How different would history look like? Our world? It’s important to say this upfront – I am a Christian – a follower of Christ. And – it’s quite counterintuitive to pose this counterfactual question BUT I thought – well what if?
No baby in a manger, no Mary and Joseph, no maggi, no King Herod. Perhaps no cross, no crucifixion, no salvation?
Anyway – humor me for a minute and allow us to embark on a journey through an “altered history,” where there is no Jesus.
How would it affect the world as we know it?
First I think our religious and spiritual landscape would be drastically different. We would never know what it would be like for God to take on human flesh, exemplify God’s purpose on earth and then die to atone for the sins of the world.
Maybe it would be that we would live by works-based salvation, an anxiety and despair-inducing journey that would consistently end every time in failure. OR…
Maybe we would live with “gods” who fight with one another, and “rule the world” based on their whims and fancy. OR – other religions would gain unprecedented ascendance and domination.
Regardless, the religious landscape would be altered, almost beyond recognition, and maybe not for the good.
And what or who would shape our moral laws?
Although salvation is through Jesus by grace alone and through faith alone, the moral law is part of creation through the Ten Commandments for example. In fact, civil law in western societies relies heavily on a love-based interpretation of adherence to those laws.
I suspect that other teachings of Jesus such as the Sermon on the Mount, that have been pivotal in shaping the moral compass of western civilization, with principles like forgiveness, compassion, and turning the other cheek might not have become as ingrained in our societal values. Community structures, too, would likely have evolved along different lines, perhaps more aligned with political or familial ties rather than religious fellowship.
Can you imagine a world without the majestic artwork inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus: the Byzantine era’s majestic mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible; the Romanesque sculptures and frescoes depicting Jesus’ crucifixion and Second Coming; the Gothic cathedrals with their soaring spires and stained glass windows; and the Renaissance era’s fusion of Christian themes with humanism (e.g., da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece).
Can you imagine the architectural world landscape without marvels like the Notre-Dame Cathedral or Saint Peter’s Basilica?
Can you see a musical world deprived of Handel’s “Messiah” or John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”?
Do you know that without His life, death, and resurrection, the New Testament would never have been written, the Old Testament would never have gotten the attention it has – with characters like Adam, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Solomon, Daniel, Paul, Peter – you name them!
And without these characters the literary world as we know it would miss out on the narrative techniques, symbolism, and moral storytelling in the Bible that is oh so fascinating.
In fact there would be no Christian writers such as Dante, Chaucer, Milton, and many others with their epic narratives. There would be no Christian novelists such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, and the tradition of modern fiction would lack the moral rigor and ethical nuance we have come to expect.
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You know – it is often overlooked how Christianity and the Church have played a crucial role in the development of modern science.
Ask any scientific scholar – they will readily acknowledge that modern science emerged among theologians, monks, and professors. AND because of the life and ministry of Jesus and the subsequent embrace of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, the foundations of modern science were set.
Think about it. As christians we believe the world is God’s handiwork, ordered by him into the regularity we now experience, and charged by the grandeur of God. Therefore not only are we motivated to have scientists study the world (its complexity and majesty tell us something about God), but we also have confidence that their study of the world reveals objective truth (the scientific method is premised on regularity, which is premised on God’s sustaining order for the world).
Did you know that the legal and political systems of many nations are rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics?
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Principles such as the human dignity (sanctity of life), equality, justice, and liberty can be traced back to the teachings of Jesus. Correspondingly, Christianity has influenced virtually everything that makes up the modern legal system, from the structure of courts to the nature of laws themselves.
AND without this influence, the legal landscape of the modern world would likely be unrecognizable.
Furthermore, the political realm, particularly in terms of leadership and governance, has been profoundly influenced by Christian ideals. Concepts like servant leadership and the responsibility of rulers to their people might have developed differently or not at all.
How would we approach community life?
The teachings of Jesus heavily emphasize unconditional love, human compassion, and authentic community. Without these teachings, the modern world’s approach to community life and social welfare could have been vastly different, possibly lacking the emphasis on charity and social support systems that were inspired by Christian ethics.
Indeed, Christianity has been a driving force in the establishment of hospitals, orphanages, and charities, thus alleviating suffering and improving the quality of life for countless individuals. The absence of these institutions that were founded on the compassionate teachings of Jesus would have left a gaping hole in the social fabric of our culture.
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As fascinating as the “alternate reality” is, the hypothetical absence of Jesus Christ from history would have had monumental implications.
It would have created a cascade of negative changes in the religious and moral landscape, and an enormous void in art, literature, music, science, education, law, politics, and philanthropy.
It’s impossible to fully comprehend the extent of how the world would look like today – what is clear however is that the world as we know it would be unrecognizable.
Suffice is to say that the impact of Jesus’ teachings and His role as a central figure in human history cannot be understated – in many ways reminding us that His influence extends far beyond the confines of religious doctrine and into the very core of human civilization.
So as we take time off our busy schedules to thank God for the baby born in a manger two thousand years ago – let’s also thank Him that there was No What If…
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders… Merry Christmas!
