Article June 8, 1907 Issue

In terms Jesus was not called a Christian Scientist

V. O. Strickler—Rochester, N. Y.

The Times,

In terms Jesus was not called a Christian Scientist. He was not even called a Christian. The term Christian was first applied to his followers at Antioch, eight years after the crucifixion. They were Christians, however, before the term was applied to them, and the name merely expressed the fact that they believed the doctrines and performed the works of Christian Jesus.

In like manner, when John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus the direct question as to whether or not he was the one who should come, or if they should look for another, Jesus did not in terms say that he was the Messiah. He merely directed them to tell John the works they had seen him perform, and left John to judge him by these works rather than by his words. This is not only the true test, but is the only test to-day to determine whether a person is a Christian. The fact that a man says he is a Christian does not make him one. Neither does the fact that he believes himself to be a Christian necessarily make him one. Jesus might have declared himself to be the Messiah, but he would not have been the Messiah if he had not fulfilled the Messianic hope and promise.

So it must be with Christian Science. It has the right to be called Christian if it follows the teachings and performs the works of Christ Jesus. Hence, if Christian Science through following his teachings, brings out the results in healing the sick that he did, then he must have been a Christian Scientist in fact, although he was not so designated in specific terms. By the same test it is proved that this Science is also Christian. The question of real interest, then, is as to whether or not Christian Science does heal the sick and regenerate the sinner. If it does, nobody wants to oppose it and everybody wants it. It will be admitted on every hand that the need for healing and regeneration is universal. That Christian Science is meeting this need is shown by its rapidly increasing numbers. There are already so many people living in our very midst who have been cured of the drink evil, of the use of opium and other drugs, and of physical and mental diseases in almost every form, that the fact of Christian Science healing is now established beyond any possibility of doubt.

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In terms Jesus was not called a Christian Scientist

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