Article February 13, 1909 Issue

A clergyman is credited with taking the following text...

Charles K. Skinner—Albion, Mich.

Evening Recorder

A clergyman is credited with taking the following text: "For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing;" and then likening Christian Scientists and others to these Athenians, because they agree on one thing, viz., the "healing of the body." Now, he may think this is right, but I wonder if Paul were to step into our brother's church, and then into the modest little rooms of the Christian Scientists, listen to the sermon aforesaid, and then to the services and heartfelt thanksgiving to God in the latter, which he would consider nearer to Christ's teaching. The burden of the Master's word was, "Love one another," "Judge not, that ye be not judged." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel," "Heal the sick, . . . cast out devils [ev'ls]." Will our brother tell us how near he thinks his reported sermon came to Christ's teachings? If it does not compare in some degree, it might be well to consider who it is that spends his time in telling "some new thing."

The critic is disturbed because a Christian Science lecturer used the words "and healing" in connection with another saying of Jesus, and would have his people think that it was gross error to believe that Jesus thought the healing of the body was requisite, whereas his greatest lessons of right thinking and living were from his healing works. To one he said, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Never was the Master's condemnation of the sin of hypocrisy shown more clearly than in the case of the woman taken in adultery. Her accusers, waiting for the signal of condemnation to put her to death, saw their own guilt written in the sand by the fingers of their own selected judge. When the words were spoken, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more," not an accuser was present.

One remarkable instance which shows that Jesus consid ered his works of healing important, was his reply to John's disciples: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." If our brother would acquire the habit of attending the Christian Science testimony meetings, he would learn that gratitude is expressed for the spiritual healing above all else. The fact that Paul had a fleshly infirmity until his death, does not prove that he did not attempt to get rid of it, for his own words are proof that he had made great effort in that direction. To be consistent, our critic should certainly refrain from any effort toward bodily comfort on his own part. Consistency should be seen not only in words, but in living.

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