Character Evidence

In John 13:35, Jesus indicates that the world will know that we are his followers because of our love. Suffice it to say, the church in general may not always live up to this aspiration. The old chorus said, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” But this may not be the first description that would come to most people’s minds in America today when you talk about Christians. In fact, it may actually be something more like the opposite.

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us what the “fruit” of the Holy Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In an ideal world, these would be the strongest evidence that someone is truly a Christ-follower. And these are the characteristics that are most likely to draw those around us to Christ. Arguments, in general, are often not the most effective witness. Our lives are.

If Christianity is true, then there should be a genuine power from the Holy Spirit in our lives. Blehm mentions Augustine’s sense that the gospel changes our desires. It “orders” them properly. The gospel changes our character in ways that those who do not believe should recognize as virtuous. 1 Peter 2:12 exhorts its audience to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

This may be a surprising thought. When we do the right thing, our lives are a positive witness to Christ. When we have moral failures, we have given an argument against God with our lives. Those who have moral failures and have been restored can give witness to the adverse consequences on the faith of their children and, in some cases, churches. Many a Christian has struggled after a spiritual “hero” has a moral failure. You can imagine the potential effect on those who don’t believe.

Good character is strategic, although that is not, of course, the primary reason to have it. Good character is evidence that the gospel is true. If our lives are no different than those who do not believe, then why would someone think there is anything to our faith? Our faith is authenticated by our deeds (Jas. 2:18).