Article September 1, 2013

What Christian Science teaches about marriage

Joshua F. Bailey

Originally published in the August 1, 1889 issue of the Christian Science Series (Vol. 1, No. 7)

 The impression is general that our Master's action in the case of the woman taken in adultery, implied—in some vague way and within limits not well defined—relaxation, by the Gospel, of the strict moral requirements of the Mosaic law in regard to marriage. Quite universally it is believed to indicate a more benevolent attitude, a greater charity in general, on the part of God, toward, human weakness as manifested in offences against the moral law; men, and especially professing Christians, are supposed to be called by the Gospel, to the exercise of a greater leniency of judgment, and to cast the mantle of charity over the offence as well as the offender. Christians are thus placed in a position of qualified, indulgence and complicity that, if plainly stated, would be repudiated with horror and disgust. The increasing frequency of divorce, irregular separation, and grosser offences against chastity, in Christian communities,—the levity with which they are passed over or are winked at as venial,—are the evidences and measure of this involuntary Christian tolerance for fleshly lusts.

From its present standpoint, the Christian Church has only simple disapproval or mild deprecation to oppose to their encroachments. It has no well-defined position from which to withstand,—to say nothing of attacking—the constantly growing spirit of licentiousness.

The idea of personal, Divine pardon of sin carries with it as a necessary sequence that of human tolerance. It effaces the line of eternal separation between chastity and indulgence, and thus abandons the only position from which licentiousness can be effectually resisted and destroyed.

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