Article July 20, 1912 Issue

Christian Science recognizes that all power, all knowledge,...

Ezra W. Palmer

Rocky Ford (Col.) Enterprise

Christian Science recognizes that all power, all knowledge, all presence, all action, is vested in God, Spirit, and that therefore the real universe which He created is spiritual, perfect, and harmonious. Evil, sin, disease, poverty, death, are not therefore a part of the spiritual universe, because they are contrary to the nature of God. Relying wholly on Spirit, Jesus, the apostles and prophets, healed the sick and attained that poise and freedom which have made them true models for manhood ever since. It is interesting to note that throughout Bible history the wonder-workers, hypnotists, witches, magicians, and mesmerists attempted to emulate the genuine works of those who relied on God. Thus the magicians of Egypt strove to do the works of Moses; the prophets of Baal, the deeds of Elijah. In the Old Testament constant warnings by the prophets are given the people against false wonder-workers; and so clearly was this distinction known to the people that even in the time of Jesus the Pharisees attempted to discredit his works by imputing his power to Beelzebub, the alleged god of materiality. The human mind or carnal mind, which St. Paul declares "is enmity against God," is not a healer. In fact, St. Paul declares in another place that it is the "old man" (the carnal mind) which must be put off, before the "new man" (the mind of Christ) can be put on, "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

The critic finds some fault with Christian Science because it emphasizes good to the exclusion of evil. I am quite well aware that some psychologists and philosophers have promulgated the theory that a knowledge of evil is necessary in order to appreciate the good; that it is necessary to know darkness in order to see light; that a man can gain knowledge only by comparing better with worse, and that evil is an inevitable and necessary concomitant of good. This seems to be the position of our critic when he states "we could have no apprehension or appreciation of 'good' except for the contrasting experiences that we call 'bad.' "

It will be remembered that this was the argument used by the serpent in the garden of Eden to our first parents. They were urged to eat of "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" and become as gods. But the penalty of attempting to mingle good and evil was then and now the same—death. Moses declared of man that he should "love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." Jesus ever declared that his power, his light, and his inspiration came from God. He repudiated any reliance on evil or negative conditions whatsoever. In fact, he declared that man must look to God only for wisdom and guidance. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent," was his prayer. He also taught that knowledge of a dual universe was fatal to true living. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon," he declared. Christian Science accepts the Bible teaching of full and complete reliance on God and repudiates the doctrine that evil is in any manner essential or necessary.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors