King's Business - 1916-06

492

THE KING’S BUSINESS

uncaused and personal action o f the three persons o f the eternal Godhead. Christian Science says that Jesus and Christ are two. The Bible says that they are one and indi­ visible. Christian Science says that cor­ poreal Jesus was so only to the false belief o f His disciples. The Bible says He is real and abiding. This is the immense and cli­ macteric thing the Bible says: ‘Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for­ ever.’ (Hebrews 13:8). As though heaven anticipated the terrific attempt to make a schism between Jesus and Christ, an attempt to take away real existence from Jesus, and the body from Christ, it sends down this inspired proclamation: Jeshs Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. According to Christian Science, Jesus was not Christ (cf. p. 84, 1893), yet 1 John 2 :22 says, ‘Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son’ ” (Haldeman). But this is not all. Hear what the Bible has to . say o f those who deny that Christ has come in the flesh. “Hereby know ye the Spirit o f God; every spirit that con- fesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is o f God. And every spirit that con- fesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not o f God; and this is that spirit o f antichrist ^whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:2, 3). (b) The Perfection o f Chrises Life and Teachings are Denied. Mrs. Eddy claims that her revelation is “ higher, clearer and more permanent” than that given by the Man o f Galilee. According' to Christian Science, Jesus Himself was not -always superior to the environment o f mortal belief. He was yielding to this error when He foretold His death. He never really cast out de­ mons; He made as though He did, but in reality He cast out nothing more than the false beliefs (cf. p & H., p. 79, 1909; 1899, p. 245; 1916, p. 79). “At the time when Jesus felt our infirm­ ities He had not conquered all the beliefs

o f the flesh—nor had He risen to His final demonstration o f spiritual power” {S. & PL., p. -53, 1909). This means that inasmuch as belief in the flesh is false, there was a time when Jesus was under the power and dominion o f the flesh, and not under the power o f the Holy Spirit. “Jesus’ wisdom ofttimes was shown by His forbearing to speak, as well as by speaking, the whole truth.” “This wisdom, which character­ ized His sayings, did not prophesy His death, and thereby hasten or (and) permit it” ( Misc. Writings, p. 84, 1916). This is equivalent to saying that Jesus, by foolish talking about -His death really hastened it; that He lacked wisdom in so doing; that He was not wise when He foretold His death. “ To accommodate Himself to immature ideas o f spiritual power . . . . Jesus called the body, which . . . He raised from the grave, ‘flesh and bones’ ” (S. & H „ p. 209, 1899; p. 313, 1909, 1916). This is equivalent to saying that Jesus was deceiving His disciples; that He was lying to His friends; that what He said was not true. “These instances show the concessions which Jesus was willing to make to the popular ignorance” (S. & H., pp. 396, 397, 1899; p. 398, 1909, 1916). What then becomes^ o f the authority o f Christ’s teach­ ings? What becomes o f His claims to be the infallible Teacher o f spiritual truth? How can He be not only the Way, and Life, but also the Truth, if He thus lied to His disciples and the people? W e at once see into what awful uncertainty we are thrown by such teaching. (c) The Deity of Jesus Christ Is Denied. The C. S. textbook reads: “W e acknowl­ edge His Son.” Yes, Jmt'how is God’s Son acknowledged? Jesus was not God’s Son jn any other sense than as every man is God’s son—this is Christian Science teach­ ing regarding the deity o f Christ. Mrs. Eddy says that “Jesus was a good man” ■(S. & H., p. 335, 1893), “ The offspring o f Mary’s self-conscious communion (self- communing) with God” (5 . & H., p. 335,

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