Editorial October 15, 1910 Issue

"THEM THAT BELIEVE"

Archibald McLellan

We often hear people say that they believe implicitly in the Bible, but when we attempt to reconcile their actions with this statement, we find that the point of view of the individual enters largely into the matter, and that their belief in the Bible is simply a belief in their own interpretation of the Scriptures.

A case in point is the common interpretation of the 8th verse of the 5th chapter of Peter's first epistle: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." It can be readily seen that the interpretation given to this verse by one who literally believes that there is a personal devil, and that evil is as real as is good, would be entirely different from that of one who knows that there is no personal devil, nor can be, because there is but one creator, God, and it is inconceivable that He could have created evil and "the father of it."

It is essential, therefore, in order to interpret the Scriptures and to form a correct concept of man's relation to God, and God's relation to the universe, that we first have some premise which is entirely consistent with God's nature and omnipotence. Herein lies the incalculable value of the service that Mrs. Eddy has rendered humanity, in the promulgation and demonstration of her discovery that there is a divine Principle and that this Principle can be scientifically demonstrated.

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