Article January 10, 1925 Issue

Jesus did not claim that he was God, and although the...

Richard E. Prince, Committee on Publication for the State of Virginia,—Fredericksburg

Daily Star

Jesus did not claim that he was God, and although the critic quotes from the first chapter of John's gospel to verify his statement that Jesus was God, this same chapter speaks of him as "the only begotten Son." On one occasion Jesus rebuked one who addressed him as "good Master," by saying, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." The Pharisees sought to put him to death because "he made himself the Son of God," and Jesus always spoke of God as his Father, without whom he could do nothing.

Christian Science does not deny that sin is a most distressing element in human experience, and it accordingly sets before mortals the way of salvation from sin. At the same time it makes a clear distinction between the spiritual man, created in the image and likeness of God, as described in the first chapter of Genesis, and the Adam-man, who, Paul said, was "of the earth, earthy." Paul also said that "as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly;" and he described this process when he said, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Christian Science accordingly teaches that the way of salvation is a mental transformation, whereby mortals lay aside the evil thoughts of the carnal mind and put on the Mind of Christ. Evil desires and inclinations are replaced with unselfish and pure ideals, and thus the sinner is healed.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me;" and Christian Science teaches that the only way we can follow in his footsteps and come unto the Father, is by doing the works which he did,—overcoming all forms of sin and disease, as well as all manner of discord. Jesus did not employ drugs or hygiene in his healing work; nor did he recommend them to his followers. There is no Scriptural authority for the use of the various fads and fancies in the way of drugs, serums, dietetics, and the like, which the public is urged from time to time to rely upon for the prevention and cure of disease; and it can be found that the Israelites were warned against this form of idolatry, as is shown in the following passage: "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."

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