Editorial December 2, 1916 Issue

Gospel Testimonies

Annie M. Knott

Even if the beginner in Christian Science has been a church member for many years, he is usually surprised to discover how many testimonies of healing there are in the gospels, for the healing of the sick was not a distinguishing feature in the work of his own church, as it is in the Church of Christ, Scientist. He had probably received the impression from his religious instructors that healing by spiritual means was a thing of the past and had no relation to one's religious experience at the present day; therefore the cases of healing given in the gospels—and they are very numerous—had been passed over, with perchance a deep regret that these things were no longer possible.

It however often happens that little children eagerly read the gospel stories of healing in the dear Master's ministry, and sorrowfully ask, when they themselves or some one dear to them is ill, why God does not heal us today as He did in Jesus' time. It is by no means easy for them to accept the oft repeated argument that the Christ-healing belongs to another age, for there is nothing in the gospels which would support such a belief; and so they continue to hope, until they finally come to accept the almost universal verdict that God no longer heals by spiritual means, but works through material remedies. Happily, however, a hope which has its roots in the spiritual fact can never be wholly crushed, so it appears again when the need is greatest, and Christian Science teaches us that as Jesus' work was based upon eternal, divine Principle, it is therefore with us forever.

Our revered Leader gives us in no uncertain terms her estimate of the value of the healing work of Christian Science, and the testimony to this healing which should always follow it. In Article VIII of the Manual of The Mother Church, Section 24, she says, "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important." This section further states that testimony in Christian Science shall not include "a description of symptoms or of suffering,"—a requirement which has perhaps not yet been clearly understood by Christian Scientists. They of course learn at the time of their own healing that to talk about disease or any other phase of error not only is wrong, but in many instances is a very serious hindrance to the recovery of the sick. The ability to state clearly and definitely the wonderful power of divine Truth, as manifested to human sense in the overcoming of sickness and suffering as well as the belief in sin, is however a matter of spiritual growth; and our understanding of the spiritual law of healing is greatly quickened by a faithful and intelligent study of the gospel narratives of healing. The literary beauty of these passages alone makes the study well worth while, and we finally begin to perceive that the fewness of the words actually gives larger room for the expression of the divine idea.

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