The late John Lennon, in his influential song Imagine, told the world to, “Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today. Imagine there’s no countries. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too.”
Those last few words, however, were certainly a key point that Lennon wanted his listeners to take away: Without religion, the world would be a better place. At least in his mind. Was Lennon the originator of this idea? Hardly.
The skeptical claim has always been that the world would be a better place had Christianity never existed in the first place. The Christian claim, on the other hand, is that Christ changed the world for the better – and in every way imaginable. So let us take a quick look at how Christ, and by extension his followers, changed the world for the better.
Christians oppose the hopelessness of death. Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). When Paul wrote these words, the influence of the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC) was already deeply entrenched in Greco-Roman culture.
Epicurus wrote, “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist death is not here. And once it does come, we no longer exist.” In other words, for Epicurus life ended at the grave. But Scripture makes it clear that death is the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26) which Christ defeated (2 Timothy 1:10). Christ gives us hope in the face of death. As a pastor who has officiated many funerals and has also worked as a funeral assistant for a time, I can assure you that the divide between a Christ-centered and a Christ-less funeral is nothing short of amazing.
Christians oppose abortion and infanticide. These acts were rampant in the Greco-Roman world and other ancient cultures – and are still with us today, of course – but Christians have long made the point that we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and therefore life is worth defending and preserving. Almost a thousand years before Christ, King David wrote these powerful words: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14). Christians have always defended the sanctity of life (Psalm 127:3; Jeremiah 1:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Christians oppose racism. Paul wrote these life-changing words: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile [no racism], neither slave nor free [no class distinction], nor is there male and female [no gender discrimination], for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Paul also wrote that, “From one man God made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth” (Acts 17:26). All people, regardless of how they physically appear or where they come from, are created in God’s image. Justin Martyr (AD 100-160), and early defender of the Christian faith, wrote, “We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
While it is true that some nominal Christians – Christians in name only, but not Christians in deed – supported slavery in days past, it was real Christ-followers who opposed slavery and helped bring that evil institution down. Of course, there are nominal Christians today who hold to racist beliefs, but they are inconsistent Christians who have “missed the boat” when it comes to this vital characteristic of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus.
Christians promote equal justice for all, regardless of race, gender, monetary means, or social standing. Seven centuries before Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17), and just a short time after Christ James wrote that pure and undefiled religion is focused on caring for orphans and widows and keeping oneself separate from corrupt and worldly influences (James 1:27). Real followers of Christ stand up for what is right and care for those who cannot care for themselves.
Christians greatly advanced medical care. The example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-35) has been very influential in this area. Of course, secular and non-Christian people are just as influential and caring as anyone in the medical world today, but when one looks at the organizations that provide medical care for those facing disasters, clearly many if not most had their origins in the Christian worldview. Likewise, most hospitals today have names that demonstrate their Christian heritage.
Christians promote education for all, regardless of race, gender, monetary means, or social standing. Mary at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-39) serves as a classic example of education for females. Christians have long recognized that all people are created in God’s image and therefore have basic human rights – education being just one of them.
Christians made great scientific contributions throughout the past 2,000 years. In fact, many of the branches of science were developed by Bible-believing Christians. Consider the following examples: Francis Bacon (1561-1626): Scientific Method; Johann Kepler (1571-1630): Astronomy; Robert Boyle (1627-1691): Chemistry; Isaac Newton (1642-1727): Physics; Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778): Biology; Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902): Pathology; Gregor Mendel (1822-1884): Genetics; Louis Pasteur (1822-1895): Microbiology; Joseph Lister (1827-1912): Antisepsis; George Washington Carver (1864-1943): Food Production. This list could go much further. Strangely enough, in today’s world a common belief is that people of faith cannot engage in “real” science! Our scientific forefathers would be astounded and dismayed by this erroneous notion.
Christians elevated the arts. The Christian influence on art, music, and literature has been massive, to say the least. In the opinion of the author, the decline in Christian acceptance in the past several decades is responsible for the deplorable condition of much “modern” art and literature.
Lastly, Christians promote love and respect for all. The “Code of Hammurabi” (1754 BC) maintained, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” But then the “Code of Jesus” came along: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-39). The philosophy of the ancient world was harsh and not for the faint of heart. In the movie Conan the Barbarian, the main character Conan is asked the question, “What is best in life?” His answer was, not surprisingly, barbaric: “Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations [cries] of their women.” But along came the “philosophy of love,” as espoused by Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Has Christianity made the world a better place? You, the reader, must decide the answer to that question for yourself. But first consider nations and social regimes that sought to eradicate not only the Christian faith, but any kind of faith. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Empire are two examples that quickly come to my mind. Those regimes brought only pain and suffering to their inhabitants, excepting the leaders who profited from that pain. Were those nations a great place to live? I’m glad I did not live in those regimes.
Years ago, a popular Christian apologist wrote a book titled, Can Man Live Without God? Many Christians are quick to say no to that question – that situation is just too unthinkable for some people. But the truth is, people do it all the time. Many people live lives devoid of God or faith. But I do not recommend it.
Christianity not only gives us the promise of life eternal, but it makes a great – and positive – difference in this life as well.
Randy Hroziencik
Pastor, First Baptist Church (Kewanee, Illinois)
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Kewanee Voice.
***This column is sponsored by the Kewanee Ministerial Association
