Editorial April 3, 1915 Issue

"No other gods"

Archibald McLellan

Since the beginning of the present war, the Christian church has come in for more or less criticism at the hands of the religious press, because the church in the centuries of its existence has failed to put an end to the conditions which have made possible in this twentieth century the most brutal and devastating war in centuries. In considering this criticism it is well, however, to remember that the church is but an aggregation of individuals, and that criticism of the church is not necessarily criticism of Christianity.

The value of any institution must be in the appeal it makes to the individuals who compose it, so to order their daily lives that they will show forth the fruit of their professions. If therefore the criticism to which we have referred will induce Christians to be more consistent with their professions, it will prove its value. Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them," and it is by this standard the world will pass judgment on all who profess to be his disciples.

Mrs. Eddy has definitely stated the fundamental of Christian Science to be the oneness and allness of God. This necessarily requires the keeping of that commandment, of which she writes on page 340 of Science and Health as follows: "'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' (Exodus xx. 3.) The First Commandment is my favorite text. It demonstrates Christian Science. It inculcates the triunity of God, Spirit, Mind; it signifies that man shall have no other spirit or mind but God, eternal good, and that all men shall have one Mind. The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal. One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Likeness and Revelation