The Letter and the Spirit

George Shaw Cook

When Abram parted from Lot at Beth-el, he said, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." The dispute between them and between their herdsmen having been about cattle and the land on which to sustain them, it was settled by the simple proposal made by Abram to divide the land in sight, one company going to the right and the other to the left.

Strife between mortals is not always settled so satisfactorily. And the contention is not always about what is ordinarily referred to as property, but often about hours of work, remuneration, living conditions, and frequently about political theories or about religious dogmas. Perhaps nothing is held to more tenaciously by mortals than a firmly fixed theory of government, unless it be an equally firmly fixed religious doctrine.

At the time of Jesus, for example, there was constant contention between the existing sects—especially the Sadducees and Pharisees—about matters pertaining to the law of Moses. Jesus settled the whole question very quickly and simply, so far as his own teaching was concerned. He said: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

Later, Paul was confronted with the continued dispute between the same sects on the question of resurrection. Furthermore, the Christian Jews and the Gentile Christians contended with each other on the question of circumcision. Evidently referring to this contention, Paul wrote, in his epistle to the Galatians, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Similarly, all down through the centuries which have since intervened, the Christian church has been divided into sects and denominations because of differences with respect to doctrinal teaching.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in answer to the question, "Have Christian Scientists any religious creed?" writes on pages 496 and 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as follows: "They have not, if by that term is meant doctrinal beliefs. The following is a brief exposition of the important points, or religious tenets, of Christian Science." She gives as the first of these Tenets, "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life;" and as the last, "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure." Christian Scientists, therefore, who are obedient to the letter and spirit of these and the other religious Tenets of their Church have no need to dispute matters of doctrine; and they seek to avoid undue argument on subjects pertaining strictly to the letter of Christian Science.

However, insofar as it is necessary to use the letter of Christian Science in the work of healing, teaching, and writing, it is of course essential that it should be used correctly. Christian Science is exact, demonstrable Science; therefore it should be accurately stated, but the most accurate and correct statement of its letter would be of little or no practical value without its spirit. On this subject, Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 113): "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate." Children and others who know but little of the letter of Christian Science have frequently proved that the spirit of its teachings was sufficient to heal.

There may, of course, be many ways of stating the same thing. One student might express a fundamental truth in one way, and another student in a slightly different way, and both be correct. Neither would be right if his statement were contrary to the teaching in the Christian Science textbook, for that is the standard by which all Christian Science teaching, practice, and writing must be judges. However, it is quite possible to convey the meaning of our Leader with regard to some particular point without using her exact words. The thing to be avoided in writing or speaking on the subject of Christian Science is that which conflicts with Mrs. Eddy's obvious meaning, or which would tend to obscure her meaning. She says in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 61): "Posterity will have the right to demand that Christian Science be stated and demonstrated in its godliness and grandeur,—that however little be taught or learned, that little shall be right. Let there be milk for babes, but let not the milk be adulterated."

George Shaw Cook

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