Article July 15, 1916 Issue

That Christian Science makes bad citizens good and good...

John M. Tutt

Joplin (Mo.) News Herald

That Christian Science makes bad citizens good and good citizens better, and that it has done so in Joplin, an evangelist critic did not attempt to deny. He did not even question the faith in God and the consecration of Christian Scientists. But despite all this he attacks Christian Science, calling it an evil, and associating it with the works of the devil. The mere assertion that Christian Science is "of the devil" is unconvincing. Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not." Christian Science asks only to be judged by the Christian standard set by Christ Jesus; at the last it will be known by its fruits. Can good fruit come from an evil tree? But the public will be interested in observing that Christian Scientists arouse evangelistic ire because they refuse to be frightened by a hoof-and-horns Satan, or a geographical gehenna existent as such only in theology's "chambers of imagery."

Christian Scientists are not responsible for the hopeless literalness of the western mind, which fails to consider the word-picturing of the Oriental. Even Jesus spoke not "without a parable." Christian Science does not deny that sin is existent to the sinner, but rather seeks lovingly to save him from error through overcoming evil with good, even as taught by Jesus. Christian Scientists are not afraid of evil; they fear only to do evil. Christian Science tears the mask from evil and leaves it powerless. Our critic would personalize evil, give it power, and then call upon men to fear an illusive being which they can neither locate nor see.

Mrs. Eddy's exposition of the Scripture is exact, consistent, illuminating, and the truth of her teaching is demonstrated in the healing and regeneration of the sick and sinning. Critics are invited to present more impressive evidence of the truth of their own understanding of Christ. Again our critic asserts that Christian Science mistakes physical healing for Christianity. The following quotation from Science and Health (p. 150) disproves this allegation: "The mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,—to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world."

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