Editorial January 1, 1916 Issue

"Quick, and powerful"

Annie M. Knott

Most Christian people have read Paul's statement that "the word of God is quick, and powerful," but very few, apart from those who accept the teachings of Christian Science, think of applying in a practical way the truth therein expressed. Not only is this so, but in many cases professed Christians unhesitatingly deny that the "word" is quick enough to meet human need in the case of illness, thus denying Truth's inherent power as well as its readiness to meet without delay legitimate demand. It is even held to be criminal to depend upon God's word, because its action is unseen by the physical senses, and the utter inconsistency of this position should be apparent to those who profess to accept the Scriptural teaching that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, . . . the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." The healing of sickness is surely among these things, if we are to judge by what Jesus did for suffering humanity.

Those who are willing to face this question fearlessly and honestly, must admit that hesitation about relying upon the divine word to heal is due to the belief that spiritual power is an unknown quantity, and that mortals are more familiar with matter and material means, such as drugs and the like. This naturally raises the question as to why Christian people should so long have overlooked the injunction, "Acquaint now thyself with him [God], and be at peace," when the reward of a closer acquaintance with God is sure proof that His word is both quick and powerful.

Too much cannot be said respecting Mrs. Eddy's sublime courage in standing by her discovery that divine power is the only power, and she did not hesitate to say that "to acknowledge any other power is to dishonor God" (Science and Health, p. 228). She at the same time stood by the Scripture teaching that the truth which heals is quicker in its action than is anything to which mortal belief clings with blind faith, and proved this true. This of course could not be denied by any who accepted the gospel statement of Jesus' healing work, but the great demonstration in all the years has been so to spiritualize thought as to enable those who profess to follow the Master to heal as did he, without delay or uncertainty. It often happens that sufferers are terrorized by the statement that unless they at once submit to some material means of cure, usually a surgical operation, it will be too late, this verdict springing from the mistaken belief that the action of Truth is slow, not "quick," as the Bible declares. This dire delusion may truly be characterized as one of the wiles of the devil" which vanish before the light of Truth, and happily many are proving that, as one woman said, "the healing of Truth is quicker than the lightning's flash."

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