Editorial January 28, 1911 Issue

A LIVING FAITH

Archibald McLellan

The one great question in which Christian Scientists are supremely interested, the one which should interest every professed follower of the Master, the one which, however long delayed or ignored, comes home at last to every thoughtful man and woman with the sharp thrust of fear or despair, is the one which was asked of Paul and Silas by the Roman jailer; namely, "What must I do to be saved?" Their answer was both direct and explicit: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Every Christian will, of course, at once declare that he agrees with the disciples in their answer to this vital question, and that he fully endorses it; but this statement really means much or little, according to the individual viewpoint; that is, what he understands by the words "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." If to him they mean no more than the profession of a belief that Christ Jesus did live and labor in Palestine nineteen hundred years ago, and that he and his immediate followers did perform the works of healing with which they are accredited, but that these "mighty works" and this gift of healing were only for that time and generation,—if this constitutes his belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not sufficient to save him from the evils which the Master promised should not hurt "them that believe."

Jesus' own words, as recorded by Mark, are perfectly clear on this point. Certain specific "signs" were to "follow," in token of the genuineness of their belief. Not only did he delcare that in his name they should cast out devils (the sinning sense), and heal the sick, but they were to handle without harm the poisonous viper (as Paul did, not many years after), and if it happened that they drank some "deadly thing," nevertheless no hurt should come to them. "Them that believe"—not only in that day, but throughout all time! But theirs must be no passive belief, no mere acceptance of the Christ as the Son of God come down to earth for the redemption of mankind, but an active, living faith that should enable them to do the same healing works which he had performed, and the "greater works than these" which he had promised.

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