Article December 29, 1923 Issue

The distinction which Christian Science draws between...

Mrs. Gudrun G. Jensen, Committee on Publication for Norway,—stavanger (translation)

Stavangeren

The distinction which Christian Science draws between Jesus and the divine Christ is also supported by the Bible. Christ Jesus expressed this clearly enough when he said, "Before Abraham was, I am;" and, "I and my Father are one." Mrs. Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 333): "The advent of Jesus of Nazareth marked the first century of the Christian era, but the Christ is without beginning of years or end of days. Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea,—the reflection of God,—has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth." The teaching of Christian Science about the forgiveness of sin is put forth most clearly in one of the Tenets of Christian Science, found on page 497 of the textbook: "We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts." The admonition of Paul was that every one must work out his own salvation and not merely believe it impossible to continue a life in sin, confident that all is forgiven, because Christ Jesus has atoned for all. Truly, Science and Health is the "key" to the spiritual understanding of the truths of the Bible, which Jesus said should make men free. The many thousands throughout the world who are loosed from the bondage of sin and disease and are brought back to health and right living through Christian Science, testify with gratitude that this "key" fits, and that it opens wide the gates of heaven here and now. They also testify that the Bible, as Christian Science spiritually interprets it, is available for all times and all nations.

Surely, every one who sincerely and honestly will search the Bible with spiritual understanding, will find nothing "ridiculous" in its interpretation, as Mrs. Eddy gives it in her writings. Her interpretation of the Lord's Prayer, as given on pages 16 and 17 of Science and Health, is not a circumscription. It sets forth Mrs. Eddy's spiritual explanation of the prayer, just as Luther and others have set forth their understanding of the significance of prayer. That the teaching of Christian Science gains new adherents because of the testimonies given at the Wednesday evening testimony meetings in the more than two thousand Christian Science churches and societies all over the world, is a fact which is acknowledged with rejoicing. This is the result of the earnest study of Christian Science to which these testimonies urge every one who is receptive of the strong voice of Truth. They have all experienced that Christian Science is open to every one who is hungering for healing; and within the teaching of Christian Science are no boundaries or distinction of ranks.

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