Article July 28, 1928 Issue

In recent issues of the Kerkbode the teachings of Christian Science...

David A. Giel, Committee on Publication for Holland,—Haarlem

De Kerkbode

In recent issues of the Kerkbode the teachings of Christian Science have been discussed and judged. From the standpoint of a different denomination we could hardly expect a full agreement with our teachings; but human limitation causes men to differ so widely in their opinions in regard to Truth that it becomes desirable to avoid at least unnecessary misunderstandings. Christian Science is especially exposed to misunderstanding through its denial of the reality—in the absolute sense—of that which does not reflect God, and, consequently, could not have come from Him, since He "finished" His creation and called everything "very good." The critic believes this denial to be derived from Buddhism, but there is a great gulf between the viewpoint of Buddhism and that of Christian Science. It is true that Buddhists call the material world the veil of Maya, the veil of illusion—a wonderfully suitable name—but at the same time they call it an institution of Deity. This Christian Science considers entirely contrary to the teaching of Jesus.

The critic is not entitled to accuse Mrs. Eddy and her adherents of "lack of discernment," since it demands much more discernment to understand the purely spiritual creation than blindly to follow material sense-perception. The denial of evil in all its form—including sorrow, sin, sickness, and death—does not consist merely in a theoretical insight into the unreality of evil, but in maintaining that denial in daily practice. This means an entire change in our every thought and act, and a continuous resistance of the suggestions of evil or "the old man." It demands an actual surrender to and a trust in omnipotent Love in all the vicissitudes of life, so that His will be also "done in earth." This is our divine practice, with "Signs following." Therefore, it were better to watch the pioneer work of Christian Science with interest, rather than to condemn Christian Science while it is progressively demonstrating its teachings. One should keep in mind the "Judge not" of Jesus, and the advice of Gamaliel.

For the novice who has been healed in Christian Science, only a tip of the veil is lifted, but at the same time there come the desire and the necessity to "go up higher." We agree with the critic that the patient should pray for himself, but in most cases he must first learn how to do so. And how else could the patient, out of the dream of human limitation, learn to do this than with the aid of God, ever present Love? In the parable of the prodigal son, did not the father go to meet him when he was yet "a great way off," but not before the son of his own free will had turned to the father, instead of calling the father to come to him? This turning to the Father is what both the patient and the practitioner do in Christian Science. They succeed only when, consciously or unconsciously, the mental resistance of "the old man" against the healing truth has been given up. This is something quite different from "willing the patient to recover." Christian Science takes the Word of God, which Jesus came to declare, as absolute. The student of its teaching rejoices that he is able so to understand Jesus' words that they can be demonstrated as manifestations of God's eternal law. Christian Science teaches a perfect and unconditional confidence in the omnipotence of good; and its prayer is in its highest sense a prayer of confidence.

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