Article December 22, 1906 Issue

WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO?

REV. MARTIN SINDELL.

We sometimes meet people who desire all the benefits which Christian Science promises, but who unreasonably find fault with its teachings. If they would but stop and ask themselves the question, What good does this critical attitude of mine do? they would in every instance answer, It does no good. Finding fault with the textbook of Christian Science never helped any one to gain an iota of spiritual understanding; never made people well, happy, or prosperous. If all who are inclined to be critical will for the moment forget personality, and try to imbibe the beautiful, uplifting, and refreshing truths in Science and Health, they will find, as they begin to rise out of their erroneous ways of thinking and living, that they have lost all desire to find fault, either with its message, or with the messenger who was good and wise enough to bring such wonderful truth to the world.

Error has always found fault with the truth and with those who have revealed it, but has error ever gained anything thereby? Has it become "more to be desired"? Has it become beautiful, lovable, trustworthy, or helpful? Have the faultfinders who have perhaps unconsciously permitted themselves to become channels for error, become thereby more happy and peaceful? After listening to Jesus, the people of "his own country" were astonished, and said, "From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ...? And they were offended at him." Their faultfinding attitude hid from them the truth which Jesus would have revealed to them in his teachings and his "mighty works." Those who refused to hear the message of John the Baptist said, "He hath a devil." The carnal mind, which according to Paul "is enmity against God," is a poor judge of Truth and its manifestations. The Pharisees said of Jesus, "Behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber, a friend, of publicans and sinners." Yes, he was indeed their friend, but they knew it not. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." The people who found fault with Jesus, accused Paul of being "a pestilent fellow."

Strange as it may seem, it is not those who profess no religious belief or inclinations who find the most fault with the heralds of Truth, and with their message. No, it ever has been that those who profess to love and even teach the truth have been the most bitter in their denunciations of and their antagonism to its clearest statements, if these conflicted with their own opinions.

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