Article July 31, 1920 Issue

The minister writing in a recent issue states that "in last...

James M. Stevens—Two Harbors, Minn.

Journal-News

The minister writing in a recent issue states that "in last Sunday evening's address we proved that the God of Christian Science is not the God of the Christian church." There are over a hundred recognized different Christian religions, each having its own concept of God. I do not know just what our critic's belief is concerning God, or upon just what authority he appoints himself to be a judge over other people's religions. However, from his statement that "next Sunday we will show that the teachings of Mrs. Eddy are not Christian," I suspect that his picture of the "God of Christian Science" was not very correctly drawn.

Christian Science adopts unqualifiedly Webster's definition of God, "The Supreme Being," and that of the Standard Dictionary, "The one Supreme Being, self-existent and eternal." It also accepts Jesus' statement that "God is a Spirit," and John's declaration that "God is love"; also the Bible teaching that God is Truth, that He is intelligence or Mind, the only power and presence, the only cause or creator, the perfect and infinite All-in-all. Because God encompasses within Himself all intelligence, truth, order, law, and perfection of being, and because Principle best conveys this understanding of God, Principle is used as a synonym for God; and because God is tender, loving, merciful, steadfast, and enduring, we speak of Him as divine Principle. Divine Principle, or Principle, in Christian Science, has not the cold, abstract meaning which evidently our critic applies to it, but to the loyal Christian Scientist it is an endearing term conveying to him the tender care and loving protection of an unchanging, compassionate, good, and affectionate Father, to whom our every need is known and by whom that need will be supplied. God is Love, and Love is Principle, not person.

In Christian Science, law is not a synonym for God, but God is the only true lawgiver, and the law of God or divine law is the law of life, health, holiness, completeness, and perfection. This divine law is ever present and available to all.

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
If the clergyman, whose attack on Christian Science is...
July 31, 1920
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit