Article September 23, 1916 Issue

The Union contains an account of a sermon in which the...

Thomas F. Watson in

Grass Valley (Cal.) Morning Union

The Union contains an account of a sermon in which the rector deplores the lack of faith in the church. He says, "The power to heal the sick is in the church today, and has always been, but we priests and people deny it or fail to use it." After emphasizing the lesson on "faith as a grain of mustard seed," which Christ Jesus taught would move mountains, the gentleman inconsistently states that "Christianity teaches that God created medicine" and instructs us to resort to the physician, "for God hath created—appointed him." Christ Jesus did not so teach, nor have we any record of his using or recommending drugs. He healed the sick through the power of Spirit and taught his disciples to do likewise. The early Christians for nearly three hundred years were all healers, and they also healed through the law of Spirit.

This rector also tells us that "there are some cases where the physician being helpless the priest and the church could step in and heal, if only the priest and the congregation had the grain of faith necessary;" but he adds that this is not to be confounded with Christian Science. Christian Science has healed many thousands of so-called incurable cases, or, as our critic states, cases where the "physician is helpless," for Christian Science teaches and demonstrates the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, divine Love, and the consequent powerlessness of all evil, sickness and disease included. Any one who knows anything whatever concerning Christian Science knows that Christian Scientists turn to God for healing and find it, for they have proved the psalmist's words, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

In one of the psalms of David we read that it is God who "forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases." In Chronicles it is recorded that Asa in his disease "sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians," and also that he "slept with his fathers." Mark tells us of "a certain woman" who "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse," and who finally came to Christ Jesus and was healed. Not only did the Master command his immediate disciples to heal the sick, but he also said, "Teach all nations ... to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
In his sermon as reported, an evangelist attacks Christian Science
September 23, 1916
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit