Article May 16, 1914 Issue

I was much interested in reading Mr.—'s remarks on...

Marie Hartman—The Hague, Holland. (Translation)

Eenheid

I was much interested in reading Mr.—'s remarks on the article from The North American Review entitled "Must Protestantism Adopt Christian Science?" and on Prof. Hermann S. Hering's lecture. It is not quite clear to me how the critic can frankly admit that apostolic, living Christianity has been revived in Christian Science, and yet oppose the proposition, submitted in the article from The North American Review, that "Protestantism must substantially adopt the faith and practice of Christian Science if its churches are to fulfil their mission to the world." It seems to me that to admit the first point necessarily requires the acceptance of the second.

Christian Science does not pretend to be something new; it admits that in all ages some people have found help for soul and body through drawing near to God in prayer. This only confirms its teaching,—that God's law is immutable, the same as when Jesus demonstrated it in his life and works, his resurrection and ascension. Spiritual understanding enabled Jesus to do all these works, which are no violations but fulfilments of God's eternal laws, and the existence of these laws carries with it the necessity to obey them. Christian Science teaches that those people whom the critic calls the "specially endowed," did not receive more than others, but did accept more of what proceeds from God. Christian Science shows the way to the discernment that all men belong to the "specially endowed," because all have the privilege of becoming "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." This Truth—the healing and saving Christ—is the gospel which Christian Science explains and works out, and its "scientific, philosophic frame" is probably of greater value than many suppose.

The critic thinks that Professor Hering is mistaken when he speaks as if to know and to will are identical; but does not absolute knowing always carry with it the willingness to act accordingly? Is a special action of our will necessary to solve our mathematical problems according to the rules which we know to be unchanging? Does not the unwillingness to obey what we know to be true show that the knowing is still so defective or the insight so clouded that we believe it possible that right results or satisfaction may be obtained along some other way? When one acts against his conscience, he has a vague expectation to attain something or to experience joy, and a slight hope in some way or other to escape punishment, viz., the results.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

I was much interested in reading Mr.—'s remarks on...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access