Article February 23, 1929 Issue

A writer has made two efforts, in your columns, to substantiate...

Henry Dickinson, Committee on Publication for Durham, England,—Darlington

Auckland and County Chronicle

A writer has made two efforts, in your columns, to substantiate his grave charge against Christian Scientists of enmity to the cross of Christ. He claims to have done this by establishing a point, which we willingly concede, that there is a marked difference between his theological views and the teachings of Christian Science. I submit that he has not justified his accusation. Christianity is not proved by a theological debate, but in the lives and activities of its professed followers. Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." What these fruits were, and that they were the witness of his Messiahship, is clearly shown in his reply to John's inquiry, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus replied, "'Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them,'" as Mrs. Eddy quotes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 132), "recounting his works instead of referring to his doctrine, confident that this exhibition of the divine power to heal would fully answer the question." Did Jesus expect his immediate and future disciples to be judged by the same standard? That he insisted on fruitage is evidenced by his parable of the ten talents. The nature of the expected fruits can be judged from his own example, from his commands to the twelve disciples and to the seventy to preach the gospel and heal the sick, and from his uplifting statement, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

The question then is, Are Christian Scientists bringing forth the fruits expected by Jesus? While humbly conscious of the distance between Jesus' perfect example and their own modest attainments, they unhesitatingly and joyously affirm that there is abundant evidence of their loyalty in thought and deed to Christ Jesus' life-purpose. Explaining why Christian Science arrested public attention, Mrs. Eddy says, in her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 (p. 17), "It was that I healed the deaf, the blind, the dumb, the lame, the last stages of consumption, pneumonia, etc., and restored the patients in from one to three interviews, that started the inquiry, What is it?"

I have stated in your columns, and it is not to be denied, that there is a wealth of ever increasing testimony to the healing and reforming work accomplished as a result of Christian Science and the activities of Christian Scientists. As an example, a recent issue of The Christian Science Journal includes seventeen verified testimonies, each proving that Christian Science is engaged in the fulfillment of Jesus' lifepurpose, the redemption of humanity from evil of every kind. One tells of deliverance from nearly nine years' bondage to the morphine habit, one of healing of curvature of the spine after wearing a steel brace nine years. Another's healing of a physical disability was accompanied by release from the tobacco habit of thirty years' standing; and other fruits mentioned are the healing of pneumonia, brain fever, tumor, impaired sight, broken arches in feet, faults of character, and so on. They all give the glory of these healing experiences to God, gratefully acknowledging Christian Science as the channel for their redemption.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

It is not our desire to enter into a religious discussion,...