Article November 11, 1922 Issue

Before the critic can understand the Christian Science...

Charles W. J. Tennant, Committee on Publication for London, England,

N. Middlesex Chronicle

Before the critic can understand the Christian Science point of view he must understand the difference between mortals and immortals. Christian Science teaches that mortals are the counterfeits of immortals. Jesus, in speaking of mortals, said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." He then goes on to show that the devil or evil is a negation, for he continues by saying that he "abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Mortals, therefore, do not possess real, eternal existence; and this is why Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" (that is, of God, Spirit).

Man that is born of God is spiritual, eternal, immortal, the image and likeness of God. From this it will be seen why Christian Scientists deny mortal existence as a reality, with its sin, disease, and death, and declare the reality of the spiritual, immortal, and perfect. Paul refers to this when he says we must "put off the old man with his deeds [the mortal]; and ... put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." In this way Christian Scientists do deny the existence of the mortal, false sense of selfhood. John describes the new birth and its development very clearly as follows: "As many as received him [the Christ or spiritual idea], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, ... which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Christian Science is bringing about this new birth in the individual consciousness of men, women, and children all over the civilized world. The development of the spiritual idea is manifested in health, harmony, and a clear understanding of God, of spiritual man, and of the spiritual universe. It quickens the moral sense, and gives a keen sense of honesty, justice, mercy, and compassion. It enables one to conform one's life and acts to divine Principle, God, and to let the Mind of Christ be in one. The critic does not seem to be aware that Christian Scientists are daily engaged in denying mortal existence as a reality and are declaring that true existence is spiritual and is the expression of Spirit, inseparable from Spirit; but this does not imply that they believe they are God: they know they are simply the reflection or manifestation of God. God is cause; man is effect. Neither our critic nor any one else is able to place any Christian Scientist in any dilemma whatever, because Christian Scientists are beginning to understand and obey divine Principle and the spiritual laws of God, the fruits of which are seen in the destruction of sin and disease.

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