THE WORLD-CHANGER By David Feddes How much inf uence can one !e"son have# $u!!

ose % &o d you of someone who inf uenced music mo"e &han anyone e se in music his&o"y' Tha& wou d (e im!"essive) wou dn*& i&# Now su!!ose % &o d you &ha& &his same !e"son a so sha!ed scu !&u"e) !ain&in+) a"chi&ec&u"e) and i&e"a&u"e mo"e &han anyone e se# Tha& mi+h& sound i,e &oo much &o (e &"ue' Bu& su!!ose % wen& fu"&he" and &o d you &ha& if &his !e"son had neve" ived) &he"e wou d !"o(a( y (e no com!u&e"s) no ai"! anes) no &e e!hones) and no e ec&"ici&y in you" home' Wou d you (e ieve such a &hin+# Wha& !e"son cou d !ossi( y have such inf uence in music) a"&) and a"chi&ec&u"e whi e a& &he same &ime !"ovidin+ &he (asis fo" scien&ific "esea"ch and inven&ion# $ounds "idicu ous) doesn*& i&# Wou d anyone e-ce!& an insane !e"son--o" !e"ha!s a !o i&ician who doesn*& ,now when &o s&o! ("a++in+-- da"e &o c aim so much inf uence# Ac&ua y) &hou+h) %*ve (a"e y s&a"&ed is&in+ a &he a"eas &his !e"son has inf uenced' Wi&hou& his inf uence &he"e mi+h& (e no f"ee y e ec&ed +ove"nmen&s and no cons&i&u&ions &ha& ! ace imi&s on +ove"nmen& !owe"' O"dina"y !eo! e wou d have ve"y few "i+h&s and f"eedoms) ve"y i&& e educa&iona o!!o"&uni&y) and ve"y i&& e economic o!!o"&uni&y' Wi&hou& his inf uence) s ave"y wou d (e common' Women wou d (e viewed mo"e as !"o!e"&y &han as !e"sons' Fami y ife wou d (e much wo"se &han i& is' %& wou d (e common &o ,i widows when a hus(and died' %& wou d (e common fo" +i" (a(ies and handica!!ed (a(ies &o (e a(andoned &o s&a"ve o" (e ea&en (y wi d anima s' %& wou d (e common &o ,i o d !eo! e o" e& &hem s&a"ve &o dea&h if &hey cou d no on+e" ca"e fo" &hemse ves' Wi&hou& &his !e"son*s inf uence) few) if any) hos!i&a s wou d e-is&' Few) if any) co e+es and unive"si&ies wou d e-is&' Bi ions fewe" !eo! e wou d (e a( e &o "ead and w"i&e' %n fac&) (i ions fewe" !eo! e wou d (e a ive a& a ' Cou d any one !e"son (e such a wo" d chan+e"# Cou d &he same man chan+e &he fine a"&s) science) +ove"nmen&) economics) educa&ion) fami y "e a&ionshi!) and eve"y s!he"e of civi i.a&ion# %& sounds c"a.y) a mos& as c"a.y as a man c aimin+ &o (e God' Bu& as a ma&&e" of fac&) &ha&*s who %*m &a ,in+ a(ou&/ 0esus Ch"is&) &he man who c aimed &o (e God' 1ou mi+h& no& (e awa"e of &he im!ac& 0esus has had in &he &hin+s %*ve men&ioned' Bu& &hese &hin+s a"e no& 2us& fa"-ou& fan&asy3 &hey a"e fi"m fac&' Even &hin,e"s and scho a"s who don*& (e ieve in 0esus as God "eco+ni.e &ha& Ch"is& chan+ed &he wo" d mo"e &han anyone who eve" ived and &ha& Ch"is&iani&y has decisive y inf uenced a &he &hin+s %*ve men&ioned and mo"e (esides' %n &his a"&ic e and o&he"s &o fo ow) we* e-amine &he fac&s a(ou& a"eas &"ansfo"med (y Ch"is& &he wo" d-chan+e"' How Did He Do It? Befo"e we +e& in&o de&ai s) &hou+h) e&*s fi"s& as, &he +ene"a 4ues&ion/ how did he do