Editorial July 26, 1930 Issue

Fundamental Christianity

Clifford P. Smith

JESUS declared that the purpose of his life was to "bear witness unto the truth." What he taught and proved was the reality or truth of being. It was the truth as to God and man and as to God's law for man. It was the truth as to God's goodness, as to man's life derived from God, and as to the real man's freedom from what seems to be a life of mingled good and evil.

Christian Science accepts and reiterates this fundamental aspect of original Christianity. Christian Science also is based on the reality or truth of being. It distinguishes absolutely between what is real and what is apparent or seeming but not real, and it puts this distinction into practice for the benefit and betterment of mankind. There is no reality beyond what is absolutely good. Evil of every sort is illusive and unreal. These ideas are of inestimable value to mankind, not only because they are true, but because they can be put into practical use; they can be demonstrated in human experience.

Christian Science differs from other modern teachings, not only by classifying good as real and evil as unreal, but also by reducing the distinction—the contrariety—between good and evil to the difference between what is genuine consciousness or thought and what is error or illusion. The only real Mind or source of thought is God, Spirit, the divine Mind. All true consciousness or thought is derived from God; it is received from the divine Mind. As John the Baptist said, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Even Jesus could say, "I can of mine own self do nothing." Paul applied these propositions specifically to thought when he said, "We have the mind of Christ;" "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God."

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