Not Decadence, but Progress

Archibald McLellan

From time to time some of those who it is assumed are authorized to speak for the Christian church, express a somewhat despondent view of the progress of Christianity, from which one might almost feel that the growth of the religion of Christ Jesus has come to an end, and that there is no hope or desire on the part of mankind for a betterment of what are alleged to be the existing conditions. As a sample of these expressions we quote from a well known religious periodical as follows:—

"Two thousand years ago the Prophet of Galilee announced the most daring spiritual program ever conceived. It involved utter reliance upon the certainties of spiritual law, and utter confidence in goodness, a belief in the truth as being able, willing, and sure to care for and reward them that put their destiny in its hands and doubted not. We have never dared to act upon his program. We have praised it, wondered at it, lauded its majesty and beauty, but to live it has been too much for our cowardly souls."

Like every other expression of despondency, this statement is too general, goes too far, and proves that the person who makes it has his eyes closed to what is going on around him. It would seem that he does not know that Christian Science, which stands for all these things, is growing by leaps and bounds, and that it is growing because its followers are modeling their lives upon the life of Jesus, and that they are not only preaching his gospel, but also to the extent of their ability they are doing the works which he did. Notwithstanding the "welter of war" which has convulsed so large a portion of humanity, it is not claiming too much to say that the world is today, because of Christian Science, closer to the spiritual program of Christ Jesus than it has been at any time during the past fifteen centuries. There are more people than ever before who place implicit reliance upon the certainties of spiritual law, who have confidence in goodness, because God is good, and who believe in divine Truth as being able, willing, and sure to care for and reward them that put their destiny in His hands.

Christian Science is teaching men and women to make this spiritual program their own, and they are doing so in increasing numbers. And not only this, but they are proving by their works that they safely do so. They are also proving that Jesus' program was founded upon demonstrable truth, and that he was a true prophet when he said that those who believed on him should do the works which he had done. Christian Science asserts that there is no power other than God, infinite Mind, Truth, and that He cares for man. It is upon this truth of the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God that Christian Science is reinstating primitive Christianity and giving men such an understanding of Him as enables them to trust Him. On page 441 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "No law outside of divine Mind can punish or reward Mortal Man;" and again, on page 135 of the same book, "Christianity as Jesus taught it was not a creed, nor a system of ceremonies, nor a special gift from a ritualistic Jehovah; but it was the demonstration of divine Love casting out error and healing the sick, not merely in the name of Christ, or Truth, but in demonstration of Truth, as must be the case in the cycles of divine light."

When all Christians realize that the works of Christ Jesus were as much a part of his ministry as were his words, and that these works may be done by all who believe, they will have reason to know that Christianity is not on the wane, but on the contrary that it is making great progress, and that a greater number than ever before are striving more earnestly and more intelligently to be obedient to the apostolic admonition, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Christianity is not decadent while there are steadily increasing numbers who may humbly and gratefully say with Paul. "We have the mind of Christ."

Archibald McLellan.

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"We shall all be changed"

December 16, 1916

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