Proof of Christianity

On his deathbed, Samuel Wesley is reported to have said to his son John Wesley, “The inward witness, son, the inward witness, this is the proof, the strongest proof of Christianity.” Such a view aligned with John’s intuitionist theory of religious knowledge, a view that was often easily misconstrued as one-sided subjectivism. But though Wesley held and preached an understanding of faith as being thoroughly inward, he balanced it with the outward expression of faith: love in action. He described Christian zeal as “the flame of love.” This was the outward expression of the inward work of the Spirit. This understanding of inward and outward faith, then, is the measure of our spiritual life.

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:12-17 NRSV). Text for Wesley’s message, “The Witness of the Spirit I”

It is a good thing to be ardent in doing good … (Gal 4:18 The Message). Text for Wesley’s message, “On Zeal”

Our words testify of the inward experience of our faith. Our works testify by an outward expression of our faith. Both are part of our growth in grace. Both testify to God and the transforming process we call salvation.

Then, it is for us to be attentive to and to nurture both the inward and outward experiences of grace. To be pious apart from works of mercy makes us like a Pharisee. To offer random acts of kindness without living a life of repentance makes us like a social service agency: doing good that lasts only until the money runs out.

Rather, we are called to be the children of God loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27). This is the proof or our Christianity.