Article April 7, 1934 Issue

Christian Science Treatment: Divine Power

EDMUND HOGG

Christ Jesus' power was not personal. It was individual, and was spiritually reflected. This divine fact was partly recognized by Nicodemus when he made the inspired declaration to Jesus, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." In like manner Christian Science teaches that demonstration, or proof by works, is Immanuel, or "God with us." The right desire of every Christian must therefore be to prove the truth about God ever more and more. Indeed, the approach to conscious immortality can be made in no other way.

The ancient prophet Malachi voiced the necessity for "proving" God: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." What joy comes to one when it is realized that God invites "the children of men" to prove Him! How transcending the bliss at the first proof of the presence of the power of God, and the power of the presence of God—realized in healing! As these proofs or healings multiply in human experience it is seen that true existence is the eternal expression of Life, God, and that man, as revealed in Science, has no other consciousness than good. The need of the world is for deliverance from evil, from the belief in evil as real, claiming to oppose God, omnipotent good. Evil is never real, nor is it ever really temporal power. God is good, and He is infinite. Therefore Christian Science rightly declares that, since God is good and infinite, evil has only a fabulous existence.

This statement is made by Mrs. Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 569): "Every mortal at some period, here or hereafter, must grapple with and overcome the mortal belief in a power opposed to God." Christian Science thus shows the divine fact of good to be infinite. The wonder to human sense is that divine facts are always capable of proof in human experience. Jesus the Christ exemplified this by his mighty works of healing, which he said would be repeated by those who believe on him, or, understand his method. Christ Jesus referred to the divine power seen in his works when he said to Philip: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.... The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Christian Science Treatment: Divine Power

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access