Article March 21, 1914 Issue

Christianity is capable of accurate definition

Henry Deutsch—St. Paul, Minn.

Pioneer Press

Christianity is capable of accurate definition. It is the religion that was taught by Jesus, and the test is the fulfilment or the nonfulfilment of what he taught. The epitome of his precepts is found in the doctrine of love, in the extension of which he made no reservations, and for the absence of which he granted no extenuation. It is summarized in the Sermon on the Mount, of which two injunctions are particularly appropriate to the present discussion,—"Judge not," and that extreme of the doctrine of love which enjoined upon men even to love their enemies.

Jesus also left certain infallible proofs by which his disciples and adherents might be known: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Can our clerical critic qualify under these tests? Christian Science does. The cardinal underlying Principle on which it is founded is Love.

For more than forty years Christian Science has been performing the works of the Master, healing the sick, saving the sinning, giving sight to the blind, antidoting the effects of poison, restoring the lame, the deaf, and in many instances lifting from the bed of death hopeless cases afflicted with so-called fatal, incurable diseases. The growth of Christian Science tends to remove the need of hospitals, and the poor and needy are best cared for by showing them how to take care of themselves, namely, by faith in and the power of God. Thus we would make them upright, self-respecting citizens, instead of perennial paupers.

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