In these days much is heard about spiritual healing outside of the Christian Science movement. Many of the churches are interested in it, and some of them have even gone the length of investigating the subject. This is not at all to be wondered at, since the Founder of Christianity, Christ Jesus, established his claim to the Messiahship on the basis of his healing work; for did he not reply to the disciples of John the Baptist, who had been sent to him with the question, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?" in the words: "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached"? The wonder is not so much that Christians, generally, have so long delayed in looking into the important question of spiritual healing, but that they are not now practicing it—successfully practicing it—in accordance with the example and the command of the Master.
It would appear that many erroneous views are held with regard to spiritual healing. If these be examined, it will be found that they are all based on mistaken beliefs concerning God and His creation, man. And without exception, each of these beliefs presupposes the reality of matter, in contradiction to the fact that since God, Spirit, is infinite, there can be no reality in what purports to be Spirit's opposite. But, believing in the reality of matter, those outside of Christian Science who believe in the possibility of spiritual healing, assume that through their prayers God in some way or other acts upon matter, reversing material law, and so produces healing. Thus it is apparent that they rely on their prayers influencing Deity to such an extent that He will intervene to reverse the action of what they would allow are His own laws!
It must be remembered that it is only since Christian Science—the discovery of Mary Baker Eddy in 1866—began to heal the sick as well as the sinning, that other Christian churches have seriously begun to look into the question of spiritual healing, and to suspect that there is something sadly wrong in their neglect of this great Christian duty. And what is particularly strange is that notwithstanding the fact that innumerable healings have taken place in Christian Science practice, many still refuse to listen to the explanation of the method of spiritual healing given by Christian Science, preferring to accept that given by people who know nothing whatever as to the modus operandi of Christian Science, and who erroneously pronounce its healings to be the result of some form of mental suggestion or mesmerism. It is a hopeful sign, however, that so many are now looking into the subject in an unbiased manner; and it is certain that sooner or later the correct explanation of spiritual healing given by Christian Science will be universally accepted.
