Article December 26, 1925 Issue

The report of a sermon published in an issue of your paper...

Charles W. Hale, Committee on Publication for the State of Indiana,—Bedford

Mail

The report of a sermon published in an issue of your paper intimates that the teaching of Christian Science pertaining to sin is erroneous. In order to correct. any false impression that may have been given to your readers by this assertion, the following authentic information is given as to the real teachings of that religion.

Christian Science teaches that sin has in itself no entity, personality, place, or power. It is not a creation of God; it is not eternal, and is therefore not a reality in the sense that God and His creation are real. The only power of sin is that given to it by one who believes in it or fears it; and that alleged power is wholly removed when the individual renounces sin and recognizes God as the only power and reality. Mrs. Eddy has brieflly set forth the teaching of Christian Science on the subject of evil and sin in the following statement: "Do Christian Scientists believe that evil exists? We answer, Yes and No! Yes, inasmuch as we do know that evil, as a false claim, false entity, and utter falsity, does exist in thought; and No, as something that enjoys, suffers, or is real. Our only departure from ecclesiasticism on this subject is, that our faith takes hold of the fact that evil cannot be made so real as to frighten us and so master us, or to make us love it and so hinder our way to holiness" (Message to The Mother Church for 1901, p. 14).

Unfortunately, there are individuals, zealous in their efforts to be Christians, who accept the statement of some uninformed opponent of Christian Science as to its teachings, or the allegations of some one who has read a little of Christian Science literature without understanding it. Such individuals then attempt to criticize Christian Science by giving their immature views or opinions to the public as the truth about that religion. Among other things, it has been asserted that Christian Scientists reject the Scriptures and use the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as a Bible. This is a mistake, and it grossly misrepresents Christian Science, as that religion unreservedly accepts the Bible in its entirety, and Christian Scientists are consistent and close students of the Scriptures. The Christian Science textbook is what its title states, a "Key to the Scriptures." It opens to the student the vast treasure house of the Bible in a manner never before known, revealing its spiritual import and enabling the student to demonstrate the law of God as set forth therein and as taught and practiced by Christ Jesus. In the language of Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 342): "Christian Science awakens the sinner, reclaims the infidel, and raises from the couch of pain the helpless invalid. It speaks to the dumb the words of Truth, and they answer with rejoicing. It causes the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the blind to see. Who would be the first to disown the Christliness of good works, when our Master says, 'By their fruits ye shall know them'?"

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Poem

"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"