Article July 18, 1908 Issue

In your report of a sermon delivered last Sunday morning...

Herbert M. Beck—Little Rock, Ark.

Arkansas Gazette

In your report of a sermon delivered last Sunday morning [April 26], the minister brings out the statement that "in spite of the claims of Christian Scientists that all forms of physical suffering are amenable to the will of the individual," people still die. That short statement implies a thorough misapprehension of Christian Science, which depends not at all upon the individual will of any man or woman, but upon the unchangeable will of God; who is good, who is Love, who made man in His image and likeness, and of whom mortal man with his unseemly desires and limitations is but a travesty. When Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing," how much more should we give God all the glory!

That people still die is not more lamentable to any than to Christian Scientists, but Christian Scientists do not believe in the reality of death. If our critic does, his belief differs from Christian Science. The latter teaches, as Paul also declared, that death is to be overcome through Christ Jesus. The preacher can find no Christian Science church teaching that its members, or the generations of men as we know them, shall not die; they know that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." But they pray daily (as the doctor, no doubt, does also) that the will of God be done "in earth, as it is in heaven;" they expect to realize the answer to this prayer, and are satisfied to watch and work meanwhile, and strive to obey all the Scriptural commandments, not forgetting that one of the Master's, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." If the doctor says this commandment was given only to the twelve apostles, what of the words of Jesus, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.... If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments"?

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