In a recent issue of Rogaland there appears an attack on...

Nils A. T. Lerche, Committee on Publication for Norway

Rogaland, Stavanger (translation)

In a recent issue of Rogaland there appears an attack on Christian Science, to which I should like to reply.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was established in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy about sixty years ago, to "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17).

The article mentioned discloses ignorance of Christian Science. It is not "business efficiency" and "deceit" that have built the Christian Science churches all over the world. It is the gratitude of the thousands who through Christian Science have attained to a satisfactory understanding of Christianity and to health. It is the success of Christian Scientists in healing through prayer which has caused other church denominations to take up "this nuisance of healing by prayer," because they realize that it is a necessary part of Christianity.

Should it be such a ridiculous thought to Christians that they should "pray evil out of the world"? Would not the world today be different had all individuals in the so-called Christian nations prayed in the right way, the Christian way? Could war between these nations be at all thinkable? But one does not pray "in all conviviality" nor omit to "resist evil." Everyone who has the slightest experience of Christian Science knows that. On the contrary, an unceasing fight against evil is required, and first and foremost in one's own thinking. Paul writes that we should "pray without ceasing."

It is told in the article of a "hair-raising miracle," namely, of a woman who through prayer made a burglar change his mind. There have in all epochs been Christians who have been protected through prayer, and who have had similar experiences.

There exists no special "Christian Science Bible." The textbook by Mary Baker Eddy, to which the author of the article alludes, and which he apparently has not read, is called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." It is not in any way a substitute for the Bible, which has an importance place in the Christian Science church; but it is an invaluable help in understanding the Bible.

Christian Science practitioners are not "engaged at a salary." They who devote themselves to this work have difficult tasks, and great demands are made on them. They take a modest compensation from those they are helping. "The labourer is worthy of his hire." There is no reason why these people more than others should give their time and service gratuitously and live on charity.

Christian Scientists have often healed people who have sought other help in vain. Prayer in Christian Science can never be used to hurt anyone. Those who are admitted as members in the Christian Science church must sign six Tenets, which may be found on page 497 of Science and Health. The last of them reads, "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Selected Articles

A résumé of a sermon that appeared in a recent issue...

November 4, 1939

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit