Article November 24, 1928 Issue

In your paper an article appeared recently under the...

Mrs. Vera Berg, Secretary to Committee on Publication for Sweden,—Stockholm (translation)

Tidning för lärarinnor

In your paper an article appeared recently under the heading "The Teacher's Self-Instruction: Did Jesus die on the Cross?" In this article a synopsis was given of a lecture on "Modern Religious Currents," which was recently delivered in Stockholm. The lecturer made some remarks on Christian Science which showed his complete lack of knowledge of this world-wide religion. I should, therefore, be very grateful if you would kindly allow the following to be published in your esteemed newspaper. The lecturer said that the Christian Scientists "in their emblem quote Jesus' words about healing the sick, and so on, but I should like," he went on to say, "that they continued the quotation, using Jesus' words about not laying up money." On the emblem here referred to, which is to be found on the books written by Mrs. Eddy, the whole quotation from the Bible is given: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons" (American Standard Version). Christian Scientists do not seek, primarily, to lay up treasures where moth and rust do corrupt; and in their loving ministrations, in direct obedience to the commands of Jesus the Christ, they uphold the words which follow the quotations given namely, "The laborer is worthy of his food." Paul asks, "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" People, generally, consider this quotation from Paul natural when applied to the clergy; and it is not considered incorrect or unchristian when a physician, for his endeavors to help his fellow-man in sickness and suffering, accepts remuneration.

The diseases which are healed through Christian Science are not "specially nervous ailments," but comprise all kinds of ills, organic as well as functional. This is a fact which has been proved time and again. The main purpose of Christian Science, however, is not the healing of disease, but reformation—purification and spiritualization of the thinking of mankind—a seeking for the kingdom of God, the kingdom of good, which results in deliverance from disease as well as from other discordant phases of material existence. Farther on it was said that "the existence of Christianity is certainly not threatened, because there are a ... handful of Scientists or the like." No, certainly not! For the existence of Christianity cannot be threatened by those who, daily, devoutly study the Bible, and who acknowledge, and in their daily life try to put into practice, the following tenets (see the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497): "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life. ... And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Why Give Thanks?