An inescapable fact is that the Christianity taught and exemplified by Jesus of Nazareth was a healing religion. If that is the case, it is a healing religion today. One might as well try to divorce perfume from a flower as to conceive of the Master's redemptive message as bereft of a healing effect on the sick and sinning. To use the words of a well-loved hymn (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 388),
Where'er he went affliction fled,
The sick were healed, the hungry fed.
The dominant theme of Jesus' teachings is the spiritualization, the Christianization, of consciousness; and for nineteen centuries his followers have believed in and endeavored to practice the healing of sin. But the Saviour of mankind made no distinction between the healing of sin and of sickness. This is evidenced unmistakably in his instructions to the disciples, recorded in the tenth chapter of Matthew (verses 6-8): "Go... to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
How blest is this century, which is witnessing in Christian Science the renascence of the full gospel of Christ-healing! In her "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 352) Mary Baker Eddy proclaims the good news in these words: "In Science, sickness is healed upon the same Principle and by the same rule that sin is healed." Then a little farther on she writes (pp. 352, 353): "The only difference between the healing of sin and the healing of sickness is, that sin must be uncovered before it can be destroyed, and the moral sense be aroused to reject the sense of error; while sickness must be covered with the veil of harmony, and the consciousness be allowed to rejoice in the sense that it has nothing to mourn over, but something to forget."
One of the so-called stock objections to Christian Science by some critics, whose knowledge of the Science is wholly superficial, is that this system teaches its followers to aver that they are well when in reality they are sick and, more dangerous still, to declare that there is no sin and then proceed to indulge some sinful practice. What an unfortunate misconception is this, which, if believed, might keep many sad and needy persons from investigating and being blessed by the healing message of Christian Science!
Now an honest, earnest study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mrs. Eddy after experiencing Christian healing herself and healing others, will reveal the Christly modus of this great work. Starting with the Master's premise, that knowing the truth which he taught will make free from sickness as well as from sin, she restates this truth in language a child can understand. The truth which heals and saves is resident in the understanding that God is infinite good, is infinitely harmonious, and is the author only of good and harmony. Sickness, sin, discord of every name and nature, belonging not to His harmonious creation, are not supported by His law, and therefore must be unnatural, unreal. Man, God's noblest work, made in his Maker's image, reflects the harmony of his creator.
When mortals, therefore, are assailed with suggestions of disease or discord, Christian Science teaches them to reach out for and abide in the truth about the heavenly Father and His universe of law and concord. The sufferers are then led to deny, to repudiate, to turn from as untrue and powerless every argument of fear, pain, and inharmony advanced by material sense. Then comes the glorious conclusion that there are not two creations, one spiritual and the other material; not two men, one harmonious and the other discordant, but one alone, and that one the spiritual, joyous, free emanation of Spirit itself. When this outline is considered, can one not see how far removed from genuine metaphysical work is the critic's flippant appraisal?
In the treatment of sin, the student of Science begins, as in a case of sickness, with the declaration of the all-power and presence of God, infinite good, who as the prophet states (Hab. 1:13) is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" and looks not on iniquity. Sin must therefore be as foreign to God's creation as is sickness; but before one can affirm his sinlessness as the child of God, there are important steps for him to take. First, as already quoted, Mrs. Eddy tells us that "sin must be uncovered before it can be destroyed, and the moral sense be aroused to reject the sense of error." Like the publican in Jesus' parable, the victim of sin must become so conscious of sin's odiousness and must desire so genuinely to turn therefrom that he will be willing, figuratively at least, to beat upon his breast and say, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
Vitally important to the spiritual growth of every student of this Science is the understanding of another statement by our inspired Leader in her "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 293). She says, "To affirm mentally and audibly that God is All and there is no sickness and no sin, makes mortals either saints or sinners." Then she hastens to elucidate this startling statement. She continues, "Truth talked and not lived, rolls on the human heart a stone; consigns sensibility to the charnel-house of sensuality, ease, self-love, self-justification, there to moulder and rot."
"Truth talked and not lived"! Sin is never healed thus. To declare at one moment that man is the sinless reflection of God, divine Love, and then to give way to an exhibition of temper or selfishness, to sensualism, greed, or to self-will, and the like, is to steer one's bark towards the rocks and shoals of hypocrisy. Sin is never healed in Science until it can be manfully faced, "and the moral sense be aroused to reject the sense of error," as Mrs. Eddy says.
And when this is done; when one has recognized and denounced some attack of the one evil; when the discordant suggestion is given neither life, law, nor a sense of adhesion or cohesion, and one has turned like the prodigal to the Father's house, behold the peace that passes understanding! The image of God is neither sick nor sinful, and what a joyful privilege it is to demonstrate this truth, if the craving for drugs, liquor, or tobacco demands admittance at the door of one's mental home, how surely it can be rejected and silenced when one turns to the happifying truth that God, divine Mind, knows no cravings, but is eternally satisfied, harmonious, free, and that His image reflects now this satisfaction, wholeness, and freedom.
The Science of Christianity shows the Christ-way out of sin and suffering. It is to know God's allness and prove evil's impotence and unreality. It is to declare the truth and live it and love it. Hear the apostle's precious promise (Rom. 6:14), "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
