If Christianity is a positive thing then it must bring positive changes to society. And if you look down through history, you will find that it has done in a vast number of ways, from the establishment of schools and hospitals to the abolition of child labour in the UK. But these changes all stem from one basic principle, which is answer number three:
Answer #3: Christianity benefits society because it changes individuals who change the world around them. Let me give you some examples. In our day we are so glad that the slave trade was abolished in the 19th century. But did you know that the main people responsible for bringing the change in the UK were evangelical Christians? One of them was John Newton. Newton lived a careless life and was originally involved in working on slave ships himself and captained a number of them, but after becoming a Christian he grew more and more aware that the slave trade was wrong and started campaigning for its abolition. He also wrote the famous hymn Amazing Grace. He in turn had a strong influence on William Wilberforce. John Newton
Wilberforce had become an MP at the age of 21 but aged 25 he met with God and became an evangelical Christian. This transformed his life and gave him an overwhelming desire to use his life to help others. As an MP He fought against the establishment for 18 years to end the slave trade before his bill was passed in 1807. This was just the beginning – but it was the beginning of the end of the slave trade.
William Wilberforce
Now in their day, slavery was generally accepted in society as being totally fine. But what we find in both those cases was that it was their Christianity that caused them to go against the status quo and take a stand for the sake of other people.
Of course Christians don’t have the monopoly on doing good. But when someone becomes a Christian, the power of God comes to live inside of them and enables them to do amazing things. People who are doing wrong start doing good, and those already trying to do good become much more effective. Lord Shaftesbury, another great social reformer who ended child labour and reformed working conditions in the UK is another example of an evangelical Christian who changed society for the better. Lord Shaftesbury
Christians all over the world are working for the good of mankind and you can find more examples here.
So answer #3: Christianity benefits society because it changes individuals who change the world around them. |