WHAT is the most convincing proof of the truth of Christianity?—There is only one answer: The reformation it produces in the lives of people. It makes deceitful men honest. It makes the violent gentle. It makes the lecherous pure. The profane become prayerful. The drunken become sober. The revengeful become forgiving. The selfish are transformed into the benevolent and self-sacrificing. In a word, Christianity makes sinful men righteous—a work which no other religion ever has accomplished. These are transformations in character and conduct which all men can see. Seeing them they are compelled to admit that the religion which produces them must be true. The tree is known by its fruit. Men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles.
We make much of Christian evidences, and more books have been written on this subject than on any other. But only those evidences are convincing which appeal to the manifest fruits of Christianity in the lives of men. If obedience to the Gospel did not make men righteous, all its other evidences would be insufficient to produce conviction of its truth.
We regard preaching of the Gospel as essential, and rightly, if its preachers are examples of the truth they preach. If they are not, and it is known that they are not, all their preaching, however eloquent, learned, and logical, will have no power to convince men that their doctrine is true.
We lay great stress upon "the word of testimony," and rightly insist that the Christian should be able to give a reason for his faith in the Gospel by telling his own experience of its saving power. We should remember, however, that actions speak louder than words, and that they are usually the most reliable index to a person's character. Christ commands us to confess Him before men, but He does not mean verbal confession only. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,"—not hear your good words merely, "and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Good deeds are better than good words. The place for greatest emphasis is conduct. Acts of kindness and charity, perfect integrity in business, righteousness in all the relations of life, activity in the service of humanity—these are the things which count. That is to say, the most any man can do for the advancement of Christianity in the world is to live it. His life is the most eloquent preacher of the Gospel. He bears testimony to its truth more cogent than logic, and more convincing than any historical evidences. He is a living witness. His life talks. And what it says is not easily misunderstood.—Bishop Berry.
