Article December 25, 1915 Issue

A false statement is made by our critic, who asserts that...

John M. Tutt

Kirksville (Mo.) Democrat

A false statement is made by our critic, who asserts that Christian Science "really denies the divinity of Christ, the chief corner-stone of the whole structure of Christianity." Now as a matter of fact the Christian Science text-book abounds with statements, line upon line, precept upon precept, to establish the fact of Christ's divinity. Throughout "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" are to be found paragraphs such as the following from page 583: "Christ. The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."

In affirming the divinity of Christ, Christian Science does not, however, fall into the error of teaching that Jesus was God. Refusal to accept such a doctrine fully accords with Jesus' vehement denials that he was Deity. He said plainly and by inference that he was a man, "the Son of God." To understand the Christian Science teaching on this point it is necessary to get the proper distinction between Jesus the man and Christ, Truth, as demonstrated in the life of Jesus. This Christ enabled the Master to promise his followers what it would have been impossible for the fleshly Jesus to fulfil: "Lo, I am with you alway." Mrs. Eddy says, "The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus" (Science and Health, p. 25). The way of salvation from sin, sickness, and death is the way Jesus trod. It lies through the demonstration of the lives of all his disciples, for it is the Christ, Truth, that shall make you free, even "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Just why an evangelist who essays to carry Jesus' message of salvation to the erring should turn aside to ridicule and abuse a teaching that he manifestly does not understand, but which is itself doing a great evangelical work in saving multitudes from sin and disease through Christ, is inexplicable on any Christian ground. It is hopeless for any one to study Christian Science through prejudiced eyes and expect to arrive at its real meaning. But it is possible for such a one to observe in the lives of his fellow men the fruits of the practice of Christian Science by those who do understand it.

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