Editorial June 16, 1917 Issue

A Double Deliverance

Archibald McLellan

There is scarcely a Wednesday evening meeting held in a Christian Science church but that one or more persons who have been healed of diseases which to mortal sense are considered extremely dangerous, make the statement that, great as is their gratitude for the physical healing which they experienced, they are still more grateful for the spiritual uplift which accompanied their healing from sickness. To the person who believes that Christian Science is merely a variant of the old style family doctor, and that its only purpose is the curing of aches and pains, this is doubtless an incomprehensible statement. If he has come to the meeting solely through a desire to know whether Christian Science can heal him of his physical sufferings, he may even think that he is being trifled with when something quite apart from ordinary experience is put above freedom from pain.

To such a one sickness seems very real and very burdensome, and he has probably been taught that to regain his health is the one important thing; that almost any sacrifice he might make would not be too great a price to pay for the boon of surcease from pain and anguish. Even if this sacrifice should involve selfishness and possibly sin,—though of course he would be loath to admit this latter statement,—in the desperation which accompanies great physical distress even the outwardly and intentionally good are sometimes unconsciously influenced to cut a sharp corner. "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life," was evil's claim when it sought the overthrow of "a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil;" and many a good man and woman today might succumb under the stress to which Job was subjected, though it is to be remembered that despite his manifold afflictions "in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Later on, if this person is healed in Christian Science, he too finds that the healing of sin and sickness is a coordinate process, and that "man's genuine selfhood is recognizable only in what is good and true" (Science and Health, p. 294). He then realizes that to secure and maintain good health he must also maintain good morals, and that only through the understanding of God which he has acquired in Christian Science, and the practice of its rules, can he be sure of maintaining the sound morals and righteousness which will keep him in health and holiness. In other words, it is necessary for a man to be guided by divine Principle in all his affairs, if he would be "every whit whole,"—if he would reach the perfection of living.

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