Article December 12, 1931 Issue

The Southeast Missourian, date of August 26, gives a...

Oscar Graham Peeke, former Committee on Publication for the State of Missouri,—Cape Girardeau

Southeast Missourian

The Southeast Missourian, date of August 26, gives a report of a meeting held in Jackson in which an evangelist classed Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, among agnostics and infidels because, as reported, "she denied the atoning death of Christ in the face of the Scriptures which say that Christ died and was buried and rose again on the third day."

May I be permitted to state that throughout many centuries theology has wrestled with the doctrine of atonement, and evolved many theories concerning it. Eminent theologians of various denominations are now, however, coming more and more to agree with Mrs. Eddy's teachings on the question. These teachings are found in her principal work, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which is also the textbook of Christian Science. It should be interesting to know that Christian Science presents a demonstrably scientific concept of the atonement of Christ Jesus. By that is meant that by their understanding of this subject Christian Scientists are enabled to heal sickness and disease, as well as to overcome sin. As the Gospels clearly indicate, spiritual healing is an important factor in Christ's Christianity; and Christian Science declares that it is necessary to strive to emulate Jesus in all his ways in order to gain an understanding of his atonement in its spiritual and true signification.

It is evident that our friend who criticized Mrs. Eddy believes the word "Christ" to be a synonym for Jesus. Jesus, however, was Mary's son, and was human. Christ was the divine nature with which he was so wonderfully imbued. To quote Mrs. Eddy's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 26): "The Christ was the Spirit which Jesus implied in his own statements: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life;' 'I and my Father are one.' This Christ, or divinity of the man Jesus, was his divine nature, the godliness which animated him." It was the human Jesus who was crucified and arose from the tomb. It was Jesus' manifestation and demonstration of the Christ that enabled him to do this. That glorious deed, and in fact all of his previous mighty works were accomplished to show mankind the way of life by demonstration of the Christ. It is also through the manifestation and demonstration of the Christ that the healing and regenerating works of Christian Science are wrought. By following in the footsteps of Jesus—by endeavoring to "put on Christ" and heal the sick as well as reform the sinner—the efficacy of Christ Jesus' atonement may be rightly understood.

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