Editorial November 7, 1908 Issue

"WHY WILL YE DIE?"

John B. Willis

The Bible offers no instance of loving and prophetic appeal which is more argumentative and more telling than that recorded in the 18th chapter of Ezekiel, and summarized in the words: "Cast away from you all your transgressions, . . . for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" The logical import of this appeal is expressed by Mrs. Eddy, when she says, "The so-called sinner is a suicide" (Science and Health, p. 203).

If, as all Christian teaching declares, sin brings death, then consciously to identify or affiliate oneself with sin — with any falsity of statement or belief — is to contribute to sin's end, and though the offense be far removed from any purposeful endeavor to terminate existence, it is not different therefrom in progressive effect, and the realization of this fact gives a new significance not only to Ezekiel's word, but to Paul's when he says, "Be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing." Were it not for the belief in the reality of evil and its asserted power of reproduction, it would speedily effect its own extermination, for whether its end be determined in a climax of abnormity or in the unnumbered moments when men consent to the indulgence of material sense, — give material sense its way, and it always registers the same unvarying effect, namely, the so-called death of that which enters into it and depends upon it for life.

In the light of Christian Science it is clearly seen that, unless arrested by truth, the cycle of material belief can but close with a tragedy which is contributed to and assured by our every assent to the belief that there is life and intelligence apart from God. Belief in materiality, its power to give pleasure or pain, — this always tips the beam toward error's goal. Men look to mortal conditions as an end, and they are deceived and defeated, for the reason that, as Paul says, the "end of those things is death." Whatever the circumstance or condition, all have the same lessons to learn, namely, that the pleasures of sense cannot satisfy the heart, and that every alliance with error is suicidal.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Editorial
TEMPERANCE
November 7, 1908
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit