Article February 27, 1915 Issue

A recent issue reports a sermon wherein Christian Science...

W. D. Kilpatrick

Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press

A recent issue reports a sermon wherein Christian Science is pointed out as "representative of the spirit of antichrist." The article does not outline wherein Christian Science is considered in this light, but for the information of your readers I ask permission to state briefly where, as a Christian Scientist, I consider the critic errs in his conclusions.

The "spirit of antichrist" is manifestly that state of mind wherein one assumes an attitude of opposition to the Christ, Truth, as demonstrated by Jesus; in fact, wherein one undertakes to deny God, for the Christ cannot be denied without denying God. The denial of Christ, Truth, that is, the God-principle which Jesus manifested to us and which he explained and demonstrated by "signs following," must necessarily constitute the "spirit of antichrist" alluded to. Therefore to include any person or set of persons under this term "antichrist," it is self-evident that all so included must be holding a position diametrically opposed to God, to Christ Jesus, or the God-idea, which it was Jesus' mission more firmly to establish with men. The question then remains, Does Christian Science deny the Christ-teaching, or does it affirm it? In reply it is well for us to remember Jesus' words, "By their fruits ye shall know them." According to the teaching of Christian Science, the only true test of one's belief in or understanding of any fundamental truth is that of actual results by the application of that truth. Jesus taught that the "fruits" by which we are to be known are humbleness, meekness, purity, love, and the like, and spiritual understanding, that understanding of the Christ which enables us to follow the Master's injunction when he said, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils."

Christian Science is a religion of love. It teaches that with love we should overcome hate, envy, jealousy, and kindred elements of the carnal mind, and that with the more complete understanding of the divine Mind, or God, we are to follow the example of the Master in overcoming sin, sickness, want, woe, unhappiness, and all inharmony. From the Bible we learn that God creates and governs all things; that the divine Mind includes all true phenomena. On page 169 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "Whatever teaches man to have other laws and to acknowledge other powers than the divine Mind, is antichristian."

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