Article August 26, 1916 Issue

A clergyman undertakes to prove that Christian Science...

John L. Rendall—Keokuk, Iowa

The Gate City

A clergyman undertakes to prove that Christian Science differs from the fundamentals of Christianity. What he really means is that it differs from his particular ideas as to what constitutes fundamental Christianity. This we readily admit.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 138) Mrs. Eddy states : "Jesus established in the Christian era the precedent for all Christianity, theology, and healing. Christians are under as direct orders now, as they were then, to be Christlike, to possess the Christ-spirit, to follow the Christ-example, and to heal the sick as well as the sinning." The average Christian would doubtless consider the above statements to be fundamental to Christianity and to its right practice. He might possibly object to the thought of healing as being fundamental, and yet if the Bible teaches anything in a positive way it certainly teaches that the power of God is sufficient to heal the sick as well as to reform the sinner at all times and under all circumstances.

On the same page of the Christian Science text-book we read : "Our Master said to every follower : 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ! . . . Heal the sick ! . . . Love thy neighbor as thyself !' It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning. It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to 'forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.' It was our Master's theology which the impious sought to destroy." If the life and example of Christ Jesus is the accepted criterion, and we naturally assume that it is, the question at once occurs, Why omit from Christian practice that which Jesus gave a positive proofs of Christianity in his statement : "And these signs shall follow them that believe ; In my name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; they shall take up serpents ; and if they drink and deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

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