Editorial September 16, 1916 Issue

"Be of good cheer"

Archibald McLellan

Because the healing of the sick is more readily seen and acknowledged than the other reforms which Christian Science has brought about in human experience, the impression has prevailed with many persons that it is the sole objective of this religious system; but such is not the case. Mrs. Eddy, in answer to the question, "Is healing the sick the whole of Science?" says: "Healing physical sickness is the smallest part of Christian Science. It is only the bugle-call to thought and action, in the higher range of infinite goodness. The emphatic purpose of Christian Science is the healing of sin; and this task, sometimes, may be harder than the cure of disease" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 2). In this view of Christian Science we see that it readily conforms to the requirements of Christ Jesus' teachings and practice, and thereby proves its status as the revival of primitive Christianity, for the reason that through its ministrations the sick are healed, the sorrowing find comfort, and those dead in trespasses and sins awake to a new sense of life.

That Jesus regarded sickness and sin as equally contrary to the law of God, is shown by his saying to the "man sick of the palsy": "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." To the scribes, who were shocked by this declaration of power to forgive sins, he said: "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."

Plainly it was the healing work done by Christ Jesus that was most offensive to the scribes and Pharisees; and this because it wounded their self-love and was a reproach and a rebuke to their lack of genuine piety and consecration—to their lack of works which would prove that they understood the one true God of Israel. Moreover, it is not impossible that the violent opposition to Christian Science in some quarters today, and especially that which would utterly deny its healing work or attempt to explain it by saying that it is the result of suggestion, is due to the same reason. Nevertheless this healing work, which caused so much stir among the priests and elders of his day, was the invariable accompaniment of Jesus' teaching and exhortation, and as it is with Christian Science at this time, so it was then the most impressive and easiest understood part of his work.

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