False Christs

Near the close of Jesus ministry he took occasion to warn his followers against the false Christs which would come in his name, claiming identity with his teaching and work, and he said, "Take heed lest any man deceive you." This showed the high value which he placed upon his teaching, for only genuine things are counterfeited, and that which has no worth is not likely to be imitated.

Before the Christian era there were many theories about God which claimed to be true, but Christ Jesus characterized their effect upon humanity in these words: "O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee." The way of error with all its resultant misery is a long one, but mortals have ever sought escape from its penalties by a short cut. That there is a true way of escape from evil is certain, else would not Christ have said, "I am the way.... No man cometh unto the Father but by me." He offered guidance to all when he said, "Follow me," and our Leader has spoken of this way as "the passage from sense to Soul" (Science and Health, p. 566).

Paul speaks of Christ as "the image of the invisible God," from which we can but conclude that the image or reflection of divine Truth and Love is ever with us, otherwise we are not in "the way that leadeth unto life." We must all learn that we can reach the divine heights only by individual understanding, obedience, and experience. Inseparably connected with this lesson is another; namely, that the spiritual methods which lead to harmony are the reverse of those which spring from mortal belief, or which appeal to it.

If, as Christian Scientists, we are loyal to the teachings of our text-book, we shall never fall into the snares of error through the belief that we can find a way to harmony by adopting the views or accepting the guidance of those who are ignorant of the Christ, Truth. Again and again has the world been disappointed by "false Christs" which "deceive many." The great revolution in Europe about the close of the eighteenth century gave proof of this. Under the guise of a lofty ideal of liberty, equality, and fraternity, thousands were led away into the blackest night, and a fair land was deluged with the blood of error's victims.

Surely all Christian Scientists ought to know that mortal mind has no power to cure the evils it has caused; and that "God reigns" in the social and political realm as well as in the so-called physical. And, in view of these eternal facts, they ought also to know that perfect justice is within the reach of every one who clings unfalteringly to Truth.

We may well remember the Hebrew captives in Babylon who were not only saved from threatened destruction through their obedience to Truth, but were "set on high" above those who were confident in their place and power, and this should make it clear to us that our individual business is to love and obey God, and He will see to it that we are protected and provided for.

Our text-book says, "The Science of Christianity is misinterpreted by a material age.... Creeds, doctrines, and human hypotheses do not express it, much less can they demonstrate it.... Human philosophy, ethics, and superstition afford no demonstrable divine Principle whereby mortals can escape from sin" (Science and Health, pp. 98, 99). May we not well say of this glorious Truth which has already freed us from so much error.—

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in thee I find.

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Letters to our Leader

February 13, 1904

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