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Christian Science does not compel; it persuades truly, but...
Poplar Bluff (Mo.) American
Christian Science does not compel; it persuades truly, but only as it presents a reasonable explanation of God and man and unfolds God's plan of salvation from the ills and sins of the flesh. Where Christian Science has touched the lives of men, it has blessed. Why warn against an influence for good in the world? The beneficence of Christian Science would extend even to those who now think they to God service in attempting to block its progress, and would open channels of usefulness to the talents now devoted to exhortation. Jesus went about healing the sick and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. In obediently imitating Jesus in the former, Christian Science is convincingly doing the latter. Jesus said, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
Our critic, a clergyman, said, "I believe the old Book, and I will stand on the Bible alone as the Word of God." Here seems to be a point of agreement between him and Christian Science, for the first tenet of the Christian Science church states: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497). Moreover, as our critic again says: "It is not what you think or what I think, but what the holy Word of God says." Surely, then, the thinker will see the unfairness of the demand of our critic that his own concept of what the Bible says be the standard for others whose understanding of the Word, though differing from his, is to them convincing and satisfying. To Christian Scientists "the word of God is . . . powerful," and their experience in the practice of Christian Science furnishes practical proofs of the correctness of their concept of God and man as revealed in the spiritual import of the Scripture.
The following succinct statement will correct in a general way many of the present critic's favorite animadversions: To the Christian Scientist the spiritual meaning of the Bible is all-important. Through spiritual understanding alone he is able rightly to divide the Word of God and reconcile the seeming inconsistencies of the text. He is able thus to do this without multilating or discarding any portion of the Scriptures. He believes that when Jesus said he was "the way," he meant just that, and hence that all must walk in that way. He believes in Christ Jesus' selfless sacrifice; in the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension; that his triumphant emergence from the tomb proved the power of God to overcome death and the world's hatred of Truth, which culminated in the futile endeavor to kill Jesus.
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October 20, 1917 issue
View Issue-
Partisanship, Patriotism, or Principle?
GEORGE SHAW COOK
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"Sons of God"
CARRIE LEE POOLE
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Prophecy
LIEUT. COL. ROBERT E. KEY
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Efficient Service
NELL FLASH
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Testimony Meetings
GEORGE L. HODGSON
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Endurance
WANDA WHITMAN
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Truth's Voice
INEZ KOCH
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If the correspondent "Open Mind" is correctly described...
Charles M. Shaw
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The comments on Christian Science which have furnished...
Judge Clifford P. Smith
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Christian Science does not undervalue or minimize the...
Henry Van Arsdale
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If the entire sermon preached recently in a local pulpit on...
William D. Kilpatrick
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Food Conservation
Editor with contributions from Herbert Hoover, The Christian Science Board of Directors
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True Prayer and Vain Repetitions
William P. McKenzie
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Spiritual Interpretation
Annie M. Knott
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True Patriotism
William D. McCrackan
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The Lectures
with contributions from Mr. Brown, Lee Dare Young, Seymour W. Condon, George A. Stevens, Fred L. Hunt
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An awakening of my spiritual understanding to the wonderful...
Major C. J. Berry
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Eight years ago I was instantaneously healed of an internal...
Sylvia Kishima with contributions from Choichiro Kishima
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It is with great pleasure that I write this testimony to...
Ada M. Crump with contributions from W. J. Crump
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In deep sincerity I wish to express my loving gratitude...
Marian C. Beuzeville
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As I begin to write of my first healing in Christian Science,...
Violet Seaton-Frank
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In my case it has again been proven that "man's extremity...
Ada Varney Hopkins
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I should like to express my gratitude for Christian Science...
Marguerite Barrett, Julia L. Coppock with contributions from C. A. Barrett
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With heartfelt gratitude I send this testimony of healing...
Catherine M. Ross
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In gratitude and thankfulness for the understanding of...
Everett N. Bryan
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I desire to express my gratitude for what Christian Science...
Clara Bell Taylor
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From Our Exchanges
with contributions from W. S. Swayne, Joseph Fort Newton