The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Nathan K. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Reading - Book Report on What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy
What if Jesus had never been born? An interesting question; one that many have tried to answer. The book's author, Dr. D James Kennedy, has hit the proverbial nail on the head, both physically and spiritually.
Kennedy offers many details about how the body of Christ has made an impact on the world today. Despite its humble origins, the church has made more changes on earth for good than any other movement of force in history. To get an overview of some of the positive contributions Christianity has made through the centuries, here are a few highlights:
- Hospitals, which essentially began during the Middle Ages.
- Universities, which also began during the Middle Ages. In addition, most of the world's greatest universities were started by Christians for Christian purposes.
- Literacy and education for the masses.
- Capitalism and free enterprise.
- Representative government, particularly as it has been seen in the American experiment.
- The separation of political powers.
- Civil liberties.
- The abolition of slavery, both in antiquity and in modern times.
- Modern science.
- The discovery of the New World by Columbus.
- The elevation of women.
- The condemnation of adultery, homosexuality, and other sexual perversions. This has helped to preserve the human race, and it has spared many from heartache.
- High regard for human life.
- The civilizing of many barbarian and primitive cultures.
- The codifying and setting to writing of many of the world's languages.
- Increased development of art and music. The inspiration for the greatest works of art.
- The countless changed lives transformed from liabilities into assets to society because of the gospel.
- The eternal salvation of countless souls.
The last contribution, the salvation of souls, is the primary goal of the spread of Christianity. All the other benefits listed are just byproducts of what Christianity has often brought when applied to daily living.
The list of what Jesus has done for this world is endless. One quote that stuck out the most to me was "the eternal salvation of countless souls." This is not only the end goal but is the very reason Jesus came.
I can look at the list of things accomplished because of Christianity, and almost miss the truth. Jesus did not come to give us better physical lives, He came to give us new life. Without such spiritually, we would be nothing but animals. Kennedy explains much about the rituals and practices of those days past. Words cannot begin to describe the atrocities that were common and accepted in earlier times.
Considering the horrors of yesterday and today, this book left me with a sobering thought: if Jesus had never been born would the world still be here?
