The True Basis of Health

John B. Willis

In the references of Christ Jesus to himself the deeply interesting fact is disclosed that the uniqueness of his nature inhered not in the absence of a human sense but in the continuous supremacy of the divine. In one instance he not only specifically recognized the limitations of his human sense but he as specifically declared its unreliability and added that this understanding had immediately to do with salvation.

To the caviling Judaeans who, as John states, were seeking his death, he said, "From myself I can do nothing. If I should testify about myself, my evidence would not be reliable. There is another witness for me; and I know that the evidence which he gave about me is reliable. You have yourself sent to John, and he has given evidence to the truth. I do not, however, accept the evidence of man; but I mention this in order that even you may be saved" (John, v., Ferrar Fenton translation).

The importance of the discrimination thus made by the Master, and the need that we also have it in mind when answering the yet caviling world, is revealed in a recent criticism of Christian Science at the hands of a Boston clergyman, who makes the point that Christian Scientists are grossly inconsistent in declaring that they have been personally healed, or that they know of others who have been healed through Christian Science treatment, since they offer as evidence the testimony of the physical senses, which testimony, as they insist, is altogether untrustworthy and deceptive.

To this it may be replied, first of all, that even material sense-testimony as to health would be an improvement over kindred testimony as to disease, and therefore to realize this improved belief means advance. Hence Jesus' statement to the Jews that the acceptance of John's testimony would have been to their credit and advantage though he himself had a higher source of information. Christian Science teaches that while the acceptance of improved beliefs indicates progress toward spiritual consciousness, this last alone can furnish "reliable" testimony respecting health, which, in truth, is a state of right consciousness and not a state of organized matter. In keeping with this discrimination Mrs. Eddy emphasizes the point that a belief in health as physical may prove a serious impediment to one's escape from disease. The final and only reliable testimony respecting actual conditions is not feeling, but a demonstrable apprehension of Truth. To the materially exacting Thomas, Jesus said, "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed [understood]."

Christian Science makes the further radical and necessary discrimination between the relief of sickness and the healing of sickness. Relief is often secured through a change of thought, which may result, under the prevailing belief of mankind, from any one of unnumbered things, such as the taking of a so-called drug specific, change of climate, massage, the application of electricity, etc. Healing, however, is effected only when the false beliefs of human sense are dissipated through spiritual awakening to the truth of being, in which disease and disharmony can have neither place nor power. The true scientific ground of determination is, therefore, wholly different from that of those who judge from the material basis of physical sense-testimony. In the early stages of his experience a Christian Scientist may accept, place a value upon, the improved belief which is expressed in more normal bodily conditions, but until he has recovered from this state of material dependence he is subject to legitimate criticism, for his position is no less inconsistent than insecure. In due time, however, he learns, through its oft-repeated piercing of his own hands, that the reed of material sense is utterly unreliable and that the true healing, immunity from disease, is realized only as consciousness is exalted to at-one-ment with Him who is Life, Truth, and Love, the All in all in whose perfectness there can be neither sin nor sickness. As Jesus said, it is the Christ-idea, God with us, who alone speaks truly as to the facts of being, and who will prove our safe guide amid the pitfalls of human experience.

John B. Willis.

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The Divine Fatherhood

August 25, 1906

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