i&# Du"in+ 0esus* &ime on ea"&h) he didn*& !"oduce any +"and a"& o" a"chi&ec&u"e' He didn*& com!ose any music o" w"i&e any (oo,s' He didn*& ho d any +ove"nmen& !osi&ion' He didn5& !"o!ose any new scien&ific &heo"y o" inven& any new &echno o+y' 0esus didn*& s&a"& any hos!i&a o" unive"si&y' He didn*& s&a"& a i&e"acy !"o+"am' He didn*& ead a !o i&ica movemen& &o f"ee s aves and im!"ove women*s s&a&us' He didn*& have a wife o" chi d"en' And ye& &his man who neve" headed a fami y of his own &"ansfo"med fami y ife fo" (i ions' This man who neve" ed a s ave "evo & o" a women*s "a y ("ou+h& di+ni&y and i(e"&y &o coun& ess women and fo"me" s aves' This man who neve" !u( ished a !a+e of his own w"i&in+ !"oduced &he mos& i&e"a&e) educa&ed civi i.a&ions in &he wo" d' This man who was neve" a !"ofesso") "esea"che") o" inven&o" s!"ead a way of &hin,in+ &ha& ena( e science &o f ou"ish' This man who was neve" a
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awye" and neve" he d a +ove"nmen& !os& se& &he f"amewo", fo" 2us& aws and human f"eedom' This man who !"oduced no a"&is&ic mas&e"!ieces (ecame &he ins!i"a&ion fo" &he fines& a"& and i&e"a&u"e on ea"&h' How did 0esus do i&# How did he chan+e so many diffe"en& a"eas of human ife and cu &u"e# He did i& wi&hou& ma,in+ any of &hese &hin+s his main focus' He did i& (y connec&in+ !eo! e &o God) &he sou"ce of a human f ou"ishin+' He did i& (y ("in+in+ God*s "ei+n of ove) &"u&h) (eau&y) and !owe" &o (ea" on &he ives of one !e"son af&e" ano&he"' He did i& (y chan+in+ !eo! e f"om &he inside ou&/ he chan+ed &hei" hea"&s) and &hey chan+ed &hei" cu &u"e' 0esus didn*& chan+e &he wo" d a a& once' He chan+ed i& &h"ou+h sma (e+innin+s and s&eady +"ow&h) &h"ou+h &he hidden (u& eve"-s!"eadin+ inf uence of God*s ,in+shi!) which was em(odied in 0esus* own !e"son and s!"ead f"om him &o o&he"s' 0esus as,ed) 6Wha& is &he ,in+dom of God i,e# Wha& sha % com!a"e i& &o# %& is i,e a mus&a"d seed) which a man &oo, and ! an&ed in his +a"den' %& +"ew and (ecame a &"ee) and &he (i"ds of &he ai" nes&ed in i&s ("anches'6 A+ain he as,ed) 7Wha& sha % com!a"e &he ,in+dom of God &o# %& is i,e yeas& &ha& a woman &oo, and mi-ed in&o a a"+e amoun& of f ou" un&i i& wo",ed a &h"ou+h &he dou+h6 8Lu,e 9:/9;-<9=' When 0esus com!a"ed God*s ,in+dom &o a sma seed) he was a !enni ess wande"e" in a !ove"&y-s&"ic,en a"ea of a wea, coun&"y occu!ied (y a fo"ei+n a"my' 0esus was un,nown &o &he wo" d*s "u in+ !owe"s and eadin+ &hin,e"s) and his fo owe"s we"e owe" c ass no(odies' 0esus and his (and seemed as sma and insi+nifican& as a &iny seed yin+ unseen in &he di"&' Bu& 0esus dec a"ed &ha& &his seed of God*s ,in+dom wou d +"ow and ("anch ou&) (ecomin+ so (i+ and (eneficia &ha& coun& ess !eo! e and en&i"e na&ions cou d nes& and find she &e" in i&s ("anches' %& seemed un i,e y a& &he &ime) (u& &ha&*s