Editorial March 23, 1907 Issue

TRUTH ALL SUFFICIENT

Annie M. Knott

Many will undoubtedly read with interest the recent statement of a Boston clergyman, that "people generally feel the need of getting more from religion than in the past; and we need to find more in it, in order to meet our present sociological problems." To this he adds, "We believe that the religion of Christ is adapted to sickness as well as to health;" an admission which will be gladly received by all Christian Scientists, since they have for many years been proving that the "religion of Christ," scientifically understood, is the only means by which healing in its true sense can be realized. There is nothing more sure than that divine law, as demonstrated by Christ Jesus, does heal the sick, and until this law is clearly understood and applied intelligently, attempts to do this much-needed work will result in disappointment.

No one can consistently deny that it is our materiality which obscures for us the light of Spirit, God, and thus hinders the universal demonstration of health and holiness; that our belief in material law interferes with our full recognition of spiritual law and its health-giving power. Further, no one can deny that it was the spirituality of Christ Jesus which brought healing to the needy thousands in his day. This being admitted, it would seem that all his sincere followers must be led to see the necessity of emergency from material belief in order that the same spirituality may be unfolded in them, for thus only can his mighty healing work be repeated. That all Christians will sooner or later recognize this necessity there can be no doubt, for an era of great spiritual unfoldment is unquestionably here, and it only remains for them to grasp the laws by which Truth operates in bringing to humanity salvation from sin, disease, and death.

While many have denied that healing by spiritual means is any part of the religion of Christ Jesus, this mistaken belief has been almost entirely swept away by the floods of testimony to the contrary which have come from Christian Scientists, and it is at last being admitted, even by some of the most conservative of religionists, that this healing should have a place in the Christian Church. The foundation for spiritual healing was laid long since in the ministry of Christ Jesus, and we may well remember the words of St. Paul, "Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." The foundation is spiritual, and if any one attempt to build upon it the "wood, hay, stubble" of material theories and beliefs, the apostle tells us that "the day shall declare it," and the fire shall try it. Of the one whose work will not stand this test, Paul says, "He shall suffer loss." To the votaries of material sense the knowledge of evil—of sin and disease—still seems a thing "to be desired to make one wise," but Paul's words may well be deeply pondered, "If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." The knowledge of disease and its asserted laws has not saved mankind from disease and death, because disease and sin have no principle; hence evil is not in the true sense a subject of knowledge, although in the material treatment of disease the contrary belief is the basis of practice, and theories of disease absorb almost the entire attention of the medical student, to the exclusion of spiritual law, which alone can bring healing worthy to be called Christian.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

TRUTH ALL SUFFICIENT

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access