WHEN the word "Christian" is considered, how varied are the thoughts that may arise within us! We think, perhaps, of the many sects that are in existence, differing in greater or less degree from each other on some point of doctrine, but all calling themselves by the name of Christian. While, in certain instances, these differ widely on what they may call essentials, one thing they have in common: they all claim to be followers of Christ Jesus. Each and all will say that they are faithfully subscribing to the teachings of the great Nazarene; and each and all will maintain that, on the whole, they are endeavoring to practice what they believe and probably preach. But everybody knows the emptiness of many of these pretensions. And does not history enable us to draw aside the veil to behold adown the centuries the subterfuge, the cant, and the hypocrisy which have so frequently masqueraded as Christianity, but which were entitled only to the stigma of unenlightened paganism?
The religion which is not Christ-like is not Christianity. No one is entitled to the name of Christian who is not earnestly endeavoring actually to follow, and that in a well-defined manner, in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. And if the path the Master trod be closely studied, it will be found that it traverses what practically amounts to the whole range of human activity. Christ Jesus, from his early years to the ascension morning, walked along the straight, undeviating pathway of conformity to the law of God. That is to say, obedience to moral and spiritual law dominated the whole life of the Master. And this obedience to moral and spiritual law translated itself into that right activity which made itself manifest to mankind in the healing of the sick and the casting out of evil beliefs from the thoughts of men. Referring to Christianity, Mrs. Eddy writes in "Christian Healing" (p. 3): "The primitive privilege of Christianity was to make men better, to cast out error, and heal the sick. It was a proof, more than a profession thereof; a demonstration, more than a doctrine. It was the foundation of right thinking and right acting, and must be reestablished on its former basis."
Is not the whole situation graphically depicted by the words of Mrs. Eddy just quoted? If the "primitive privilege of Christianity" was "to make men better," to heal the sick and the sinning,—to cast out all error,—what reason is there for deviating from the "primitive privilege"? Not the slightest reason. To make a profession of Christianity in order merely to stand well with the world, or to keep one's self right with God after the manner of those whose concepts of Deity are utterly false, is surely to play the part of the hypocrite or the grossly ignorant. The teachings of Christ Jesus in their simplicity and in their profundity defined the truth about man's spiritual relationship to God, revealed the fact that spiritual law operates continually in the universe of Spirit, —the only real universe,—and consequently laid the spiritual foundation for right thinking and right acting among men for all time to come. His teachings were based on a correct understanding of divine Principle. To be a Christian therefore means that, as in the case of the Way-shower, one is thinking and acting in accordance with divine Principle.