e-ac& y wha& ha!!ened' The com!a"ison &o yeas& ma,es a simi a" !oin&/ a i&& e (i& ma,es a (i+ diffe"ence' When a woman ma,es dou+h fo" ("ead) she uses o&s of f ou" and on y a i&& e yeas&' When &he yeas& is &uc,ed in&o &he f ou") i&*s no on+e" visi( e' 1e& somehow &ha& yeas& affec&s &he en&i"e um! of dou+h' %n &he same way) God*s "ei+n in Ch"is& s&a"&s ou& sma ) invisi( e' %& wo",s +"adua y) sec"e& y) se dom in &he head ines' Bu& &he invisi( e &u"ns ou& &o (e invinci( e' No&hin+ can s&o! i& f"om fe"men&in+ and s!"eadin+ in&o mo"e and mo"e a"eas of ife) mo"e and mo"e s!he"es of cu &u"e' When God (ecame a man in &he !e"son of 0esus) &he yeas& of God*s ife and !owe" en&e"ed &he dou+h of &his wo" d' The yeas& of &he Ch"is&- ife has (een s!"eadin+ &h"ou+h &he oaf of humani&y eve" since' When &he yeas& of Ch"is&*s +os!e +e&s in&o you" ife) i& affec&s eve"y !a"& of you" ife' When &he yeas& of Ch"is&*s +os!e +e&s in&o a coun&"y and civi i.a&ion) i& affec&s eve"y s!he"e of cu &u"e' %& does so no& ins&an& y o" vio en& y) (u& +"adua y and 4uie& y' %& &a,es &ime fo" ("ead &o "ise) and i& &a,es &ime fo" Ch"is&iani&y &o &"ansfo"m cu &u"e' Bu& ove" &ime &he wo" dchan+in+ yeas& of Ch"is& has shown i&s !owe"' Cultural Credit 0esus dese"ves c"edi& fo" a so"&s of &hin+s &ha& many !eo! e a"en*& awa"e of' Wha& wou d &his wo" d (e i,e wi&hou& Ch"is&# What if Jesus had never been born? Tha&*s a fascina&in+ 4ues&ion) and i&*s &he &i& e of a fascina&in+ (oo, (y D' 0ames >ennedy and 0e""y Newcom(e' The (oo, desc"i(es 7&he !osi&ive im!ac& of Ch"is&iani&y in his&o"y? and shows &ha& 7had 0esus neve" (een (o"n) &his wo" d wou d (e fa" mo"e mise"a( e &han i& is'? Ano&he" he !fu (oo, fo" unde"s&andin+ Ch"is&*s im!ac& on &he wo" d is Christianity on Trial: Arguments Against AntiReligious Bigotry (y @incen& Ca""o and David $hif e&&' A &hi"d (oo,) &he mos& de&ai ed of a ) is &i& ed Under the Influen e: !o" Christianity Transformed Civili#ation$ (y on+-&ime socio o+y !"ofesso" A vin 0' $chmid&' A &h"ee (oo,s desc"i(e &he hu+e im!ac& of Ch"is& &he wo" d chan+e"
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in one s!he"e of ife af&e" ano&he") and a &h"ee (oo,s have con&"i(u&ed a +"ea& dea &o &he a"&ic es %*ve w"i&&en on &his su(2ec&' No&ed his&o"ian Aau Baie") af&e" "eadin+ A vin $chmid&*s (oo, on how Ch"is&iani&y &"ansfo"med civi i.a&ion) was dee! y im!"essed and said o&he" "eade" wou d 6(e ama.ed a& how many of ou" !"esen& ins&i&u&ions and va ues "ef ec& a Ch"is&ian o"i+in'6 No& on y coun& ess individua ives (u& civi i.a&ion i&se f was &"ansfo"med (y 0esus Ch"is&' %n &he ancien& wo" d) his &eachin+s e eva&ed ("u&ish s&anda"ds of mo"a i&y) ha &ed infan&icide) enhanced human ife) emanci!a&ed women) a(o ished s ave"y) ins!i"ed cha"i&ies and "e ief o"+ani.a&ions) c"ea&ed hos!i&a s) es&a( ished o"!hana+es and founded schoo s' %n medieva &imes) Ch"is&iani&y a mos& sin+ e-handed y ,e!