Editorial August 10, 1918 Issue

The Revelation of Christianity

William P. McKenzie

Let us say that Galileo, as soon as he had certain knowledge regarding some astronomical fact, was at the same time certain that the revelation of this fact would come to every one. Paul likewise, when he came to understand that it pleased God to reveal His Son in him, looked forward even as Peter did to the grace which was to come to all "at the revelation of Jesus Christ." But the Christian world has unfortunately looked backward to the demonstration of the Christ in Jesus, the revelation of Christianity, and men have separated themselves carefully from that ideal by wrapping up the truth, like the unused talent, in a napkin, which they have labeled "miraculous." So long as the work of Jesus and his apostles and followers in the early days of Christianity can be thought of as supernatural and irregular, so long will men satisfy themselves with conduct which they consider natural and regular,—that is, conduct convenient to the unregenerate heart.

Now, what has happened since Christian Science came to the world is this: It has unfolded the law of God, and thereby given a lawful explanation of the work of Christ Jesus, showing it to be wonderful indeed, and yet not supernatural nor abnormal to men, but rather as the ideal suitable to be a model for all men. This is put with great clearness in "Retrospection and Introspection" by Mrs. Eddy, where (p. 26) she says: "Our great Way-shower, steadfast to the end in his obedience to God's laws, demonstrated for all time and peoples the supremacy of good over evil, and the superiority of Spirit over matter. The miracles recorded in the Bible, which had before seemed to me supernatural, grew divinely natural and apprehensible; though uninspired interpreters ignorantly pronounce Christ's healing miraculous, instead of seeing therein the operation of the divine law."

Opposition to this interpretation of divine law may be expected, because there are many usurpers of power enthroned through deception, and they have no intention of yielding to the arriving true heir to all power and glory. In the end, however, the kings of the earth shall yield up their kingdoms, glad if they themselves can be included in the kingdom of God, and for the first time they shall know real peace in the light and glory of the New Jerusalem, wherein God is known as the Mother of us all, where forever is unknown the evil belief which began with Cain, setting brother against brother.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"Sacrifice and service"