1.A 04. The Power of Personal Christian Vitality
The Power of Personal Christian Vitality. This living force, then, of the human soul, brought to bear upon living souls, for the sake of theirtransformation, being the fundamental idea, I think it will be interesting to you for me to state more at large the fact, that not only was this the apostolic idea of preaching, but it was the secret of the power of the first Christian Church for many hundred years.
It is historically true that Christianity did not in its beginning succeed by the force of its doctrines, but by the lives of its disciples. It succeeded first as a light; in accordance with the Master’s command, “Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Make religion attractive by the goodness that men see in you; be so sweet, so sparkling, so buoyant, so cheerful, hopeful, courageous, conscientious and yet not stubborn, so perfectly benevolent and yet not mawkish or sentimental; blossoming in everything that is good, a rebuke to everything that is mean or little, make such men of yourselves that everybody who looks upon you may say, “ That is a royal good fellow; he has the spirit that I should like to lean upon in time of trouble, or to be a companion with at all times.” Build up such a manhood that it shall be winning to men. That is what the early Christians did.
It was not by doctrinal subtleties that they over came philosophy. The heathen world found that the lowest class of people, the people least likely to attain the serious heights of philosophy, were developing traits that neither persecution, neglect, nor opprobrium could change; so that after a while it began to be proverbial, that Christian men were more beautiful livers than anybody else. It was the beauty of Christian life that overcame philosophy, and won the way for Christian doctrine.
Again, we are to seek to preach, not simply by our own personal experience, but by bringing together one and another in the Church, and having the whole life of the Church so beautiful in the community that it shall be a constant attraction to win men unceasingly to us and our influence. This was what Christ commanded, what the early Church did; and the world will be converted, not until the whole body of Christians become in this sense preachers.