Article February 19, 1916 Issue

Faith and Works

AIMÉE BURDETT DAWES

It is in its wonderful interpretation of the Bible as a whole that Christian Science is unique. This to the writer was the proof of its divine origin. The seemingly irreconcilable differences between reason and revelation, between conscience and revelation, and even between one Scripture statement and another, had led to a confusion of thought, a drift of doubt which had almost reached indifference. Then came the white light of Christian Science, in which the varying prism hues to appearance so unlike in color are yet blended in one.

Two of the truths thus reconciled are the seemingly contradictory statements as to faith and works. The writer was brought up in a school of thought which emphasized Paul's teaching of justification by faith almost to the total exclusion of James' practical corollary, "Faith without works is dead." The teaching that it is wrong to believe that by our works we are justified, may lead to the conclusion that works are of little importance, and the result is mental and spiritual stagnation. Fortunately the inner light of Truth will constantly militate against this view, and in the conflict between Truth and dogma, Truth must at length prove victorious.

But how wonderfully does Christian Science reconcile these seemingly divergent views! All we have and all we are, are gifts of eternal Love, our heavenly Father; all is the gift of grace. God's man does not need to win pardon for offenses against God's law, for St. John declares, "Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him [God], neither known him." Mortals, however, must work out their salvation from all error until mortality is "swallowed up of life." We find forgiveness in the perception of the true man's reflection of his Father's righteousness.

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