It’s the Christmas season, a time for family traditions. One of our family’s long-held Christmas traditions is watching Frank Capra’s, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. It was released in 1947, based on the short story and booklet, “The Greatest Gift,” written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939. Because no publisher would take it, it was self-published in 1943. It later appeared in Good Housekeeping magazine. If you haven’t seen it, the movie tells the story of George Bailey, a young man who had his heart set on a life of travel and adventure, which he was forced to abandon to take responsibility for the family business when his father died. Resulting from his forgetful uncle’s mistake, the business faced bankruptcy and George seemed destined to be punished for something he didn’t do. Caught up in what seemed to be a hopeless situation, George decided he was worth more dead than alive. He decided to kill himself by jumping into the river on a cold, December night. He was saved by Angel Second Class Clarence Odbody, who showed George what the town would be like if he had not been born. 

This year, as we anticipated watching the movie again, I began thinking about what the world would be like if Jesus had never been born. While considering the question, I reached out to friends and family for their input. Few responded, but my goal was achieved. You see, I had an ulterior motive. I hoped the people I cared about most would be reminded that Jesus not only changed them; he changed the world. Blog space is limited so I am keeping this short. For a more in-depth analysis, I have been told, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? By D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe (Thomas Nelson, 1994) is the best available analysis. The authors claim, “Jesus Christ, the greatest man who ever lived, has changed virtually every aspect of human life – and most people don’t know it.” 

Just to get you thinking I have provided the first few of his influences that came to my mind.

Established the Church. Without Jesus, there would be no Christian Church and the good it has produced. He built it and remains its head. (Colossians 1:18) Matthew 16 records Jesus’s promise that the gates of Hades would not overcome it. He did not promise Satan would not try to destroy it. We see evidence that he continues his battle against it today. But the Church marches on, even though membership, according to some, is dwindling. His followers, not the big brick building at the end of the street, are the Church. It consists of the those who have “taken up their cross” to follow him, no matter what. History teaches life was certainly no cake walk for first century believers. Loss of relationships, property and even their lives was not uncommon, yet the Church continued to grow. That persecuted little band, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, changed the world. The story of the early Church is contained in the Book of Acts, written by Luke, a first-century physician-historian. Secular historians concur. According to the Washington Times, “History shows that the Christian Church has brought about more changes for the advancement and benefit of people than any other force or movement.” (Scott S. Powell, “The Joy of the Savior’s Birth,” December 24, 2017).

Affirmed human dignity. Christians hold that humans are God’s image bearers. As such all human life is sacred. Jesus affirmed human dignity, taught non-violence, and commanded his disciples to love others as we do ourselves. He valued children, modeled treating women as equals and viewed all people as worthy of God’s grace and love. Prior to the sixth century, babies were disposable. That changed in the West with Christian Emperor Justinian whose Law Code declared child abandonment and abortion were crimes. According to Alvin Schmidt, The spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire correlated with a drop in infanticide practiced on baby girls. (How Christianity Changed the World (Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 2001, p.111) Christians continue to fight for equality of races and sexes. Christian women led the fight against child labor and pressed for women’s suffrage. It was largely the influence of Christians that led to the end of the slave trade, first in England and then in the United States. Most Americans are familiar with, “Amazing Grace,” which is often played at funeral services, but many do not know it was written by John Newton an Anglican clergyman and former Atlantic slave trader. Finally, we should not forget Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and icon of the American civil rights movement.

Established systems of healthcare, education and welfare. As early as the Middle Ages, the Church built and staffed educational institutions, healthcare facilities and provided other social services. Christians were the first to extend educational opportunities to both boys and girls of all socio-economic levels. Schmidt  reported that Martin Luther pressed the Catholic Church to provide an education to ordinary people; not just priests. Further, he observed, Christians founded the first universities, and schools for the blind and the deaf. The first 100 American universities had Christian roots. Jesus healed the sick and Christians followed his example. According to Schmidt, in 325, the Council of Nicaea proclaimed that every city with a cathedral should also have a hospital, which also served as shelters for the poor. Clara Barton was an evangelical Christian and the International Red Cross was founded by Christians. During the Great Depression, Angelus Temple, a Foursquare Church located in Los Angeles, fed and clothed over 1.5 million people. Christians respond to their lord’s expectations and it makes a difference. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

Shaped the United States. As many as 50 of the Declaration of Independence signatories were Christians. In July 1775, the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer and fasting. The inauguration of George Washington included a two hour worship service in Congress. In 1863, in the midst of a Civil War, President Lincoln declared another day of prayer and fasting that included the following words, “. . . it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” So far, we remain one nation under God. 

Ethics and morality. The best way to look at this topic is through the words of Jesus, himself. Here are a few of his quotations that continue to influence even the secular world:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44).

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31).

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

“. . . do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well” (Matthew 5:39-40).

“Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25).

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

Demonstrated God’s character, restored our relationship with him and gave us hope. Among other titles, Jesus was called Immanuel, God with us. In John 14, the Apostle Philip asked Jesus to show him the father. “Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’’’? Jesus wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus. No matter what we face God is there too, his heart hurting with ours. He shares in our suffering. He loves us so much he was willing to die for us. “This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God” (1 John 4:10, The Message). Jesus’s death reconciled us to God making us citizens of his earthly kingdom and his resurrection opened the door for us to enter the heavenly one. Believers do not have life after death. We have life after life in abundance. Following Jesus may not be all unicorns and rainbows, but it is characterized by a peace that passes all human understanding because we know that God is with us.