Article June 11, 1910 Issue

One critic says that the Bible "is the book of God" and...

Howard C. Van Meter

Portland (Ore.) Telegram

One critic says that the Bible "is the book of God" and also "the book of man's sin." Christian Scientists believe that the Bible teaches the allness of God, and likewise points out the evil effects that follow disobedience to Him. Jesus said, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin;" that is, they had no excuse for longer failing to recognize the subtlety of sin and to turn from it, and so cease to be servants of it. He also said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin;" and to avoid doing this there must be a recognition of its claims and a repudiation of them, based upon an understanding of God as the only creator.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 461) Mrs. Eddy writes, "To prove scientifically the error or unreality of sin, you must first see the claim of sin, and then destroy it." The quickened sense of God's allness means, likewise, a quickened perception of the falsity of evil, and thus enables man to refuse obedience to it and avoid the suffering which would otherwise characterize his experience. Those who are believing in and proving the teachings of Christian Science give the best evidence of its verity, and it seems strange that critics overlook the general conduct of this body of people, and attribute an effect resulting from the teaching that is so well disproved in the actual experience of those adhering thereto. The Christian Scientist is endeavoring to lessen sorrow and pain in the world, and he is entitled to be so credited, even if his way is different from that of some others, and it would hardly appear that any one should object to their abolishment from human experience.

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