Jesus’ Birth Changed Virtually Every Aspect
of Human Life
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"The greatest tragedy of the Christmas holiday each year is not so much its commercialization, but its trivialization. People have forgotten Him to whom they owe so very much” says the late Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Kennedy continues: "Much of what we take for granted finds its roots in Christ and His teachings. And yet Christianity is ridiculed as an impediment to progress, a bane, and remains today the one safe target of contempt and prejudice. And while the church has strayed badly at times from Christ’s teaching—for example, during the Crusades, the Inquisition and the blight of anti-Semitism—the overwhelming impact of Christ on earth has been for good."
Dr. Kennedy points out five areas where Jesus Christ has had a profound influence.
1. Respect For Life
"In classical Rome or Greece, it was dangerous to conceive a baby. Abortion was rampant and abandonment of infants commonplace. Infirm or unwanted babies were often taken out into the forest or the mountainside and left to be consumed by wild animals or to starve or for others to pick them up for their own perverted ends.
Then Jesus came. He did not disdain His conception in a virgin’s womb but humbled himself to be found in fashion as a baby. Since that time, and because of Jesus’ care for the poor and the infirm, Christians have cherished life as sacred, even the life of the unborn. In ancient Rome, Christians saved many abandoned babies and brought them up in the faith. Other believers started foundling homes, orphanages and nurseries. These new practices, based on this higher view of life, created a foundation for Western civilization’s ethic of human life—although it is under severe attack."
2. Status of Women
"Women, too, have immensely benefited from Christ’s influence. In ancient cultures, the wife was the property of her husband. In India, China, Rome and Greece, men believed that women were not able or competent to be independent.
Prior to Christian influences in India, widows were voluntarily or involuntarily burned on their husbands’ funeral pyres. And female infanticide was common. These centuries-old practices ended in the early 19th century through missionary intervention with the British authorities."
3. Family
"As Christians grew in number, they introduced family values to a world riddled with sexual immorality. In A.D. 125, Aristides, an Athenian philosopher, wrote a defense of the Christian faith to Emperor Hadrian. Regarding sexual matters he said:
4. Science
"Some of the greatest pioneers of science were Christians. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) coined the phrase 'thinking God’s thoughts after Him' for his study of nature. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) not only made innovations in mathematics and probability science and helped pave the way for the computer, but was also a devout Christian. And Isaac Newton (1642-1727), though sometimes classified as a Unitarian, professed to believe in Christ and in the message of salvation. 'This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets,' he wrote, 'could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.'"
5. Education
"The roots of education for the masses go back to the Reformation... The Reformers believed that the only way the Protestant Reformation would hold would be if lay people could read the Bible for themselves. Christ himself encouraged learning. He was an avid student as a young boy and teacher as an adult. ["Was Jesus an Educated Man?"]
The greatest universities were started by Christians for Christian purposes. Indeed, most of the first 123 colleges and universities in the United States have Christian origins.”
These excerpts have been quoted from the article, "What if Christmas Never Happened?" by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Read the reviews of Kennedy and Newcombe’s corresponding book, "What if Jesus Had Never Been Born?"
Are you a Bible newcomer? "Christian Cram Course: The Bible in Less Than a Day" might be of interest to you. Also, this video clip, "Father’s Love Letter" is a rich expression of God’s love for you and it's straight from the pages of the Bible.
Photos: William Couch (Flickr) Poll: Twiigs
Up Next—Christmas Greetings & WFW
Thank you for taking the quick poll below.
of Human Life
Posted by e-Mom. Follow me on Twitter. Subscribe in a Reader
"The greatest tragedy of the Christmas holiday each year is not so much its commercialization, but its trivialization. People have forgotten Him to whom they owe so very much” says the late Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Kennedy continues: "Much of what we take for granted finds its roots in Christ and His teachings. And yet Christianity is ridiculed as an impediment to progress, a bane, and remains today the one safe target of contempt and prejudice. And while the church has strayed badly at times from Christ’s teaching—for example, during the Crusades, the Inquisition and the blight of anti-Semitism—the overwhelming impact of Christ on earth has been for good."
