Article January 16, 1915 Issue

In a recent issue appears a report of a local meeting...

William D. Kilpatrick—Benton Harbor, Mich.

News-Palladium

In a recent issue appears a report of a local meeting wherein a critic misstates the attitude of Christian Science on the subject of sin. The critic's position is explained in his words: "Sin is no idle fancy! Sin is a fact. Sin is a moral disease which is destined to live as long as God lives." It is not only quite plain that the gentleman would have us accept God as the author of sin, but from his point of view it would be foolish and futile to attempt to rid ourselves of sin in any way.

Now, one of the two following conditions must be correct: First, if God created sin it must be true and a part of His creation, as permanent as God Himself, and incapable of destruction. Secondly, if God did not create sin it is no part of His creation, hence must be untrue, without permanency, having only such power and dominion as we wish to give it in our belief. We have ample Biblical authority for choosing the latter condition as a basis of endeavor in combating sin. If God did create sin, then it is part of His creation, and we could not if we would, and should not if we could, escape the dire results thereof.

In Genesis we read: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ... And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Jesus said, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil," and aside from healing the sick, his one chief mission was to destroy sin. Is it logical, then, to conclude that as the Son of God, Jesus came to destroy the works of God? Most certainly it is not! But if we are to continue the belief that God is the author of sin, we may as well cease right now all attempts at ridding ourselves of its effects, for sin can never be mastered by any one, either for himself or for another, who believes that God is responsible for it. Christian Science teaches, as does the Bible, that God did not create sin, and that only through this understanding can the absolute nothingness of sin be perceived and its mastery be made possible. Sin will remain with us only so long as mankind is willing to concede its authority, and no longer.

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