Article March 18, 1916 Issue

Is there a man living who is interested in things spiritual,...

Greensboro (N. C.) News

Is there a man living who is interested in things spiritual, ethics, the effect of intellectual development upon faith in the creeds of the orthodox, who has not wished that he might take up the Bible, or at least the New Testament, as a book fresh from the press? What would not one give to read the story of the Christ with mind mature but wholly free from knowledge of creed and controversy, of debate and dogma? All of us have had teaching and preaching,—some of it leading, much of it misleading. While it is impossible to make the narrative of Christianity as a tale that is untold, one may by an effort of the will banish prejudice and preconceived ideas, and read with a determination to let the doctrines of the twentieth century influence one not at all,—to be his own interpreter of Scripture.

Therefore let us take our Testament in hand as a new book,—and preferably The Twentieth Century New Testament. This edition is one prepared by and for the orthodox, and is simply the Testament expressed in the simple diction of the day. It is indented, after the fashion of modern text-books, with marginal notes setting forth the subjects of the paragraphs. Nothing is omitted, nothing added on; sincere Calvinists, Baptists, or Methodists may read with us and experience no shock to the stability of their creed, for to many it is a familiar volume. But to us it seems they study it with senses drugged or deadened by the theology imbibed steadily since childhood.

Now turn to the gospels. Almost every page has in the marginal index, "The cure of." Sometimes these words occur three times upon one page. One would almost fancy Christ came into the world to heal the body, losing sight of his great spiritual mission. This is not a Christian Science article, nor is the writer a Christian Scientist; but surely the mind, when freed from previous doctrine, will admit that physical healing was a large part of the work of the compassionate Lord. Today, as nineteen hundred years ago, mankind groans under bodily infirmities and seeks after every eminent physician, any marvelous medicine. Our Christian Science friends have got hold of a great truth, and with it have drawn away thousands from the evangelical fold. For Christ did not claim to be the only earthly healer; he gave to his disciples the same power he possessed, even to the raising of the dead, and declared his followers should do all that he did, any more.

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