Christendom has passed through the doorway of the twentieth century. The ideals of Christianity are rapidly becoming universal. The English language is fast becoming the language of humanity, and hand in hand with this language go the truths of the teachings of Jesus. Christian Science is the most-thought-of aspect of the Christian religion of these early hours of the new century. It is truly twentieth-century Christianity. Christian Science recognizes in the individuality and spiritual teaching of Jesus the individualization and expression of all true religion. Jesus Christ was an idealist, and "ideals," says Emerson, "govern the world." The definite achievements of Christian Science in the realm of religion, healing therapeutics, and scientific deduction during the last third of the nineteenth century prefigure its greater works during the century within whose borders we already stand. What has Christian Science accomplished? What is it at the present time doing? What has the race a right to expect from its practical operation during the days that are to be? These are pertinent questions to be calmly considered, dispassionately discussed, and prayerfully investigated. Blind prejudice is self-imposed ignorance. A dogmatic sense of religion is mental stolidity. A one-sided or prejudiced point of view is a position without view or vista. Fixed ignorance of either religious or scientific truth is inadmissible in this age of enlightenment and impartial investigation. Wrong traditional influences are no part of a progressive mentality, and thinking minds are always open to the light whencesoever it cometh.
The religion of Jesus has within itself the elements of universality. It is a gospel of brotherhood, fraternity, fellowship, social science, and co-operative progress. Jesus' kingdom of righteous dominion is for this world, but partakes not of its worldliness. According to Christian Science, Jesus Christ is at once Son of God and son of Man. His divinity or immortal selfhood is one with the divine Nature that we call God. His humanity is one with universal Man, i.e., "God made manifest in the flesh." This humanly divine manifestation is neither earthly nor sensual, but illustrates the symmetrical proportions of sinless humanhood. Such character constitutes the eternal normality of God's man. Christian Science looks upon Jesus as the central figure of present and future religious history and spiritual conquest. Far above the plane and action of a mere wonder-worker it places the deeds and words of Jesus. Referring to the works of Jesus, especially his healing of sickness through mental or spiritual processes, Matthew Arnold writes: "This action of Jesus, however it may be amplified in the reports, was real; but it is not therefore as popular religion fancies,—thaumaturgy (wonder-working). It is not what people are fond of calling the supernatural, but what is better called the non-natural. It is, on the contrary, like the grace of Raphael or the grand style of Phidias, eminently natural; but it is above common, low-pitched nature; it is a line of nature not yet mastered or followed out."
Is Christian Science evangelical in its attitude toward our Lord and Master? It recognizes in Jesus the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies and hopes of the Hebrew people. It teaches his immaculate conception, spiritual incarnation, baptism, and his reception of the descent of the Holy Spirit. It accepts the record of his power over the elements, the genuineness of his divinely natural deeds miscalled miracles, his works of healing, regeneration, and divinely compassionate forgiveness of sinners. It accepts his Atonement as a revelation of the divine process of at-one-ment with God. It bows in humility before his Gethsemane struggle, and sees in the tragedy of Calvary the great climax in the drama of atoning love. It believes in the truth of his Easter morning resurrection, and teaches that he restored himself, healing his wounds and removing the winding sheet from his own body and the napkin from his head in the tomb. It accepts the story of his post-resurrection words and acts, as recorded in the Gospels, and sees in his final ascension above matter the scientific fulfilment of his own prophecies and the possibility of individual immortality demonstrated. Therefore Christian Science accepts Jesus Christ as the Way-shower, and in this acceptance lays legitimate claim to being evangelical in its attitude toward the personality, individuality, and work of the Saviour.
