Editorial January 25, 1913 Issue

"YE ARE MY WITNESSES"

John B. Willis

There was never a time, surely, when the world was in greater need than it is today of witnesses to the truth, those who in humble walks and ways make it convincingly appear to men; and whatever our own sense of delinquency, we may rejoice that consecrated Christian Scientists are bringing this about, and that every one of us may have a part in this great achievement for God.

In the early days of Christianity some of the most effective ministers were plain, unschooled commoners. They were quite innocent of the wisdom of the schools, they made no pretense of being anybody, and yet from these Christ Jesus selected those who were to assume the greatest responsibility and receive the highest commission ever assigned to men, namely, to preach his gospel and heal the sick. Despite this fact, however, Christian ministry is thought of by most Christian people today as the prerogative and distinction of a limited class, and this at once places it under a handicap. The appeal of the ecclesiastic can but be the less effective, in so far as his activity is thought of as professional, as being prompted by a motive which is not wholly disinterested, and this prejudice often gives the business man entree where the clergy are practically excluded.

That every Christian Scientist should be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in him, is therefore a matter not only of primary importance to his own growth and satisfaction, but it immediately concerns the dissemination of the truth for which he stands. It is the individual demonstration that sickness and sin can be healed through "faith in God," and the consistent testimony thereto by Christian Scientists in their business and social contact with men, which counts for the advance of this cause, and the adequate "minister of Christ" is he who has proved the verity of the Master's teaching and who is wise and tactful in presenting it to others. As Mrs. Eddy has reminded us on page 37 of Science and Health, the declaration "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord" is nothing less than the call of God to each and every one of us to exercise and enter into the joy of all the privileges of Christian priesthood. Theoretically, Protestantism has always stood for this idea, but in denying that the believer can do the Master's works today in proof of the truth of his teaching, it not only does not inspire men to make the effort to fulfil this individual ministry, it practically interdicts the undertaking. Christian Science is a return to the faith and habit of the early Christians in this regard, and the world is rapidly recognizing it as such.

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