Article March 27, 1926 Issue

In reply to a critic, writing on Christian Science, in...

Charles W. J. Tennant, District Manager of the Committees on Publication for Great Britain and Ireland,—Colwyn Bay

North Wales Weekly News

In reply to a critic, writing on Christian Science, in your recent issue, let me point out that in the first chapter of Mark we are told that "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." This gospel could not have contained anything about the crucifixion, the atonement, or the blood of Jesus, for the crucifixion had not taken place. Our Master had been destroying sin, disease, and death for three years before the malice of his foes claimede to crucify him. It was most certainly, therefore, his life and teaching that made plain the way of salvation from these conditions. When he declared, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do," he made no reference to what is called the atonement, nor did he make the possibility of doing these works contingent on belief in it.

The healing of Mary Magdalene and the forgiveness of her sin did not depend on the atonement as it is understood by scholastic theology. This is a case where it was the life and teaching of Christ Jesus that brought about her salvation. Each one has to work out his own salvation according to the teachings of our Master. This process is a constant warfare with the flesh; and it will not cease till all evil has been overcome with good. Christian Science reveals the divine Principle which underlay the teachings of Christ Jesus. The study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in conjunction with the Bible, enables one to gain the Mind of Christ, to discern things from that point of view, which is the divine in contradistinction to the human or carnal point of view. Christian Scientists not only believe the Word of God, but prove their understanding of it by healing the sick and reforming the sinner in the measure of that understanding. "Faith without works is dead." Humanity is turning to Christian Science because of its fruits, which are those that our Master said would follow "them that believe."

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