Article November 26, 1921 Issue

"Show me thy faith"

WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT

Is Christian Science justified in the emphasis it places upon physical healing? Did Christ Jesus stress healing to the extent it is stressed by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and her other writings? Some critics of Christian answer both questions negatively. Fortunately there is no need of academic argument when the record so plainly and conclusively shows the facts.

In the back of many Bibles are statistical and commentative helps prepared by patient students of the letter, which, metaphysically considered, often illuminate the spirit of the Word. One table frequently found is entitled, "Miracles of Jesus." As the word miracle is used in Christian Science, it has none of the supernatural meaning attributed to it by the world in general and by most theological systems. For instance, on page 29 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says: "Miracles are no infraction of God's laws; on the contrary, they fulfil His laws; for they are the signs following Christianity, whereby matter is proven powerless and subordinate to Mind." And Christ Jesus himself, as if anticipating the day when the weak in faith might hide their spiritual barrenness behind a plea of unattainable divinity, definitely made miracles the essential proof of discipleship for all time when he said: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

Now of the thirty-seven citations of miracles in the table mentioned, twenty-nine, or all but eight, were miracles of healing. That is to say, nearly four-fifths, or virtually eighty per cent, of the specifically described works of Jesus were healings. This is sufficiently weighty evidence of the emphasis placed by Christ Jesus upon healing and upon faith proved by works. The eight miracles which were not miracles of healing were: turning the water into wine, filling the net with fishes on the right side of the boat, feeding the five thousand, finding the tribute money in the fish's mouth, feeding the four thousand, calming the tempest, walking on the water, and withering the fig tree. It will be noted that the first five of these miracles were demonstrations of supply and the last three demonstrations of dominion.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Famine That Ends Famine