Editorial March 17, 1917 Issue

Healing by Prayer

Archibald McLellan

In her dedicatory sermon, delivered in The Mother Church, Jan. 6, 1895, Mrs. Eddy, speaking of Science and Health, said, "This book is the leaven fermenting religion; it is palpably working in the sermons, Sunday schools, and literature of our and other lands" (Pulpit and Press, p. 5). From time to time in the more than two decades since this statement was penned, fresh evidence of its truth has been presented, and in no wise is this more strikingly manifest than in the change which has taken place in the attitude not only of the general public, but also of religious and educational groups, toward the healing of the sick by prayer. Formerly it was almost universally believed and taught that the healing of sickness which comprised so great a part of Jesus' ministry was due to a power pertaining exclusively to himself and those few who came into personal contact with him, and upon whom he specifically conferred this power. This belief necessarily carried with it the further belief that the healing was miraculous, in the sense that this word is used to denote something not according to law,—something supernatural.

Of course this estimate of our Master's work was contrary to his own words, but this inconsistency either was not noted or else was not taken into account by those who recognized their inability to heal as Jesus and the early Christians had healed, and the conclusion was therefore reached that Christian healing was a closed dispensation. Jesus had said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father;" also, "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 any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover;" but until Mrs. Eddy called attention to the true significance of these words, and demonstrated the truth of her interpretation of them, they were as a closed book. Commenting on the latter saying, Mrs. Eddy writes: "This is an unqualified statement of the duty and ability of Christians to heal the sick; and it contains no argument for a creed or doctrine, it implies no necessity beyond the understanding of God, and obedience to His government, that heals both mind and body" (Christian Healing p. 7)

The new gospel which the Master taught was sufficiently striking in its departure from the teachings handed down from the time of Moses to bring the multitudes about him to listen, but it is at least an open question how lasting an impression would have been made had be not emphasized his teachings with the healing works, No argument could have been so convincing to John's messengers as what they witnessed "in the same hour," for we read that the great Teacher "cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Acquaintance with the Scriptures