Article April 3, 1909 Issue

We submit that every individual who forsakes sin does so...

Alfred Farlow—in <i>Boston American.</i>

We submit that every individual who forsakes sin does so on the basis of Christian Science teaching, that there is nothing in it, whether or not he knows anything about the letter of Christian Science. A man does not do wrong because he believes there is nothing in it, but because he believes there is something in it. In any event, Christian Science agrees with the Scriptural teaching: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Christian Science reveals the fact that the sinner is not a slave to a real but to an unreal master.

This new idea gives fresh hope and courage to the sinner and, together with the understanding of the omnipotence of good, it helps him to wage a successful combat with evil. In passing, we desire to call attention to the fact that Jesus, the Master of Christianity, gave the fundamental idea of Christian Science on this point. He declared Satan, who all agree is the author of sin, to be a self-constituted "liar," and he referred to his offspring, "his own," as "a lie." He said of Satan that he "abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him," which is equivalent to saying that Satan is simply deception, and that his offspring is false. In order to escape the effects of deception one must first recognize that it is deception, then deport himself accordingly. Hence the teaching of Christian Science that one must first uncover wrong and then overcome it with truth, following the Master's suggestion to "overcome evil with good."

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