Dr. Kennedy points out five areas where Jesus Christ has had a profound influence.
1. Respect For Life
"In classical Rome or Greece, it was dangerous to conceive a baby. Abortion was rampant and abandonment of infants commonplace. Infirm or unwanted babies were often taken out into the forest or the mountainside and left to be consumed by wild animals or to starve or for others to pick them up for their own perverted ends.
Then Jesus came. He did not disdain His conception in a virgin’s womb but humbled himself to be found in fashion as a baby. Since that time, and because of Jesus’ care for the poor and the infirm, Christians have cherished life as sacred, even the life of the unborn. In ancient Rome, Christians saved many abandoned babies and brought them up in the faith. Other believers started foundling homes, orphanages and nurseries. These new practices, based on this higher view of life, created a foundation for Western civilization’s ethic of human life—although it is under severe attack."
2. Status of Women
"Women, too, have immensely benefited from Christ’s influence. In ancient cultures, the wife was the property of her husband. In India, China, Rome and Greece, men believed that women were not able or competent to be independent.
Prior to Christian influences in India, widows were voluntarily or involuntarily burned on their husbands’ funeral pyres. And female infanticide was common. These centuries-old practices ended in the early 19th century through missionary intervention with the British authorities."
3. Family
"As Christians grew in number, they introduced family values to a world riddled with sexual immorality. In A.D. 125, Aristides, an Athenian philosopher, wrote a defense of the Christian faith to Emperor Hadrian. Regarding sexual matters he said:
"They do not commit adultery or immorality. ...Their wives, O king, are as pure as virgins, and their daughters are modest. Their men abstain from all unlawful sexual contact and from impurity, in the hopes of recompense that is to come in another world."Christianity has helped preserve the family as the basic unit of society. It has protected millions of people from sexually transmitted diseases."
4. Science
"Some of the greatest pioneers of science were Christians. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) coined the phrase 'thinking God’s thoughts after Him' for his study of nature. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) not only made innovations in mathematics and probability science and helped pave the way for the computer, but was also a devout Christian. And Isaac Newton (1642-1727), though sometimes classified as a Unitarian, professed to believe in Christ and in the message of salvation. 'This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets,' he wrote, 'could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.'"
5. Education
"The roots of education for the masses go back to the Reformation... The Reformers believed that the only way the Protestant Reformation would hold would be if lay people could read the Bible for themselves. Christ himself encouraged learning. He was an avid student as a young boy and teacher as an adult. ["Was Jesus an Educated Man?"]
The greatest universities were started by Christians for Christian purposes. Indeed, most of the first 123 colleges and universities in the United States have Christian origins.”
These excerpts have been quoted from the article, "What if Christmas Never Happened?" by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Read the reviews of Kennedy and Newcombe’s corresponding book, "What if Jesus Had Never Been Born?"
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3: 16 NIV)Related: Discover Christianity FAST
Are you a Bible newcomer? "Christian Cram Course: The Bible in Less Than a Day" might be of interest to you. Also, this video clip, "Father’s Love Letter" is a rich expression of God’s love for you and it's straight from the pages of the Bible.
Photos: William Couch (Flickr) Poll: Twiigs
Up Next—Christmas Greetings & WFW
Thank you for taking the quick poll below. 
6 Comments:
Excellent article...thanks for the link to the Father's Love letter!!
Blessings to you this week!!
Good thinking....interesting that even Charles Darwin at the end of his life was converted.
I am impressed with the connections this year...the birth, the cross, the resurrection the assencion and the coming of the King.
have just had fun putting Gaither songs on my site.
hmmm...i like that first quote you openned up with. you are a blessing emom. :)
What a lovely post. It is truly amazing how Christ changed absolutely everything.
Love what you've written. Great faith, love and joy.
Faith: Thanks for taking the time to comment, Faith. I know you're VERY busy.
ozjane: Really? Charles Darwin was converted? Nice connections.
Roo: Thanks, Roo.
Ben: Nice to meet you, and thanks for stopping by. :~D
Gemini: Amen! Blessings... :~D
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