Editorial January 31, 1948 Issue

"IF THE SCIENTIST REACHES HIS PATIENT"

John Randall Dunn

Many times one hears from Bible readers, earnest seekers for truth, a very rational question. It is a question which should not be side-stepped by any Jewish or Christian apologist. It is this: If in Old and New Testament times the sick were healed by divine power, why should not the synagogues and churches today preach the possibility of spiritual healing? Moses healed Miriam of leprosy; Elisha restored to life the son of the Shunammite woman and also healed the leper Naaman. And after healing "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people" (Matt. 4:23), Christ Jesus definitely commanded his followers to do likewise. That they were obedient to his behest and wrought amazing cures through spiritual power alone is evidenced throughout the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

What warrant, then, has the Jew or Christian today to exclude from the teachings of synagogue and church the glorious understanding of a heavenly Father who healeth all our diseases? After all, what religious teaching fails to inculcate the doctrine that a supernal power heals sin? But why stop there? Suppose an individual has become a victim of a disease brought on by some sin. Should not the wiping out of the sin bring an improvement in the health of the erstwhile sinner? Where can the line be drawn? If the power of God is invoked for the solving of the simplest human problem, the same power should move mountains of error, unless this power is hidden by the mist of ignorance and unbelief.

With what joy should the student of Holy Writ read the opening statement in the Christian Science textbook! In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 1) Mary Baker Eddy writes, "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible of God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love." Here is a joyous prelude to a book which is restoring to the crown of Christianity the lost jewel of spiritual healing; or to use another figure of speech, it is presenting the seamless robe of Christly teaching, wherein nothing is lacking. Salvation is revealed for the sick as well as the sinning. The understanding of the spiritual sense of the Scriptures enables the student to deal successfully with such problems as discordant human relationships, lack, depraved appetite, unfortunate dispositions, and all the et ceteras of discordant mortal experience. That healing and positive betterment begin for many readers while they are yet studying the first chapter of the textbook is proved by the letters from beneficiaries found in the chapter entitled "Fruitage."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

PUTTING OUT FIRE WITH FIRE