A writer in The Colonist approves the classification of...

Samuel Greenwood—Victoria, British Columbia

The Colonist

A writer in The Colonist approves the classification of Christian Science as a "false religion," on the ground that it, among other religions, regards works instead of belief as the all important thing in one's religion. Your correspondent surely does not wish to take the position implied in her quoted article, that if a man believes in a particular creed or doctrine it makes no difference what his acts are. Such a theory would certainly please the sensual nature of mortals, but it could never uplift the human race or give a man the moral strength to overcome sinful temptation.

The fact is, that however much you theorize, you cannot dissociate a man's honest belief from its effect upon his life; for what one accepts as actually true will naturally and necessarily influence and decide his acts. This was enunciated by St. Paul with inexorable logic when he declared, in substance, that his faith was made evident in his works, which implies, conversely, that if one's works do not give evidence of faith in God, the faith is not there. For example, one who has faith in the multiplication table will make use of it, whereas one who has no faith in it will leave it alone. In like manner, if a man has faith that Christ Jesus taught the truth, he will, if he loves that truth, obey it; and there you have the faith and works that are and always will be inseparable.

The assumption that a man's works do not count so long as he acknowledges a belief in Christ, is directly at variance with our Lord's teachings, in which he repeatedly states what Christians should do; for instance, in the Sermon on the Mount. Had all Christendom performed the works therein enjoined, the world would not now be witnessing the spectacle of so-called Christian nations engaged in slaughtering each other and plunging humanity into such unspeakable misery.

On the connection between belief and works, the Master himself went so far as to say, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." And if further confirmation were needed, it may be found in his scathing denouncement of a purely theoretical belief, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Your correspondent should tread lightly in calling another person's religion false, and least of all on the astonishing pretext that it calls for consistency between belief and conduct as essential to a true Christian life. St. John with delightful simplicity and finality sweeps away all doctrinal or creedal distinctions between human beings in their individual relation to God, when he says, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous."

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