At a time when the essential Christian nature of Christian Science needs to be communicated more broadly to the world, we wanted to share the following short piece from the Christian Science Sentinel, December 2, 1911.
—The Editors
The tenets of The Mother Church should be frequently and carefully studied by all who desire to live and prove the teachings of Christian Science not only for their own growth and aid, but for the information they are thereby enabled to impart to others. Moreover, an intelligent grasp of these tenets greatly aids the Scientist in correcting misapprehensions and misrepresentations of the teachings of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in which these tenets are incorporated. (See page 497.) Their brief consideration may be helpful in the connection mentioned:—-
"1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life."
This tenet completely negatives all charges to the effect that Christian Scientists do not believe the Bible to be of God and divinely inspired. The fact is that all true Christian Scientists accept the Bible, in its spiritual import, without the slightest mental reservation. They endeavor most earnestly to make it in fact and in deed their "sufficient guide to eternal Life."
"2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness."
This tenet fully and unqualifiedly answers all objections that Christian Scientists do not believe in God and in His supremacy and infinity. It also refutes all assertions that Christian Scientists deny the doctrine of the holy Trinity, for in this tenet is clearly and broadly set forth the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—the three in one and the one in three.
Editor's note: see Science and Health 331:26-3.
"3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts."
In the face of this tenet no one can truthfully say that Christian Scientists ignore sin. They believe that sin exists as a claim of human error, and that this error is forgiven in the only way it can be forgiven; that is, by its destruction through obedience to God's law, which means a cessation of sinning. Nor can it be truly charged that Christian Scientists do not believe in the punishment of sin, for in this tenet its punishment is distinctly taught.
"4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death."
Here is distinctly set forth the doctrine of atonement, and man's salvation in the true, full sense of that term. Also the divinity of Christ is here plainly shown.
"5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter."
This plain averment leaves no doubt that Christian Scientists believe in the mission of Christ Jesus, and that the man Jesus was crucified and resurrected as taught in the Scriptures. Nor in the light of this tenet can it be held that Christian Scientists believe in pantheism, for here is a sweeping declaration of the allness of divine Spirit and the nothingness of matter, while pantheism is a belief that the totality of the universe, including matter, its forces and laws, is God, and that there is no other life or action than that which proceeds from matter.
"6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."
This last tenet is one of the most comprehensive declarations of true Christianity ever given to the world. One of its remarkable features is that it sets forth in words the golden rule. We shall search in vain the creeds of the old churches for a literal incorporation therein of the golden rule, however much its spirit may appear. There could not be embraced in language a higher standard of Christian living than is contained in this tenet. It admits of no compromise with error in any form. It is as inflexible as are divine Love and eternal justice. Its demands are supreme, its terms superlative. It is the Bible in epitome; it is the teaching of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in a paragraph; it is Christianity in a nutshell. Genesis is there. Exodus is there. The Psalms are there. Isaiah and all the prophecies are there. The gospels are there. Revelation is there. Salvation, redemption, atonement, sanctiflcation, baptism, predestination, foreordination, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension all are there.
He who watches, and prays for the possession of the Mind of Christ, is reaching out for every essential thing in Christianity. He who is truly gaining ground in this direction is treading the way that Jesus trod, and his ultimate goal is that state of existence to which Jesus referred in his wonderful admonition, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." This state of existence comprehends the golden rule with its all-embracing Christianity, for upon this, Jesus declared, "hang all the law and the prophets."
In the light of these tenets, the teaching which Christian Scientists are called upon to follow, how can any who believe in God, in the Christ, and in the Bible, question for a single moment the absolute Christianity of Christian Science? Moreover, in this light we who have solemnly subscribed to these tenets as our profession of faith, must truly watch, and pray to prove ourselves worthy of such teaching in lives consecrated to the demonstration of Christ's full and complete gospel.
