We currently live in a world where many people’s favourite pastime is discrediting Christianity, convincing others of what an evil and oppressive religion it is. Some Africans are even stuck on believing that it is the white man’s religion even though Christianity was in Africa way before it was in Europe (Acts 6:9; 8:26-40). Those from the West claim it is the most restrictive religion as it doesn’t allow them to live their lives how they want. They can’t love whoever they want and can’t do whatever they want with their bodies because of the restrictive nature of Christianity. Since Christianity is grounded on objective truth, then it is oppressive as the subjective truths of many are disallowed. In short, our current society views Christianity as a blight. However, the only reason that it is possible for all those who see Christianity as evil to see it as so is because Christianity made freedom of speech possible.
The incredible advances that our modern world has made today in terms of technology, science, medicine, education, and so much more could not have been made without the spread of Christianity throughout the known world. In short, Christianity didn’t darken our history. It brightened it even to the point of changing the course of history forever. In this article, I will attempt to paint a picture of what Christianity has contributed to the world throughout the ages.
Education
If there’s any area in which Christianity has had a global impact, it is education. The modern education system was made possible by Christians advocating for it extensively. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, monasteries were crucial in preserving classical texts and promoting education. The Protestant Reformation even expanded on education as the Reformers aimed to ensure that everyone could read the Bible. The way to do that was through education. Reformers like John Calvin and Martin Luther were great advocates of education. The work of the Reformers inspired the Puritans who, when they came to the New World or, as it is known today, the USA, immediately instituted universities such as Harvard and Yale. Even the concept of universities arose because Christians in the 12th and 13th centuries saw the need for it.
Even the modern book format came about because of the spread of Christianity. The Romans invented the modern book format, which they called the codex. However, it has stuck to date because Christians preferred using the codex to book rolls. Some might say that the world influenced Christianity’s emphasis on education. However, the Bible would beg to differ. One of the only things we know about Jesus’ childhood is that he grew up in wisdom (Luke 2:52). Proverbs calls a son who heeds his father’s instruction and applies it to be wise (Proverbs 1:7-9). The Bible insists that education should begin at home (Ephesians 6:4). Modern thought, as we know it today, wouldn’t have existed without the advancement and spread of Christianity worldwide.
Science
Many don’t know this, but there was a time when theology was known as the queen of the sciences. This notion is unpopular because, at least ever since the Enlightenment period, science has been seen to be at odds with theology when that couldn’t be further from the truth. The pioneers of modern science were actually Christians. From Isaac Newton to Galileo and the like, they were all motivated by pursuing the truth about God’s universe based on their knowledge of Scripture. I am sure verses such as Psalm 19:1-2, 24:1, and Romans 1:20 were great motivators. It should be no surprise that the scientists responsible for coming up with the concept of scientific research were Christians (Robert Grosseteste, Roger Bacon, William of Ockham, and Francis Bacon). For this reason, Lynn White Jr. wrote, “From the 13th century onward into the 18th, every major scientist, in effect, explained his motivations in religious terms.”
Again, advancing the sciences was only possible because it was done from a theological bend. In ancient times, polytheists and pantheists were against studying the unknown for various reasons. Since the polytheists believed that there were many gods, they saw everything around them as illogical, disorderly and irrational; thus, there was no need to study anything. For the pantheists, since they believed that god and the universe are the same, it would have been sacrilegious to seek to know it.
However, Christianity was the exact opposite. First, we believe that our God is One (Deuteronomy 6:4). We have also believed that he is orderly and rational, and since that is true of him, the same is true of our world (1 Corinthians 14:33, Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1-2). We also believe that we were made in God’s image and commanded to care for his world (Genesis 1:26-31), and we can’t care for God’s creation if we don’t know it. The sciences were a means for us to seek the things above so that we may live our lives to the glory of God (Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 10:31).
Slavery and Human Rights
What makes a human more important than any bird of the air, animal, or plant? The answer is that God Himself said so (Genesis 1:26-31, Matthew 6:25-34). The only reason we humans have the rights that we do is because we believe that they are endowed to us by God. The US Constitution had its foundation based on God, who has made us equal before his eyes (Romans 2:11, Galatians 3:28). It is because of this that slavery was abolished in the first place. In the olden days, there was no notion of equality. Children/infants were offered as sacrifices. Slaves were treated worse than dogs, and humans were killed for sport. However, Christianity not only undermined slavery but also led directly to its abolishment.
Many might claim that the Bible never directly addressed slavery or even go so far as to say that it condoned it based on specific Old Testament verses taken out of context (Leviticus 25). However, that couldn’t be further from the truth as even those verses when properly contextualised, show how slaves were to be treated in a just manner. Paul, in the New Testament, even wrote to the slave masters in Ephesus and Colossae, telling them to treat them justly and reasonably (Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 4:1). He also instructs Philemon to treat his runaway slave Onesimus, not as a slave but a fellow brother in the Lord (Philemon 16).If these passages were genuinely applied to their full extent, then slavery would have died a natural death. Nevertheless, many will say that there are many Christians who were slave owners who used the Bible to justify their actions, and they would be right in saying that, but the fault doesn’t lie with the Bible. Instead, it lies with the men who misapplied it. Slavery’s abolition was made possible because Christians rightly applied the Bible and understood that it was a sin. Thus, built off efforts in the US as well as in the UK, slavery was made illegal because the Bible painted a beautiful picture of how all of humanity is created in God’s image (Galatians 3:28, Genesis 1:26).
Marriage
Before Christianity, marriage was mainly seen as a business transaction with various outcomes expected from and by the participants. The outcomes included treaties between warring factions, improved social standing through having children, pleasing parents, hiding sinful relationships, etc. However, Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7 flip that and show that the point of marriage is to love and be compassionate to one another. The verses also explain how women are to be regarded as worthy of love in the same way Christ loves the church. Without such, women would have no rights, and marriage wouldn’t be considered an institution worthy of honour (Hebrews 13:4).
A Hope that Doesn’t Disappoint
Christianity did many more impactful things throughout the ages that I haven’t touched on. It would take us a whole day to do them justice. Instead, I will conclude with the most significant impact of Christianity, bringing forth a hope that doesn’t disappoint (Romans 5:5). A hope that has been laid out for us by Jesus Christ, who is our forerunner (Colossians 1:5, Hebrews 6:19-20). We who were dead in our trespasses and subject to God’s wrath have, by the mercy and love of God through Christ, become his children (Ephesians 2:1-10). Our confidence is in the fact that we have been saved by grace through faith; nothing of our own doing, for it is God’s gift to us (Ephesians 2:8-10).
This gift is available to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 1:16-17). It is a hope given to the whole world (John 3:16-18). Dear Saint, when boasting about all the great things that Christianity has brought to the world, let us never forget to speak of its most significant achievement, the hope of the gospel, and all are welcome to partake of it (Matthew 11:28-30).
References
https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/history/modern-world-history/the-spread-of-christianity
https://womeninapologetics.com/christianitys-impact-on-the-world
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity/Church-and-social-welfare
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/how-invention-book-changed-how-people-read
