Editorial July 24, 1915 Issue

Salvation Demonstrated

Annie M. Knott

There is perhaps no statement in Science and Health of greater importance to its students than the definition of salvation given on page 593, which reads as follows: "Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed." A dictionary definition of the word is, "Preservation or deliverance from destruction, danger, or great calamity." While there are theological definitions which deal to a large extent with the future, this one recalls in a most vivid way the experience of the Israelites at the Red sea, when Moses said, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today." This text in turn reminds us of Paul's statement, "Behold, now is the day of salvation," for to the Christian Scientist every day brings an opportunity to prove in fuller measure the meaning of salvation; and with the psalmist each one can say, "I will rejoice in thy salvation,"—rejoice in it today and every day.

All who come to Christian Science come seeking salvation, though few perhaps think of it in this way. Many would indeed be offended were they told their real need is salvation, which, according to St. Peter, is "ready to be revealed in the last time." To many such it is indeed their "last time," when all earthly expedients have failed and hope is well-nigh dead; but when the real intent of Christian Science dawns upon them, it is the beginning of a new day, one "with the Lord," which means more than a thousand years of uncertain beliefs as to the power and goodness of God. When help is sought and found in Christian Science, it is not mere relief from suffering which is gained, but the "knowledge of salvation" of which we read in Luke's gospel, knowledge which gives "light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." Christ Jesus said that to know God is life. This knowing is salvation, for it unfolds into a demonstration of the supremacy of Life, Truth, and Love over all evil. Would any one argue that aught less than this is salvation? It certainly would not be to the one who has begun to work out his problem in the Christ-way. He reaches out for "full salvation" (Science and Health, p. 406), and here our revered Leader assures us that this will be attained when, "in place of modes and forms, the power of God is understood and demonstrated in the healing of mortals, both mind and body."

There are a good many who when they begin to seek healing in Christian Science are too timid or too indolent to respond in the true way to Paul's counsel, "Work out your own salvation ;" or if they see the advisability of so doing, they are apt to think and speak of the undertaking as if it were a slow and uncertain process, largely dependent upon the time element, although Paul says it is "now." Salvation is beyond all question an eternal fact to God, infinite Mind, and if we would oftener drop the mortal sense of things and know that man as God's idea mirrors divine perfection, we should address ourselves to our task with new courage and joy. This does not mean that the helping hand of another should be rejected, but it does mean that the truest aid which a Christian Scientist can give to any sufferer is so to liberate his thought from the bondage of pain and its attendant fear that he can bravely and intelligently work out his own salvation from all that is unlike God.

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