& c assica cu &u"e a ive &h"ou+h "eco!yin+ manusc"i!&s) (ui din+ i("a"ies) mode"a&in+ wa"fa"e &h"ou+h &"uce days) and !"ovidin+ dis!u&e a"(i&"a&ion' %& was Ch"is&ians who inven&ed co e+es and unive"si&ies) di+nified a(o" as a divine voca&ion) and e-&ended &he i+h& of civi i.a&ion &o (a"(a"ians on &he f"on&ie"s' %n &he mode"n e"a) Ch"is&ian &eachin+) !"o!e" y e-!"essed) advanced science) ins&i ed conce!&s of !o i&ica and socia and economic f"eedom) fos&e"ed 2us&ice) and !"ovided &he +"ea&es& sin+ e sou"ce of ins!i"a&ion fo" &he ma+nificen& achievemen&s in a"&) a"chi&ec&u"e) music) and i&e"a&u"e &ha& we &"easu"e &o &he !"esen& day''' %n a c ima&e of mu &icu &u"a ism and i&s manda&e &o 7find &he &"u&hs in a wo" d "e i+ions)? i& is ha"d y !o i&ica y co""ec& &o say &his) ye& af&e" "eadin+ &his (oo,) % mus&/ No o&he" "e i+ion) !hi oso!hy) &eachin+) na&ion) movemen&--wha&eve"--has chan+ed &he wo" d fo" &he (e&&e" as Ch"is&iani&y has done' No& a cu &u"es a"e e4ua ' $ome cu &u"es a"e (e&&e" &han o&he"s) and &he (es& cu &u"es on ea"&h a"e &hose &ha& have (een mos& inf uenced (y Ch"is& and &he Bi( e' %f &ha& sounds a""o+an&) %Cm so""y) (u& i&Cs a fac&' Bu &icu &u"a ism !"e&ends a cu &u"es a"e e4ua ) "e+a"d ess of wha& "e i+ion has sha!ed &he cu &u"e' Bu&) says economis& Thomas $owe ) Those who say &ha& a cu &u"es a"e e4ua neve" e-! ain why &he "esu &s of &hose cu &u"es a"e so +"oss y une4ua ' When some cu &u"es have achieved much +"ea&e" !"os!e"i&y) (e&&e" hea &h) on+e" ife) mo"e advanced &echno o+y) mo"e s&a( e +ove"nmen&) and +"ea&e" !e"sona safe&y &han o&he"s) has a &his (een 2us& coincidence# %f a cu &u"es a"e e4ua ) why do so many !eo! e eave coun&"ies domina&ed (y non-Ch"is&ian "e i+ions in o"de" &o ive in coun&"ies whe"e Ch"is&iani&y has his&o"ica y had &he +"ea&es& inf uence# %f a cu &u"es a"e e4ua ) why did communis& coun&"ies (ui & on a&heism have &o (ui d wa s &o ,ee! !eo! e f"om eavin+ fo" o&he" coun&"ies# No coun&"y on ea"&h is !e"fec& and no cu &u"e is com! e&e y Ch"is&ian) (u& i&Cs a fac& &ha& &hose cu &u"es a"e (es& whe"e &he seed of Ch"is&Cs ,in+dom has (een +"owin+ &he on+es& and whe"e &he yeas& of Ch"is&iani&y has wo",ed i&s way mos& &ho"ou+h y in&o a as!ec&s of &he cu &u"e' The"eCs a s&o"y a(ou& an Ame"ican so die" du"in+ Wo" d Wa" %% who me& a na&ive on a "emo&e is and' The na&ive cou d "ead and was ho din+ a Bi( e' When &he Ame"ican so die" saw &he Bi( e) he said) 6We educa&ed !eo! e no on+e" !u& much fai&h in &ha& (oo,'6 The na&ive) who was f"om a &"i(e of fo"me" canni(a s) "e! ied) 6We ) i&Cs +ood &ha& we do) o" you wou d have (een ea&en (y my !eo! e &oday'6 No& a cu &u"es a"e e4ua ' Who Did It? %n o&he" !a"&s of &his se"ies) weC have mo"e in-de!&h desc"i!&ions of va"ious a"eas of cu &u"e whe"e Ch"is& chan+ed &he wo" d fo" &he (e&&e"' 81ou can o"de" f"ee !"in&ed co!ies fo" you"se f o" "ead &hem on ine a& Bac,&oGod'ne&'= Fo" now e&Cs 2us& oo, a& a 4uic, sam! e of
