You are familiar with the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.” In it the Jimmy Stewart character is allowed to see what his town would have been like, had he never been born. Dr. D. James Kennedy wrote a book in the last century titled, “What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?” This post plays off that title and uses a lot of his information. You can click here to purchase the book.
Because Jesus was born, lived, died, and was resurrected…
We delineate time into B.C. and A.D. (Before Christ, Anno Domini {The Year of Our Lord}). Though now it designations are B.C.E. and C.E. (Before the Common Era, Common Era), for over 2,000 years Jesus was the focal point of how we understood human history.
Science has advanced through the centuries as many to most of the great scientists were Christians… Johannes Kepler (Astronomy), Blaise Pascal (Math), Isaac Newton (Calculus), Robert Boyle (Chemistry), Georges Cuvier (Comparative Anatomy), Joseph Lister (Antiseptic Surgery), Dr Louis Pasteur (Medical Research)… just to name a few.
The high regard for the sanctity of human life is directly attributed to Christianity.
Hospitals were begun by Christians to minister to the sick. In 325 AD, at the Council of Nicaea, not only did the church define the Trinity, they also decreed that where churches were founded, a hospital was to be founded as well.
One of the largest humanitarian organizations feeding some 10 million every year is The Salvation Army. Without The Savior (Jesus), there would be no Salvation Army.
The Red Cross, although secular today, has its beginnings with Christianity as it was founded by Swiss evangelical Henry Durant.
Institutions of higher learning would not be as prevalent as they are since most were begun to foster theological training. Prior to Jesus only a few of the elite had access to eduction, but that changed because of Jesus. Harvard started with money and books from Rev, John Harvard. Dartmouth was founded to train missionaries to the Indians. William and Mary was created “that the Christian faith might be propagated.” Columbia University was founded “to teach children to know God in Christ Jesus.” Princeton’s philosophy was initially “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Jesus Christ!”
The slave trade (Ex: William Wilberforce) and many other social issues were repealed as the result of Christians intervening in the political process.
The elevation of women’s social status was begun by The Apostle Paul and continued by the work of Christians.
The world’s languages have been, and are being, codified and written because Christ followers sought to translate the Bible into every human language. Johann Gutenberg invented the movable press for the sole reason of mass printing the Bible.
The “Great Experiment” of the United States wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Jesus. 50 to 52 of the 56 signers of the Constitution are believed to be Christians.
The Power Of Jesus To Transform Lives. Jacob DeShazer (WWII Bomber, turned missionary), John Newton (Slave Ship Captain turned pastor), C.S. Lewis (Agnostic turned Christian Apologist), Chuck Colson (Watergate turned Evangelist by reading “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis.), Dwight D. Eisenhower is the only president to be converted, confirmed, and baptized while in office. And there are millions more!
This is but the tip of the iceberg of what the world would be like had Jesus never been born. Indeed the world… believers and unbelievers… live better lives today because of Jesus. Not only that, but all people can have a perfect eternity by placing their faith in Him!