Article December 6, 1913 Issue

Our critic speaks of the great central truths of Christianity

John L. Rendall

The Toledo (Iowa) Chronicle

Our critic speaks of the great central truths of Christianity. What are these truths? What denomination, if any, has a monopoly upon them? He states that "they are accepted by countless millions in the Christian denominations." What is it that is thus accepted? Specifically it is those teachings held to and taught by theologians of the past and present as correctly defining true Christianity. In itself, the mere fact of age or the acceptance of any belief by millions, means nothing. The prevalent idea for ages was that the earth was flat and that the sun moved. This misconception was older than theology and accepted by more millions of people than was theology; but this, in itself, did not make an untruth true, despite the evidence of the human senses upon which our critic lays so much stress.

To whatever extent the teachings of theologians are demonstrably true, to whatever extent they measure up to the standard of compliance with the complete gospel of Christ, which was and is a healing gospel, these teachings will stand, and this quite independent of any "ology" or "ism." Truth is because God is. Truth is true whether mankind believes it or not. That which does not conform to the eternal law of Truth, will be relegated to the obscurity which awaits every false or imperfect concept, whether it be a misconception of Christianity or of some other teaching. Therefore, the mere fact of the acceptance of certain teaching by millions, does not of itself make this teaching true or Christian; neither does it give one the right to stigmatize as antichristian a teaching which may differ at some points.

Christian Science must be judged, not by what its critics say against it, but by its essential Christianity, by what it really is, and by what it is accomplishing. It must be judged, not by whether it conforms to certain accepted standards or beliefs, but solely by the vital questions: Does it conform to the teachings of Jesus Christ? Is it fulfilling the essential mission of the religion he taught, which surely is the healing of the sick and the reformation of the sinner? Christian Scientists emphatically declare, as the result of their experience, that it does so conform, and they prove this declaration in their daily lives. In every Christian Science church on every Wednesday night, all over this and other lands, thousands of God-fearing people who are the direct beneficiaries of this healing, saving religion, bear willing and grateful testimony to its efficiency as a healing and redemptive teaching. These people are well and favorably known in their several communities. They command the respect and esteem of their friends and neighbors. In any ordinary court of law their testimony would be considered unimpeachable, because their integrity as citizens is unquestionable. They are Christian Scientists because of what Christian Science has done for them. When all else had failed, the power of God through Christian Science healed them.

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Our critic speaks of the great central truths of Christianity

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