Article July 16, 1927 Issue

In your recent issue you partially reported a sermon of a...

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

Vernon Daily Record

In your recent issue you partially reported a sermon of a visiting evangelist in which reference was made to Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, which conveys the erroneous impression that Christian Science healing is faith cure, or is based on suggestion and psychology; hence I am respectfully requesting space for correction. In Christian Science a definite distinction is drawn between faith healing and healing based on an understanding of God and His unerring law, which understanding destroys disease as well as sin. One may believe in God without understanding Him. Likewise, one may have the utmost faith in God's power to heal without being able to demonstrate the Christ healing, an actual understanding of God's power and ever-presence being needed to bring out scientific right results. Christian Science, spiritually interpreting the Scriptures, imparts the understanding requisite to true healing, something more than mere faith or blind belief being necessary to bring about permanent results. As for cures wrought through suggestive systems, Christian Science warns against such even as did the Master, who, when accused of healing the sick through "Beelzebub the prince of the devils" (hypnotism, suggestion), made it plain that true spiritual healing is accomplished through the "Spirit of God" alone; and, further, that those who resort to erroneous mental methods for healing are worse off than they were before. "The last state of that man is worse than the first," was the Master's comment.

In the twelfth chapter of Matthew may be found the interesting and instructive distinctions Jesus made between true spiritual healing and those systems in which the human mind is regarded as a curative factor; and as the Christ precepts and practice are those of Christian Science, these distinctions are important to a proper understanding of the issues under consideration. Christian Science and mental systems having a mesmeric or hypnotic basis, such as psychology, Coueism, and all other forms of suggestive therapeutics, are polar opposites. They have nothing in common. As our critic implies that there are no records of the healing of organic diseases through Christian Science, it has but to be stated that the membership of the Christian Science church throughout the world is largely made up of those who have been healed through their religion, thousands of them having been healed of so-called organic maladies of the most obdurate and dangerous types, many of which had been pronounced incurable by competent medical attendants. The fact of Christian Science healing is so easily verified that one now rarely hears a denial thereof. The question is raised by our evangelist critic as to the efficacy of spiritual means in cases of serpent stings and drug or chemical poisoning. Christian Science teaches, and demonstrates, that the Word of God is as efficacious and available now as it was in Jesus' day to meet the severest conditions; and why not? Did not the Master definitely say that those that "believe" (understand) should "take up serpents," and that if they drank any "deadly thing" it would not "hurt" them? Moreover, this promise, as set forth in the closing chapter of Mark's Gospel, gives the authority for healing the sick through spiritual means: "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

On page 271 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy, with respect to this question of spiritual healing, has written: "Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing. The Scriptures contain it. The spiritual import of the Word imparts this power." Christian Scientists accord due respect to the religious convictions and practices of their fellow religionists, and it should not seem too much for them to ask this respectful consideration in return. The intimation of our critic that the Founder of Christian Science used her discovery selfishly to enrich herself is a case in point. Such assertions are unkind and indefensible, lacking Christian charity. The fortune accruing from Mrs. Eddy's labors in the Master's vineyard is being devoted, as heretofore, to the promotion of Christian healing throughout the world, which healing includes the destruction of mental and physical plagues as well as moral maladies; and it is submitted that Christ Jesus' command to "heal the sick" is no more binding on Christian Scientists than it is on others who accept Christ Jesus as their Exemplar and Saviour.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In your recent issue you partially reported a sermon of a...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access