[rating:4.0]
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012)
219 pgs
This is a good read. Ortberg is an engaging writer and he has done a great job with this book. Jesus can become so familiar to us as Christians that we forget, or overlook the enormity of his influence on our culture. Even in a society that is rapidly becoming more secular, the pervasive impact of Jesus continues to be inescapable.
This book is filled with gems and I won’t rob you of their impact by reporting them all to you in this review. Rather, I’ll just give you a few examples.
Ortberg points out that Jesus is unusual in that his influence increased after his death (11). For most leaders, their influence diminishes. Yet you might have concluded at Jesus’death that his life had been a failure: His enemies seemingly defeated him. His disciples betrayed and deserted him. It would have appeared that his place in history would soon be forgotten. Yet from that humble beginning, Jesus’ influence continues to impact every corner of the globe.
Conversely, Roman emperors such as Nero and Caesar, once thought to be so powerful, are now typically used today as names of Pizza places and casinos! (13). Interestingly, Ortberg points out that Jesus was seemingly on the outside of the law both at the beginning and end of his life (15). It is also fascinating the wide array of people who look to Jesus for their inspiration. People who are polar opposites on the political continuum or social scale, yet each looks to Jesus for their role model (18).
Ortberg then examines the impact Jesus and His Christian teachings have had on modern society. He looks at such things at Christianity’s view of women as well as children and people with disabilities. The Roman world could be extremely harsh on the weak and that makes Christian teachings on the helpless all the more radical for its day (28). The Bible was the first book to view people as being of equal value (41). Christianity revolutionized such practices as the humane care for inmates in prison (43). It also transformed the way society treated widows (55). Ortberg notes that in Asia there are 163 million more males than females (47). He points out that wherever Christianity flourished, baby girls were not put to death (57).
Ortberg makes the interesting observation that the second most translated book in the world is Don Quixote, which has been translated into 60 languages. The Bible has been translated into 2,527 languages (61). Christianity has also been the impetus fro everything from universities to time keeping. It also taught the revolutionary concept that people were created equal and that it was actually an honor to serve others (87). It also taught the revolutionary concept that forgiveness is better than revenge, and thus it helped preserve western societies from degenerating into destructive generation long bloodbaths.
Ortberg makes the interesting observation that Christianity was the first world religion to specifically appeal to every class and segment of society (131). Interestingly, he also points out that the word “hypocrite” is used 17 times in the Bible, and all 17 times it is used by Jesus (119). Clearly Jesus was opposed and bothered by the trait. Christianity also revolutionized the view of marriage. Humorously, Ortberg also suggests that Jesus is the only person to have his own Grammy category (Gospel music!). He goes on to suggest that Jesus affected such things as architecture, art, and music (160).
Overall I found this to be a refreshing and thought-provoking book. Some of the statements I’ll probably need to verify. But it is true that no person in history has exerted such a profound impact and yet, he did it in an entirely unorthodox manner. In a day when Christianity is often viewed as traditional and ultraconservative, it is thought-provoking to be reminded of just how revolutionary Jesus was.
Ortberg always writes in an engaging and stimulating way. I enjoyed this book and I recommend you read it.
by Richard Blackaby