The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-07-11
AIECTURE ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
By VIRGIL O. STRICKLER, C. S.
Church. The First Church
Of Christ Scientist Mass
Printed By Request.)
By VIRGIL O. STRICKLER, C. S.
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HOWEVER much people may differ in
their attitude towards Christian Sci
ence every one will admit that it has
done many good things. Entirely apart
from the question of physical healing, it is
generally conceded that it produces happy
and contented mentality, that it destroys
fear, and makes people loving and kind.
When we add to this the fact that it has
healed many sick people who had previous
ly been unable to find relief under other
systems, that it has cured many of the drug
habit, and of the liquor habit, has restored
harmony in many homes that were dlscord-
ant, and has given hope and courage to
people who were discouraged, it is easy to
understand why Christian Science has spread
from one end of the earth to the other with
such wonderful rapidity.
1t has been truly said that every person
has problem, either physical or mental, a
domestic or a business problem, towards
the solution of which he needs God help,
and if Christian Science is able to help peo-
pie to be happy, to be less fault-hndlng, to
be healthy, to have less fear, and to have
more love, then it is something that every
one desires.
Before becoming interested in Christian
Science, | was member OF an orthodox
church. l had been taught to read the
Bible and to respect and venerate its teach
ings, and | did so. There was one thing,
however, that [ was never able to under
stand, and that was why everybody who
lived at the time of Jesus and witnessed his
wonderful works did not believe in him.
1t seemed to me that if had lived at that
time, and had been able to see him heal
O
dead it would have been very easy to be-
works, however, were not always impressed
i'm his favor because of them. Sometimes
when he performed one of his most wonder
full cures it stirred some of the people to
rage. For instance, when he raised Lazarus
from the dead, one of the eye witnesses
fastened to report it to the authorities in
Jerusalem, and the Jewish Sanhedrim forth
with declared that he must be killed, be-
cause they said, if they did not kill him,
all the people would follow him.
Since becoming a Christian Scientist |
can understand why the people of his time
were not convinced by the works of Jesus
that he was the true representative of God.
They believed that a Messiah would come,
but they expected him to come in certain
way, and because he did not come in that
way they refused to believe in him.
1t is the same quality of thought that
prevents people at the present time from
being convinced that Christian Science is
the truth by the works that it does. All of
the churches pray for the recovery of the
sick. They do SO because they expect that
God will heal according to His promises
in the Bible, but when the healing comes
through the Christian Science church and
as the result of Christian Science prayer,
some are ready to condemn it. Because the
healing Christ does not come in the way
they have expected, they are just as ready
today as two thousand years ago to declare
that he did his works through Beelzebub.
Let us not rob ourselves of any good
thing because of prejudice or sectarianism.
Christian Science is knocking at the door of
this age with message of hope for every
one. 1t declares that the truth taught and
practiced by Jesus is operating today and
that it is as available for us as it was for
those who lived in Apostolic times.