Editorial May 22, 1948 Issue

"LET THE WEAK SAY, I AM STRONG"

John Randall Dunn

"We need to understand the affirmations of divine Science, dismiss superstition, and demonstrate truth according to Christ," writes Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 149). In fact, there is nothing more important than this for the student of Science to grasp, be he newcomer or seasoned worker, if he would solve the many problems of human experience.

A popular misconception of Christian Science is that its disciples affirm that they are well when in reality they are sick and therefore do not deal with and overcome the discordant condition but ignore it. Nothing could more flagrantly misrepresent the Christly teachings of this Science than such an assertion. The very foundation stone of the doctrine of Christian Science is found in the familiar words of Christ Jesus, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32). The first words on the flyleaf of Science and Health are taken from this great declaration, showing that health and harmony are gained in Science as one knows and demonstrates the truth about God and man.

The text of this editorial, "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10), is a case in point. Can anyone believe that the prophet was recommending that a person in the throes of weakness should keep repeating, "I am strong," in the hope that he might finally mesmerize himself into a belief of strength? Christian Science throws new light on Biblical statements such as this. Science teaches that the affirmation, "I am strong," if made from the standpoint of the truth about God's man, is a statement of spiritual fact; for can the image and likeness of God, the true selfhood of man, be other than strong and harmonious? All Christianly scientific argument, therefore, must rest on this basis: the goodness of God, the great First Cause, and His harmonious expression, man. The student of Science must choose day by day and hour by hour what he will accept as truth and what he will serve.

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