Article February 13, 1926 Issue

The difficulties that crities of Christian Science encounter,...

Ralph W. Still, Committee on Publication for the State of Texas,—Spur

Texas Spur

The difficulties that crities of Christian Science encounter, in their attempts to explain or discredit its teachings, come of not gaining its spiritual sense or meaning; for, when understood, Christian Science is found to be in perfect harmony and agreement with the Scriptures, and measures up to the Christ-standard in every respect. Quoting detached statements from the teachings of Christian Science, and comparing them with similarly detached or unrelated quotations from the Bible, is not calculated to give the correct impression; and it is necessary to point out that the only reference in the article contributed to your columns, to which this is written in answer, that correctly states the position of Christian Science, is that "Christian Science denies the reality of sin, sickness, pain, and death." However, this is exactly what Jesus demonstrated these errors of human experience to be—unreal. John plainly said that Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil;" and the Master healed the sick and sinful, and raised the dead, all in obedience to the will of his heavenly Father. If sin, sickness, and death are real, that is, God-created and God-sustained, even he could not have overcome them; for to be real, in a scientific sense, means that they are of God and shall stand forever. There would then be no escape from these errors, and we would always have them to contend with; whereas Christian Scientists are daily demonstrating, through the healing, regenerative ministry of Christian Science, to the degree of their understanding, the unreality of all human discord, even as the Saviour enjoined on all those who were to be known as his disciples.

It should not be understood, however, that Christian Science teaches that sin, sickness, pain, and death do not seem real to the human, material sense of things. Indeed these errors do so appear, and must be eliminated; and this is accomplished through determining their true nature, which comes of understanding that God is infinite, omnipresent good, Life, Truth, Love. Sinners are cleansed of their sins through this teaching, not confirmed therein, as some would have the public believe; though, of course, all who sin must suffer, even as the Scripture declares.

In refutation of the statement in the article in question that "Christian Science repudiates all the ordinances of God, making a large portion of the Old Testament and the New Testament meaningless," the first religious tenet of Christian Science may be quoted. This is found on page 497 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mary Baker Eddy: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." How, then, can it be said that Christian Science repudiates "all the ordinances of God," ordinances which must of necessity be found in the Scriptures, which are the "sufficient guide" to all Christian Scientists?

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