--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If conversion to Christianity makes no…" description: "\"“If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man's outward actions – if he continues to be just a snobbish or spiteful or envious or ambiti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg" --- # If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a… ![“If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man's outward actions – if he continues to be just a snobbish or spiteful or envious or ambitious as he was before – then I think we must suspect that his 'conversion' was largely imaginary; and after one's original conversion, every time one…” quote by C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg) > ““If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man's outward actions – if he continues to be just a snobbish or spiteful or envious or ambitious as he was before – then I think we must suspect that his 'conversion' was largely imaginary; and after one's original conversion, every time one thinks one has made an advance, that is the test to apply. Fine feelings, new insights, greater interest in 'religion' mean nothing unless they make our actual behavior better; just as in an illness 'feeling better' is not much good if the thermometer shows that your temperature is still going up. In that sense the outer world is quite right to judge Christianity by its results. Christ told us to judge by results. A tree is known by its fruit; or, as we say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world. The war-time posters told us that Careless Talk costs Lives. It is equally true that Careless Lives cost Talk. Our careless lives set the outer world taking; and we give them grounds for talking in a way that throws doubt on the truth of Christianity itself.”” [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True conversion must be reflected in outward behavior; inner feelings are irrelevant if actions remain unchanged. **In simple terms:** Conversion is shown by deeds, not feelings. Key Takeaway Align actions with belief. Themes faith authenticity behavior hypocrisy Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - public conduct - leadership - community service Key Concepts moral transformation integrity social impact Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure the impact of your faith on others? - What actions best demonstrate genuine belief? A Different Perspective Inner change without external evidence can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-makes-533274/) [Christianity Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-results-5963079/) [Christians Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-behave-3977918/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversion Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion-christianity-539911/) [Judge Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-christianity-393715/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) ## Related quotes > [When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world. 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Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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In that sense the outer world is quite right to judge Christianity by its results. Christ told us to judge by results. A tree is known by its fruit; or, as we say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world. The war-time posters told us that Careless Talk costs Lives. It is equally true that Careless Lives cost Talk. Our careless lives set the outer world taking; and we give them grounds for talking in a way that throws doubt on the truth of Christianity itself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C.S. Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-improvement-in-a-man-s-outward/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-improvement-in-a-man-s-outward/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/c-s-lewis-121_christianity_if-conversion-to-christianity-makes-no-i_771622.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man's outward actions – if he continues to be just a…” — C.S. 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