495
THE KING’S BUSINESS
“I f there is no sin, why did Jesus come to save sinners? Jesus came to seek and . . . . to save them from this false belief” (Misc. Writings, p. 63). According to these statements, Jesus did not come to seek and to save sinners at all. He came- to save people from believing that they were sinners. “ Evil is but an illusion” (S. & H., p. 464, 1893; p. 476, 1899 ; p. 480, 1910, 1916). “ It is the (a ) sense o f sin and not the (a) sinful soul that (which) must be lost” (S. & H., p. 207, 1894, 1899; p. 311, 1916). “ If soul could sin or be lost through sin” (S. & II., p. Ill, 1894; cf. p. i l l , 1899, and p. 245, 1916). “ Destroy the sense of sin and sin itself disappears” ( Unity of Good, p. 9, 1909). “ In Christian Science the fact is made obvious that the sinner and sin are alike, simply nothingness” ( Retrospection and Introspection, p. 77). According to Chris tian Science or “In Christian Science, man can do no harm, for scientific thoughts are true thoughts, passing from God to man” ( Retrospection and Introspection, p. 68, quoted from S'. & H., pp. 103, 104). These quotations are enough to show that »Christian Science boldly denies the reality and existence o f sin. There is rib sin; it is an error to feel a thing sinful. Banish the thought o f sin and. it is gone. There is no distinction between right and wrong save as you yourself make such dis tinction. “ No more terrible doctrine since the Cre ation has even been put into the mirids of men. A man may violate the honor of his home; a woman may stain the ermine o f her name; and yet if they will accept this doctrine o f sin, they may continue in their iniquity so long as and so often as they please. For, if sin does not really exist, the practice o f it no more makes it real than the belief o f it. The person who yields to his or her passions, who commits all manner o f sin and evil as judged by the laws o f the land, may arise from the debauch and immediately wipe out all guilt and demerit by saying, ‘I recognize that sin
is a false belief; it does not éxist; there is no such thing as sin ; I have never sinned at all,’ no amount o f argument can make an apparently sinful act sinful, if sin does not really exist. How the foundations o f all morality are removed by such a dreadful doctrine ! No wonder thè unrenewed heart is ready to accept such teaching” (Halde- man). How this teaching contradicts the Bible and Christian Faith! All through the Bible in thousands of places sin is recognized as a fact. It issues threats and warnings concerning sin; it shows the peril o f it, and clearly sets forth the dreadful consequences attending it, both in this life and in the life to come: It says : “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,” and “I f we say that we have not sinned, we make him (G od) a liar” (1 John 1:8, 10, compare also Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Psalms 51:4, 5; Romans 7 :8-14; John 1 :29 - 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The whole sacrificial economy o f the Old Testamerit, as well as the incarnation o^ Jesus. Christ is built upon the recognition o f the reality o f sin and its punishment. 4. Christian Science Denies the Christian Doctrine of Prayer. / ‘Prayer to a personal God is a hind rance” IS, & H., Index p. 635, 1893 ; page 647, 1894, 1899). “ Prayer to a corporeal God is useless” (S. & H., p. 647, 1894 ; 74th Ed. Index, pp. 635, 647, 1893, 1894; p. 647, 1899). “ Prayer cannot change the science of Being” (5 . & H., p. 308, 1894, 1899; p. 2, 1916). “Then we try to give information to his infinite Mind and we plead for unmerited pardon” (309, 1894, 1899; cf. p. 2, 1916). This implies that it is useless to pray for unmerited pardon. W e are told on pages 316 and 318 that that we may as well use “praying machines” as they do in Thibet; that to pray for the sick is regarded as folly; that prayer can not change unalterable truth ; nor can prayer give an understanding o f the truth. “ Prayer is a misapprehension o f the source
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs