Article February 12, 1916 Issue

An evangelist's reported attack upon what he calls "Modern Misbeliefs,"...

Harry I. Hunt

Network (N. J.) News

An evangelist's reported attack upon what he calls "Modern Misbeliefs," places Christian Science in an improper light. The statement was made, with more feeling than elegance, that the teachings of Christian Science are as "garbage" placed "before the souls of thoughtful men and women." If our brother expects this to be accepted at its face value, how does he account for the fact that thousands of thoughtful men and women who have accepted these teachings and put them into daily practice, have become better citizens and neighbors, more loving and kind in the home and in their dealings with their fellows, more honest and successful in business? "Ye shall know them by their fruits," Jesus said, in that wonderful address known as the Sermon on the Mount. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? . . . A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

If Christian Science resembled in any degree that which its critics say it is, it would deserve the harsh things they have said about it. But as long as the experience of those who are striving to follow the Master as they are taught in Christian Science, coincides with the declaration of St. Paul to the Galatina church, so long must Christian Science be judged by its fruits. "The fruit of the Spirit," Paul wrote, "is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." What has been our critic's Christian experience? Does it bear out the apostle's statement?

Our critic charges that Christian Scientists deny "the divinity and deity of Jesus," and so gives evidence that he has failed to grasp the teaching of Christian Science as to Christ Jesus. If our brother means to make "divinity" and "deity" synonymous, then most certainly Christian Scientists will dissent. Jesus must have known whether he was God, and he never said that he was. He frequently called himself "the Son of man," and referring to his divine origin, called himself "the Son of God." If he had been God, he would not have declared, as John reports: "I can of mine own self do nothing: . . . I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." It is quite evident that the disciples did not regard Jesus as Deity, for we find Peter, in his pentecostal sermon, referring to "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God." Many other references might be quoted to show that Christian Scientists have Jesus' own authority for denying that he is God, and that authority ought to be conclusive.

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