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Christianity Is Revolutionary
Especially noteworthy is the effect Jesus’ influence has had on society’s treatment of women. The respect Jesus showed to women stood in stark contrast to the treatment they typically received in His day.
Moreover, even though slavery was a part of the fabric of the culture in New Testament times, the Christian movement planted the seeds that would bear the fruit of the abolition of slavery wherever Christianity would take hold. Paul’s words to the Galatian Christians in Galatians 3:26-28 reflect this revolutionary attitude and perspective.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru), summarized it this way: “Wherever Christ has gone, the sacredness of marriage, women’s rights and suffrage have been acknowledged; institutions of higher learning have been established; child labor laws have been enacted; slavery has been abolished; and a multitude of other changes have been made for the good of mankind.”1
Christians have not been perfect, and some who’ve claimed to be Christians have masterfully misrepresented Christ and His teachings. But that’s just the point—they’ve misrepresented Him. As Chuck Colson has said, “The evidence from history is clear: Despite our human faults, Christianity has made the world and the people in it far better than they would have been without it.” 2
The evidence from history is clear: Despite our human faults, Christianity has made the world and the people in it far better than they would have been without it.
—Chuck Colson—
Here is the truth: History is replete with examples of how Christianity has made positive difference after positive difference in the world. As we highlight these contributions, we come to understand that these examples represent Christianity as it was meant to be lived and practiced. This truth does not in any way diminish Christians’ responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission. In fact, properly understood and applied, it enhances it.
A believer’s faith isn’t just to be applied on Sundays and in church, but every day of the week and in every area of life.
A Powerful Summary
Impact 360 Institute, a ministry that trains younger believers to consistently understand and apply the Christian worldview, has produced a video titled “What Good Is Christianity?” In less than eight minutes, it surveys the powerful impact Christians have had on the world in a host of areas. I invite you to watch, listen, and learn. For your convenience, a transcript of the video is available here.
I have only one criticism of this video. Referring to the United States as a democracy, it implies that the freedoms and rights advocated by Christianity in the political arena are best secured and maintained by democracies. A democracy is rule by the majority, but Christianity advocates rule by law, or a form of government called a republic. Fortunately, the video does emphasize the importance of rule by law over rule by men.
Overall, this engaging presentation does an outstanding job of demonstrating not only how Christians in the past made the world a better place, but also that followers of Jesus today also are to apply their faith broadly—to every area of life and every sphere of influence that is theirs.
Go with your fellow believers out into the world and turn it upside down!
Copyright © 2018 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages have been taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
image credit: top image—Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Notes:
1Bill Bright, “The Uniqueness of Jesus” in Bill Bright, A Handbook for Christian Maturity, (San Bernardino, CA, 1982), 28.
2Charles Colson, Tough Questions About God, Faith, and Life, (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2006), 119-120.