A Narration on a Portion of Utopia

The Question:

Comment on the following portion of the "Religions of the Utopians" chapter. Do you believe truth in religion will by its own power come to light eventually? Or is the second description below the more likely one?

"Furthermore though there be one religion which alone is true, and all other vain and superstitious, yet did he well foresee (so that the matter were handled with reason, and sober modesty) that the truth of its own power would at the last issue out and come to light. But if contention and debate in that behalf should continually be used, as the worst men be most obstinate and stubborn, and in their evil opinion most constant; he perceived that then the best and holiest religion would be trodden underfoot and destroyed by most vain superstitions, even as good corn is by thorns and weeds overgrown and choked. Therefore all this matter he left undiscussed, and gave to every man free liberty and choice to believe what he would."

The Answer:

I believe that truth, left alone, will not come to light by itself. Although if christians are really following the truth, they will be going about teaching other people, as in the latter description. So, truth cannot be left alone, and still be truth. Now, you may say that if there are no christians left in all the world, then by what I have just said truth is no longer truth, and there is no more truth left. I believe that the Word of God is a seed, and that anyone that does exactly what that Word tells them to do will be christians. And, I believe that there always has and always will be children of God. (See Daniel 2:44 and Mark 9:1. The kingdom spoken of in Daniel is the Church! This Church shall never be destroyed!)
In the second description, it mentions "contentions and debate." In reality, we ought to be the exact opposite. Instead of beating people over the head for being wrong in their religion, God commands us to "speak the Truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
At the end of this selection, it says, "(he) gave to every man free liberty and choice to believe what he would." This is the right thing to do, because God has made each of us free moral agents, which means we can make our own choices. (Like Balaam in Numbers 22:12. God had told him not to go with those men, but later on in verse 34, we read that he had gone with them. God told him not to go, but He did not make him a puppet to do just what He said. Balaam went, whether God wanted him to or not.) God cannot make us believe the truth, and man can't either. Thus, there will be those who do not believe the truth for what it is. However, we as christians must try to convince, with love, those that are astray.