Christian Science does not repudiate baptism, but accepts...

Alfred Farlow

Shreveport (La.) Journal

Christian Science does not repudiate baptism, but accepts in its entirety what the Scriptures teach on this subject. It is said that Jesus was baptized by John, declaring, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." John was very much astonished when the Lord came to him, as he knew that Jesus and come to establish an order of baptism differing entirely from that which he himself practised; for John had said of the Christ, "He shall indeed baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."

It is said that Jesus himself baptized no man, that is, with water. It was his mission to lift the world entirely above material ordinances and to teach a purely spiritual method of regenerating mankind, a method which was entirely devoid of symbols; and yet he did not condemn those methods which were in vogue, realizing that they were essential stepping-stones for those who were unprepared for the advanced spiritual method which he came to establish. Later, Paul said: "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; ... and I baptized also the household of Stephanns: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." Paul realized the spiritual essentials of Christianity, and he was thankful to have been lifted above material forms. He was one of the most noted masters of the gospel, and yet he did not recommend water baptism.

It is the teaching of Christian Science that John's baptism should give place to the spiritual baptism which Jesus himself practised. In the latter part of Mark's Gospel is found the statement: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; ... And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." This points to the fact that those who are baptized in a spiritual way are endowed with the spiritual understanding requisite to the destroying of sin and sickness. It is said: "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with sings following."

The material ordinances are referred to in the Scriptures as "shadows" of things to come. It is the teaching of Christian Science that the spiritual Christ has come, that through Christian Science the world is enabled to understand God and His creation from a spiritual point of view, and thereby observe the ordinances in a spiritual sense and set aside the material form. Thus it may be observed that Christian Science does not do away with the ordinances. It simply does away with the material form, and observes them in a more spiritual way, and this too is in keeping with the Scriptural demands.

The gentleman declares that "to liken alleged cures by Christian Science to the miracles of Jesus and his apostles—as is done—is to compare the acts of man to the acts of God." This statement overlooks entirely the point at issue. We do not contend that Christian Scientists or any other class of Christians at this period can heal the sick as successfully as Jesus and his apostles did, and it should be noted that the apostles could not do as well as the Master did. They sometimes failed entirely, as in the case of the young man which is recorded in the Scriptures. It might be said concerning a pupil in mathematics that he cannot demonstrate mathematics as successfully as his teacher, and yet he uses the same rule, is in the right line, and will eventually, if he is faithful, attain to the proficiency of his master. I do not undertake to say to what extent Christian Scientists are following our Lord, nor in what degree they compare with him in results. I only contend that Christian Science has shown the way. Jesus proved what can be done by perfect reliance upon God, while Christian Science shows how the results can he obtained; and Christian Scientists are practising in this line with at least some measure of success.

He also declares: "The miracles of Jesus Christ and of his apostles were in the first place instantaneous, and in no instance was there a delay or a failure." The gentleman should read his Bible through once more. Evidently he has missed a few points. It is said that on one occasion the Master himself gave a man two treatments. After the first treatment the patient saw men as trees walking. After the second he saw clearly. We will admit that this is in the nature of an instantaneous cure, for the delay was not sufficient to be considered seriously; but in the case of the young man the apostles failed altogether, and they brought him to Jesus, inquiring as to why they had not been able to "cast him out," and the Master replied, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." "Prayer and fasting" evidently means whatever is required to demonstrate successfully the truth; namely, a perfectly consecrated life, high spiritual attainment. All who believe in God may be considered Christians to a certain extent, but we insist that no one of us is a believer according to the fulness of divine requirement until he has attained to such an exalted spirituality as will measure up to the demands of our Lord when he said: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect;" and when such a state shall be attained, then there will be no failures in healing the sick.

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