Article May 15, 1909 Issue

Christian Science declares that the self which Jesus...

J. V. Dittemore

New York Globe

Christian Science declares that the self which Jesus urged his followers to deny was the material self, the "old man" referred to by Paul. With this interpretation, abstinence becomes something more deeply searching, more comprehensive than a mere fleshly penance. Only through unceasing prayer can we approach the standard of righteousness demanded by the Master. Not at one time more than another is it necessary to strive for that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," for only by bringing forth the "fruits" of Christianity continually can we prove our right to be called his true disciples.

The mission of the Christian religion is to save men from evil, to disclose the beauty of holiness, and to make goodness a practical and every-day possibility. This was the mission of the Founder of the Christian religion, who said, "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus' theology was in advance of the Mosaic law. He preached the gospel of divine Love, which heals and saves. The Mosaic law was a code of condemnation, and St. Paul saw that there was "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." It is this rejuvenating doctrine of divine compassion and love which Christian Science is preaching today. Under its illuminating instruction men are making a consistent and cheerful effort to recognize themselves in the image and likeness of God. Under this benign teaching of our Lord, to which Christian Science calls attention, men are learning that it is worth while to be good, to be Godlike, not because they are in fear of a penalty for wrong-doing, but because they have what Mrs. Eddy calls "an affection for good according to Science" (Science and Health, p. 327). The gospel of Jesus Christ shows the way by which we are to work out our own salvation. Fasting to the Christian Scientist is more a mental than a material process; it is an aspiration rather than an effort at repression. To fast is to deny the appeal of materiality; it means entrance into "the secret place of the most High."

When Christian Science discloses to its students the substance of Mind, the. reality of being in God, the permanence and glory of spiritual existence, self-surrender is no task. To deny self, according to Jesus' theology, was not to deny one's existence, nor yet did it mean to give up any good thing. With the understanding supplied by Christian Science it is not so difficult to deny the self of material existence, because we are learning that this denial entails no loss, but means only the discovery that man is a son of God.

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