November, 1945
415
By Erma Walker
It is the desire of the author that this moving testimony may be used of God to warn those who, turning to Christian Science for relief from phys ical suffering, become entangled in its unscriptural teaching and lose their way in its spiritual darkness. B ORN AND REARED in Christian pending wholly on its teachings for complete supply a n d healing. Like many other followers of Eddyism, they were deceived by its subtleties because they apparently found healing by fol lowing its precepts. One snowy morning in November, my little b r o t h e r Harold came into the house, complaining of a headache. Seven days later he died of d i p h t h e r i a . No medical help whatever had been called; only two well-known Christian Science practi tioners were summoned. We had such faith in Christian Science that his sudden death left us all bewildered. Of the numerous cases of diphtheria reported in the county at that time, he was the only one who died. Others had resorted to medical science and were saved; we had placed our trust in the healing power of. Christian Science, and our Harold was lost. His little white casket, as it was carried down the walk from our house, seemed..to take my heart along, and with it the false tranquillity t h a t often comes with religious blindness. For weeks I waited to awaken from that horrible dream. Christian Science had taught me: “All is life and there is no death” ; “Man is deathless, spiri tual . . . He co-exists, with God and the universe” ; "Man is incapable of sin, sickness and death.” Yet here was not only sickness, but death also thrust upon me. I tried to console my self with the Christian Science for
do not see how I lived through thenj. Seeking Finally I began to seek for God, but it was another five years before I was saved. I did not know how to find Him. It seemed as if I had scales on my eyes, and I could not get them off to see the Gospel clearly, or to read the Bible with any spiritual understand ing. I began attending Sunday School with my schoolmates. However, I did not comprehend the redemptive power of the blood of Christ, nor understand my own need of salvation. Up to the time I was a senior in high school, I had no conviction of my sinfulness before a holy God. Once, during a series of evangelistic meet ings, the Lord quietly laid His hand on me, and I began to weep, realizing that I was included in God’s Word which plainly declares, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I wanted to go down to the altar that night, but it was not all clear to me then, and the things of the world held too great an attraction. College Though I had resisted th e . Holy Spirit without realizing it, God, in all loving-kindness, had not forsaken me. His hand was upon my new friend ships, and under their influence, I went to Wheaton College. There I went to prayer meetings, and all the evan gelistic services, for two and a half years. But, strange to say, during all those meetings, when outstanding men of God preached, the Word so clearly, I never comprehended the plan of salvation.
mula, “There is no life, truth, intelli gence, nor substance in matter,” but there was no- consolation for me in the words. For the first time, I was forced to face the real issues of life and death, and my religion did not help. Atheism The .result was skepticism. Instead of recognizing the inconsistencies of Christian Science, I lost faith in God, for I had believed that the words of Mary Baker Eddy were divinely in spired. The next five years of my life were shadowed in the darkness of spiritual doubt. I cannot describe the struggle that took place in my soul. I could not believe . . . I would not be lieve. During those years of doubt I was invited to a gathering of the neigh borhood children where a godly woman told us about the Lord Jesus. To me He was a “way shower,” and I laughed at the idea of His being a Saviour. "How unnecessary!” t thought. “I was born in the image and likeness of God Himself. I reflected His per fection and, therefore, certainly I could not be a sinner!” Had I not been taught that “Man is incapable of sin,” and that “Evil har no reality . . . but is simply a belief, an illusion of ma terial sense” ? Surely I needed no Saviour.. During those five years our family rarely attended church! My father de clared he would never step inside of another Christian Science church, and he has not to this B a p There r:ere years without Christ and without hope, in fact, without any religion at all. I
Science, I believed it blasphemy for anyone to deny my religion. My parents were devout Scientists, de
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker