Article March 21, 1908 Issue

From its own standpoint, what does Christian Science...

Charles K. Skinner

Grand Rapids (Mich.) Herald

From its own standpoint, what does Christian Science claim to do? First and foremost, it changes the thought of the individual from fear to confidence, from sin or evil to good, from hatred to love, from envy and selfishness to kindness and generosity, from deceit to sincerity, from vain-glory to humility, from sensuality to purity, from Illtemper to gentleness, from avarice and dishonesty to justice. While these things are being brought about, physical ailments of every nature are being destroyed, for in the mental realm are all the seeds of physical discord sown.

Christian Scientists make no discrimination between the healing of functional, organic, nervous, or mental disease. Why should they, if they are following the rules laid down by the Master who was the greatest teacher the world ever knew? If they do aught else than they are trying to do, — if they attempt to mix Spirit with drugs, the divine Mind with matter, the spiritual understanding with a diagnosis of the mortal body, — they certainly are not emulating Jesus' works. He told his disciples, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." Of those who came for help the Master asked no questions as to disease. he met the abnormal conditions and cast them out, separating the man from the evil that held him. To one he said, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee," intimating that if he returned to his old habits he would suffer again. To his followers the Master said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Is this true? If so, the time is at hand when every minister in Christ's vineyard should lay aside faith in matter, and awake to the true meaning of the Master's words.

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