Article October 11, 1924 Issue

A critic infers that Christian Scientists do not read the...

W. Truman Green, Committee on Publication for the State of Florida,—St. Petersburg

Independent

A critic infers that Christian Scientists do not read the Bible correctly. Christ Jesus left a rule that far outweighs any human opinion when he said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Christian Scientists through their study of the Bible are enabled to follow the commands of Christ Jesus by reforming the sinner and healing the sick through spiritual means only. Demonstration far outweighs any theological dogmatism. The world to-day is demanding convincing evidence in regard to all vital matters; and in this regard Christianity must measure up to a reasonable standard. The critic infers that Christian Scientists attempt to put Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, on an equality with Christ Jesus. Here let it be said that there is no ground whatever for this inference. But Christian Scientists do love Mrs. Eddy because she has done so much for them. In the Wednesday evening testimony meetings held in Christian Science churches throughout the world, and in the Christian Science periodicals, Christian Scientists speak of their love and reverence for her. It was because of her pure life, her love for mankind, her devotion to the Bible, her devout consecration to its precepts, her love for God and for the teachings of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, that the revelation of Christian Science came to her and healed her. She, in turn, has given this truth to the world, and it is blessing unnumbered thousands through its beneficent and Christlike influence. Christian Scientists do not worship Mrs. Eddy, nor do they attempt to place her on an equal with Christ Jesus. Mrs. Eddy consistently taught that Christ Jesus could have no equal. He is the ensample for all Christian Scientists; and Mrs. Eddy has admonished them to follow her only so far as she herself follows Christ. Mrs. Eddy claimed nothing more for herself than that she was the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and a humble worker in her Father's vineyard.

It is inferred that Christian Science attaches more importance to the healing of sickness than to the overcoming of sin. This inference is not true, as is shown from the following quotation from page 150 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, where she says, in speaking of physical healing: "Its appearing is the coming anew of the gospel of 'on earth peace, good-will toward men.' This coming, as was promised by the Master, is for its establishment as a permanent dispensation among men; but the mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,—to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world." The critic attempts to ridicule Christian Science for claiming sin to be unreal. According to Webster, the word "real" means that which is actual, positive, absolute. To say that sin is real would be to acknowledge that it was God-created, for the Bible tells us that God created all. Christian Science is healing and liberating sin-sick and suffering humanity from their false beliefs in a power apart from God. This is the healing that the world is so much in need of to-day. Hate, malice, fear, false appetites, anger, arrogance, intolerance,—all false conditions of thought that tend to separate man from his Maker, must be destroyed. Christian Science is not engaged in an attempt to destroy "nothing," as our critic avers, but it is reforming the sinner and healing the sick by destroying the seeming reality of that "nothing." That was the Christ-method, and it can neither be improved upon nor modified in any way.

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October 11, 1924
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