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ma2o" advances and as, who did i&' Aeo! e in &he Roman Em!i"e en&e"&ained &hemse ves (y wa&chin+ + adia&o"s fi+h& and ,i each o&he"' A ("ave man) a& &he cos& of his own ife) ("ou+h& &he (u&che"y &o an end' Who did i&# A Ch"is&ian mon, named Te emachus' %& was common &h"ou+hou& &he ancien& wo" d &o a(o"& unwan&ed (a(ies o") if &he a(o"&ion fai ed) &o a(andon &he (a(ies in ou&-of-&he-way ! aces &o die of e-!osu"e o" (e ea&en (y anima s' Bu& a +"ou! of !eo! e sea"ched ou& many of &hese (a(ies) &oo, &hem home) ca"ed fo" &hem) oved &hem) and "aised &hem as &hei" own chi d"en' Who did i&# The Ch"is&ians' And s&i &oday Ch"is&ians a"e eade"s in "es!ec& fo" un(o"n (a(ies and in ado!&in+ (a(ies o&he" !eo! e donC& wan&' Who d"af&ed &he Ba+na Ca"&a) &he +"ea& documen& imi&in+ "oya !owe"s and es&a( ishin+ (asic "i+h&s# The A"ch(isho! of Can&e"(u"y was a ma2o" inf uence' Who w"o&e &he Bayf owe" Com!ac&) Ame"icaCs fi"s& w"i&&en cons&i&u&ion# Ch"is&ian Ai +"ims ea+e" &o se"ve Ch"is& in f"eedom' Who was &he &eache" of 0ames Badison) &he main au&ho" of &he D'$' Cons&i&u&ion# 0ohn Wi&he"s!oon) a Ch"is&ian !as&o"' Who aid down !"inci! es of economic f"ee en&e"!"ise# A Ch"is&ian named Adam $mi&h' Bos& !u( ic schoo s no on+e" &each such fac&s &o s&uden&s) (u& fac&s a"e s&i fac&s' Des!i&e !o i&ica co""ec&ness and mu &icu &u"a ism) i& "emains &"ue &ha& f"eedom and human "i+h&s have f ou"ished mos& in coun&"ies inf uenced (y Ch"is&iani&y' No na&ion is !e"fec&) and no !o i&ica o" economic sys&em is &o&a y Ch"is&ian--(u& &he seed and yeas& of Ch"is& ce"&ain y have made some na&ions (e&&e" ! aces &o ive in &han o&he"s' Who s&a"&ed &he fi"s& hos!i&a s# Ch"is&ians did' Who was &he !ionee" of mode"n nu"sin+# A Ch"is&ian named F o"ence Ni+h&in+a e' Who s&a"&ed &he %n&e"na&iona Red C"oss# A Ch"is&ian named Hen"y Dunan&' Whose discove"ies a(ou& (ac&e"ia o!ened &he way fo" ma2o" medica advances# A Ch"is&ian named Louis Aas&eu"' Who !ionee"ed safe" su"+e"y wi&h s&e"i e ins&"umen&s# A Ch"is&ian named 0ose!h Lis&e"' Who inven&ed a !"in&in+ !"ess and made (oo,s avai a( e &o masses of !eo! e# A Ch"is&ian named 0ohannes Gu&en(e"+--and &he fi"s& (oo, he !"in&ed was &he Bi( e' Who s&a"&ed &he wo" dCs +"ea& unive"si&ies) such as O-fo"d) Aa"is) Heide (e"+# Ch"is&ians did' Who s&a"&ed Ame"icaCs +"ea& unive"si&ies) such as Ha"va"d) 1a e) and A"ince&on# Ch"is&ians did' Who !"omo&ed schoo s &ha& +ave educa&iona o!!o"&uni&ies &o a chi d"en and no& 2us& &o &he e i&e# Ch"is&ians did' Who inven&ed si+n an+ua+e fo" deaf !eo! e# A F"ench !"ies&' Who deve o!ed &he s&anda"d a !ha(e& of "aised do&s &ha& ena( es ( ind !eo! e &o "ead# A Ch"is&ian named Louis B"ai e' Who !ionee"ed &he +"ea&es& advances in scien&ific discove"y# Aeo! e who we"e &hemse ves Ch"is&ians) o" whose view of "ea i&y had (een sha!ed (y Ch"is&ian conce!