In a recent issue, the Rev. Mr.—, in a sermon entitled...

Ezra W. Palmer—Denver, Col.

The Rocky Mountain News

In a recent issue, the Rev. Mr.—, in a sermon entitled "Creation and Science," takes the position that God is the author of pain, and that "pain is the instrument of advance in the realm of moral and spiritual things." The reverend gentleman did not cite any words of Jesus and his apostles in support of this position, but did quote at considerable length that materialistic philosopher, Thomas Huxley.

As a matter of fact, the contention that God is responsible for pain, sin, or death, is wholly untenable from a Scriptural standpoint. All Christian agree that God is infinite, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Jesus said that God is Spirit, and John declared that "God is love." Since, therefore, God is infinite, perfect Spirit, His creation must be like Him, made in His image and likeness. Since these postulates are true, to assume that God created pain, sin, and death, would be to render these evils immortal and spiritual. A person, therefore, would not be justified in attempting to overcome these errors if they are God-created and eternal. Moreover, it would be a hopeless task to attempt, since man cannot change the will of God. Furthermore, to assume that God is the author of pain, or permits it or any other evil to have entity, is to make Him responsible for all disaster, for fire, flood, disease, pestilence, and death. But this is a perverted view of Him whom St. Paul describes as "rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us."

A study of the works of Jesus does not bear out the contention of this minister. Jesus healed all manner of sickness. He never taught that God sent pain or sickness, but he healed human ills by the power of God, and instructed all his disciples that they should follow his example. The doctrine that would make God responsible for human ills is an outgrowth of ignorance of God. When the church was materialized by Constantine, with the resultant loss of its divine healing power, theologians unable to overcome human ills by the power of God, evaded the issue by adopting the convenient doctrine that God created sickness, pain, and sin for the purpose of making men good through the suffering these evils bring. Jesus taught no such dogma. He declared, "The truth shall make you free." It will be noted in this statement that truth alone does the work, and no reference is made to pain as a factor in the process.

Jesus never taught that pain freed mortals from pain, that sin freed from sin, or that death overcomes death. These are self-evident impossibilities. As well assert that a scientific knowledge of light can be gained by studying its negation, darkness. Jesus taught that knowing the Father aright brought freedom from every ill, and he proved it by his works. On another memorable occasion the Master again answered this question when he said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." Where in this is there any place for the theological dogma that impugns the love of God by making Him responsible for human ills?

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