Article September 2, 1905 Issue

It is argued that Christian Scientists should take a course...

L. H. Jones

Lexington (Ky.) Herald

It is argued that Christian Scientists should take a course in medicine before they shall be permitted to charge for treating the sick; that they should "possess a reasonable knowledge of the various diseases of the body and their most approved treatment." Permit me, therefore, to call attention to the fact that a part of the duties of a Christian minister, for which he is paid a salary, is to pray for the healing of sick people. Suppose his prayers should be answered and the sick should be healed, would you think his salary should be curtailed because the sick were healed? If it is right to charge for a gospel that does not heal, is it wrong to charge for a gospel that does heal? Would men regard as just a law which, while professing not to interfere with their religion, prohibited Christian ministers from receiving any pay for their services? Christian Scientists do not charge for healing, because they know better than any one that they do not do the healing; but if they give all their time to this work, like the minister they must receive in return enough to pay their living expenses.

Is it important that a minister should take a course in medicine, should possess some special knowledge of a disease and its most approved material remedies, in order to pray intelligently for its healing? Of course not, and why? Because God does not make such knowledge a condition to an answer to prayer; and He does not need that any man should tell Him either the nature of the disease or its remedy. If a medical education is not necessary to a minister in order that his prayer may be answered, why is it necessary in order that the prayer of a Christian Scientist may be answered? Christian Scientists and other Christians pray to the same God, and a Christian Scientist knows that the healing is the answer of God to his prayer. He knows full well that the healing does not depend on his knowledge of medicine and disease, "but in the answer of a good conscience toward God." It is an understanding faith, and not an understanding of disease, that heals the sick.

Judge L. H. Jones.
Lexington (Ky.) Herald.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

It is argued that Christian Scientists should take a course...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access