&s' Aeo! e who (e ieved in many +ods didnC& oo, fo" a "a&iona o"de" in &he wo" d' Aeo! e whose "e i+ion &au+h& &ha& !hysica &hin+s a"e un"ea o" (ad wou dnC& (o&h s&udyin+ !hysica "ea i&y' Bu& !eo! e who (e ieved &ha& one God c"ea&ed and o"de"ed &he unive"se (e ieved &hey cou d ea"n some&hin+ of &ha& o"de") and !eo! e who (e ieved &ha& Ch"is& himse f (ecame !hysica ,new &ha& &he !hysica wo" d mus& (e "ea and va ua( e' Wi&hou& such confidence) &he"e wou d (e no Co!e"nicus) no Ga i eo) no New&on) no Aasca ' We wou d no& have mode"n science as we ,now i&) and &he many ama.in+ inven&ions we en2oy wou d neve" have come in&o (ein+' Who inven&ed fou"-!a"& musica ha"mony# Ch"is&ian choi"s' Who was &he fi"s& man &o ! ay ,ey(oa"d ins&"umen&s wi&h a five fin+e"s# A Ch"is&ian named 0ohann $e(as&ian Bach) who is a so conside"ed (y many &o (e &he +"ea&es& musician of a &ime' As fo" i&e"a&u"e) % can ha"d y (e+in &o &e of &he inf uence of Ch"is& and &he Bi( e' Le&Cs 2us& say &ha& wi&hou& Ch"is&) we wou d no& have &he wo",s of Chauce") $ha,es!ea"e) Bi &on) Bunyan) To s&oy) Dos&oyevs,y) o" To ,ien' Cha" es Dic,ens dec a"ed &ha& &he +"ea&es& s&o"y in a of wo" d i&e"a&u"e is Ch"is&Cs !a"a( e of &he !"odi+a son' Whe&he" o&he"s wou d a+"ee wi&h &ha&)
4

&he fac& "emains &ha& wi&hou& Ch"is&) much of &he wo" dCs +"ea&es& i&e"a&u"e wou d sim! y no& e-is&' Tha&Cs 2us& a 4uic, sam! e of Ch"is&Cs im!ac& on cu &u"e and civi i.a&ion' Ch"is& chan+es !eo! e) and his !eo! e chan+e &he wo" d' Binds +uided (y Ch"is&Cs &"u&h and hea"&s mo&iva&ed (y Ch"is&Cs ove have +"own i,e seed and s!"ead i,e yeas&) so &ha& &he"e is no o&he" !e"son in his&o"y whose inf uence can (e+in &o com!a"e wi&h &he inf uence of Ch"is& &he wo" d chan+e"' As someone once w"o&e) 6A &he a"mies &ha& eve" ma"ched) a &he navies &ha& eve" sai ed) a &he !a" iamen&s &ha& eve" sa&) a &he ,in+s &ha& eve" "ei+ned) !u& &o+e&he") have no& affec&ed &he ife of man on &his ea"&h as much as &ha& one so i&a"y ife'6 Seek First His Kingdom Those of us in ! aces &ha& have inhe"i&ed &he cu &u"a ( essin+s of 0esusC inf uence shou d hono" and &han, Ch"is& fo" &hese ( essin+s' We mus& see, &he !e"sona &"ansfo"ma&ion and "e a&ionshi! &o God &ha& is &he sec"e& !owe" (ehind &hese ( essin+s' And in a &ime when many individua s and cu &u"es a"e wa ,in+ away f"om &hei" Ch"is&ian he"i&a+e) we mus& (ewa"e of a new (a"(a"ianism which oses &he cu &u"a ( essin+s of Ch"is&iani&y and oses &he e&e"na ( essin+s of sa va&ion' The"e have (een !eo! e who "eco+ni.e &ha& a Ch"is&ian inf uence +"ea& y im!"oves !eo! e and cu &u"es (u& who donC& &"us& in Ch"is& o" su(mi& &o him in &hei" own ife' Fo" e-am! e) in &he 9;EEs a B"i&ish news!a!e" was ha"sh y c"i&ici.in+ Ch"is&ian missiona"ies ove"seas fo" &"yin+ &o chan+e !eo! e of o&he" cu &u"es' %n "es!onse &o &he c"i&icism) Cha" es Da"win w"o&e a e&&e" &o &he edi&o" in favo" of &he missiona"ies' Da"win said &ha& if a voya+e" was cas& asho"e on some uncha"&ed is and) he wou d wish &ha& missiona"ies had (een &he"e fi"s&' $&i ) a &hou+h Da"win "eco+ni.ed &he civi i.in+ !owe" of Ch"is&iani&y) (u& he did no& !e"sona y (e ieve in 0esus as &he $on of God and did no& &a,e &he Bi( e as GodCs Wo"d' %&Cs a &"a+edy &o ,now &he many (enefi&s of fai&h in Ch"is& and ye& no& &"us& Ch"is& you"se f' We ive in a wo" d &ha& is fa" (e&&e" &han i& wou d have (een if 0esus had neve" come) (u& as 0esus himse f once as,ed) 6Wha& does i& !"ofi& a man &o +ain &he who e wo" d (u& ose his sou #6 The cu &u"a (enefi&s of Ch"is& a"e on y hin&s of &he !e"fec& new wo" d he wi ("in+ when he comes a+ain wi&h !owe" and + o"y' We wi neve" en&e" &ha& !e"fec& wo" d un ess we &u"n &o Ch"is& in &his wo" d' 0esus says) 6% am ma,in+ eve"y&hin+ new6 8Reve a&ion <9/F=' Bu& (efo"e you can fo"eve" en2oy eve"y&hin+ made new) Ch"is& mus& ma,e you new' The on y way you can (e made new is no& fi"s& of a (y &"yin+ &o im!"ove &his o" &ha& as!ec& of &he wo" d (u& (y "e!en&in+ of you" sins) +ivin+ u! on you" own a(i i&y &o save you"se f o" chan+e &he wo" d) and ins&ead &"us& in 0esusC dea&h &o !ay fo" you" sins) coun& on his ife &o +ive you e&e"na ife) see, his +uidance &o di"ec& you" conduc&) and see, fi"s& his ,in+dom and his "i+h&eousness' And as Ch"is& &he wo" d chan+e" ma,es you new) he can a so "enew &he wo" d &h"ou+h you' Buch of mode"n cu &u"e is cu&&in+ i&se f off f"om &he ife of Ch"is&' We &hin, we can have com!assion) f"eedom) and !"o+"ess) and (eau&y wi&hou& a connec&ion wi&h Ch"is& and wi&hou& &he Bi( eCs +uidance' And i& &u"ns ou& &ha& no& eve"y +ood &hin+ in cu &u"e wi&he"s away &he ins&an& !eo! e cu& &hemse ves off f"om Ch"is&' Cu& f owe"s oo, ove y and ive y fo" awhi e (efo"e &hey s&a"& &o wi&he"' Bu& &he wi&he"in+ wi even&ua y come' Whe"e fewe" !eo! e fo ow Ch"is&) even&ua y se-ua immo"a i&y "ises) a(o"&ion inc"eases) fami y ife fa &e"s) economies a"e ham!e"ed (y co""u!&ion) science and &echno o+y (ecome dehumani.in+ and dan+e"ous) a"& and i&e"a&u"e +e& u+ ie"' $ome of &his we see &a,in+ ! ace a "eady' Fo" cu &u"a "enewa and fo" !e"sona sa va&ion) we need Ch"is& &he wo" d chan+e"' The wo" d chan+e"Cs ,in+dom is i,e a +"owin+ seed' Fo" you &o (e !a"& of &ha& +"ow&h) his ife mus&
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(e in you' The wo" d chan+e"Cs ,in+dom is i,e yeas& s!"eadin+ &h"ou+h &he oaf' Fo" you &o (e a eavenin+ inf uence on o&he"s) &he yeas& mus& (e a& wo", in you' Ae"sona sa va&ion and cu &u"a &"ansfo"ma&ion +o &o+e&he") and Ch"is& is &he sou"ce of (o&h'