Article November 15, 1913 Issue

In a recent issue, in reporting the Episcopal conference,...

John M. Henderson—Spokane, Wash.

The Spokesman-Review

In a recent issue, in reporting the Episcopal conference, Bishop Brewer of Montana is quoted as saying: "There is a great deal of good in Christian Science, but their theology is as false as hell. . . . Their theory of healing is all right, and healing was taught by Christ, but we have got away from it." Blunt expressions of opinion, unsupported by argument or testimony, do not satisfy the multitudes of this progressive era who are yearning for a demonstrable knowledge of the truth. The Standard dictionary defines theological science as "the branch of science that treats of God and the relations of God and man." Christian Science accepts the Bible declaration that an infinite and perfect God created man in His own image and likeness, and understands that the seeming separation between God and man is the result of centuries of false teaching, and the consequent seeming existence in the human consciousness of a multitude of false beliefs concerning God and man.

On page 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, may be found the tenets of Christian Science, the first of which reads: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." Would it not be a difficult matter for the bishop to explain how a theology "false as hell" could be deduced from such a foundational tenet? Mrs. Eddy says on page 145 of the same volume: "The theology of Christian Science includes healing the sick. Our Master's first article of faith propounded to his students was healing, and he proved his faith by his works." On page 138 she says further: "Our Master said to every follower: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature! . . . Heal the sick! . . . Love thy neighbor as thyself!' It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning. It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to 'forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.'" The theology of Christian Science is the theology which was taught and practised by Christ Jesus.

The bishop's syllogistic arraignment of Christian Science is a "house divided against itself," and must therefore suffer the proverbial consequences. Accepting any two of his three statements as premises, and reasoning a priori, the remaining statement cannot follow as a logical conclusion, for the stream cannot rise higher than its source; good cannot emanate from evil, or evil from good. If the church, as the bishop confesses, has "got away" from Christian healing, it is because of its failure to understand and obey the command of Jesus to heal the sick as well as to preach the gospel. Jesus said: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;" and, "These signs shall follow them that believe;" namely, the healing of sickness and sin. Manifestly the badge of discipleship is ability to do the works the Master did.

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