, quoted the Bible in their works. Our three branches of government are derived from the Old Testament (Isaiah 33:22) and many governing principles are modeled after the New Testament.
- The first act of the first Congress was to hire chaplains to say prayers before the sessions of the House and Senate. They called for national days of fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving. In 1890, the U.S. Supreme Court examined thousands of documentsand declared America to be truly a Christian nation.
- The concept of the word freedom has come from the writings of the Bible. Jesus Christ is the greatest emancipator and declarer of freedom in the world. He set people free from sin, resulting in positive benefits for society.
- The origin of science came about because of the influence of Christianity. Christianity is the mother of science. Although the Greeks came up with many interesting facts, they never developed anything like the modern science we have today. Christianity shows that God created the world, that He is rational and logical, and that physical, moral, and spiritual laws exist. The greatest pioneers of science in any field were committed Christians and creationists.
- The Bible contains many scientific facts within it. These facts were in the Bible before people had even discovered them. One example is that the Bible called the world a sphere or a circle while many said the earth was flat.
- Christianity has impacted the economic structures of the world. It speaks of having a sound work ethic, being a good servant, and conducting business fairly and honestly.
- The free enterprise system was birthed by Christianity. John Calvin has been credited as being the founder of capitalism. He said the attainment of wealth should be the resultant fruit of our labors and would be a sign of God’s blessing.
- Family structures and sexual mores and attitudes have been affected by the influence of Christianity. The traditional family unit and its importance to society have been preserved because of Christianity. Sexual standards have been set to protect mankind from disease, stop perversions, and keep marriages intact. Historically, societies that have veered away from traditional family structures and the sexual standards that God has ordained in His Word have fallen.
- Christ the Healer has impacted the field of medicine and our health. Men and women of the Christian faith have stepped forward and made many discoveries in medicine. Along with the attributes of the compassion and mercy of Jesus Christ, great benefits have come to mankind. Hospitals, the Red Cross, preventive medicine, and nursing societies originated because of the influence of Christianity.
- The Ten Commandments, or the moral code, have set a standard throughout the world that people can live by. This standard protects the weak and the innocent and brings consequences for wrongful actions. Itsets up a deterrent for our sinful nature and character. The idea of selfishness is replaced with the idea of putting the interests of others ahead of our own.
- Art, music, and literature have also been greatly impacted by the influences of Christianity. Many great works of art, the building of cathedrals, musical compositions, and writings have been created by inspired people who sought God first.
- The greatest impact of all is where Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again to take away the sins of the world. Countless souls have been saved and gone on to eternity, and now share heaven with God. The Gospel’s message of hope has been given to the lost and downtrodden of the world. God is love and He wants to save all people.
Above all the forces and movements throughout history, Christianity—with Jesus at its core—has been the dominant influencer for the good of all mankind. Although people do fail and have misrepresented Christianity throughout the ages, God has not failed any of us.
Whether it’s the Crusades, the Inquisition, religious wars, the Salem witch trials, or even modern-day church leaders who have fallen, Jesus Christ teaches us to walk in newness and turn from our shortcomings and sins. If we truly follow Jesus Christ and walk out our purposes, the world would be a better place.