Article October 2, 1909 Issue

A recent correspondent expressed the opinion that Christian Science...

Jesse Pickard

Brooklyn (N. Y.) Eagle

A recent correspondent expressed the opinion that Christian Science had a very limited sense of God's goodness, in that it failed to recognize what he declared to be plain to himself and others, namely, divine wisdom in the permission of sin, with the purpose of making goodness more apparent.

Christian Science is waging successful warfare upon evil of every sort, and in so doing it neither calls evil good nor good evil. Christian Scientists strive to follow the example and commands of Christ Jesus in healing the sick and overcoming sin. And they recognize that this work must be in fulfilment of the law of God, which, indeed, Jesus himself declared. If the all-wise and supreme power caused evil, it would not be our privilege or province to annul His decree, and your correspondent would have no basis for his statement that "it is for us to choose life or death."

Without a correct understanding of God's standpoint it would seem impossible to pray with that positive faith or conviction which Jesus required, and this may perhaps indicate a sufficient reason why there is so much doubt as to the efficacy of the prayer of blind supplication. Paul admonishes the Romans to "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God;" and the teachings and practices of Christian Science support the fact that evil is neither lawful nor God-ordained, and that it is therefore wholly destructible. On this basis Christian Scientists are gaining more and more ability to master evil in the Christ way, replacing sickness, evil, and despair with life and peace.

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