Sometimes the statement is made: I belong to a Christian church, and have prayed repeatedly and earnestly to God to be relieved of physical distresses, and my prayers have remained unanswered how can you Christian Scientists rely on the efficacy of prayer to overcome physical sicknesses? At other times the question is put thus: Why are not the prayers of the members of other Christian denominations as effectual for the healing of the sick as are the prayers of Christian Scientists? If God does not answer our prayers in such cases, when we pray to Him fervently and sincerely as Christians, what right have you to expect us to have any faith in your prayers as Christian Scientists?
We may ask if those who put such questions pray to the true and only God, or do they pray to a supposititious deity who has no existence? If they pray to a non-existing God, whom they "ignorantly worship" because of false teachings, their questions need no further answer than the pointing out of this fact. If they pray to a man-like God, and no such God exist; if they pray to a God who is man-like in His notions of justice, truth, love, punishment, and so forth, and God be infinite Love, Spirit, Truth, Life, then is it not clear that they pray amiss?
For argument's sake, let us put the case strongly. Suppose that one prays to a piece of wood, say in the form of a totem-pole or a cross, is he praying to God? Suppose that he believes in the power of evil being greater than the power of good (as some benighted peoples do believe to this day), and seeks to propitiate an imaginary Satan by prayer. Surely we would not expect God to answer such a prayer. It may be said that no Christian so prays, and that therefore the instance is not pertinent. Very well; then we will substitute this instance: Suppose that one names God with his lips in prayer, but does not name Him in his thoughts, inasmuch as he believes that the One to whom he prays possesses attributes and ways which could properly be ascribed to a personal Satan if he existed is that person praying to the true and only God, or is he praying to a non-existent being? Upon what basis can you claim that such a prayer can be efficacious any more than the prayer of the pagan who, with equal sincerity and fervor, prays to a totem-pole?
