Christian Science Reply To Charge By Methodists

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28742, 13 November 1958, Page 18

Christian Science Reply To Charge By Methodists

“While commending the need in Christian religion for a sound emphasis on the centrality of Christ, as stated in the presidential address to the conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, 1 desire to comment on certain implications which might convey a wrong impression to your readers,” says Mr T. R. A. Kenner in? a statement for the Christian Science Committee on Publication in New Zealand. “In your report of the conference in Christchurch you quoted the president, the Rev. G. R. H. Peterson, as naming four ‘modern cults and fancy religions’ which •tinker with the basic truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.’ The speaker named Christian Science as one of the four.

“The truth is that Christian Science is a firmly established religion which is recognised throughout the world as a vital power for good,” says Mr Kenner “Its adherents, consecrated to the demonstration of the Christian life, certainly regard Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and are: known for selfless service for the highest good of humanity. As the result of its healing ministry, hundreds of -thousands of people have testified both to healing and regeneration through the understanding of .an obedience to God’s spiritual laws.

“The basic teachings of Christian Science are best expressed in the tenets of the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist. in Boston, Massachusetts. written by the discoverer and foundei of Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy, who also wrote the textbook of the denomination, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures’.” he says. “The second of the six tenets reads: ‘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.’

'The fourth tenet Is: ‘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 acknow-' ledge 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.’

“Christian Science teaches that Christ is ‘the divine manifesta-i tion of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error. (‘Science and Health.’ page 583.),” Mr Kenner says. “In her message to the Mother Church for 1902 (p. 4 Mrs Eddy writes: ‘I again repeat, follow >our leader, only so far as she follows Christ.’ Christian Scientists love and honour their leader as one whose consciousness was so spiritualised that she was divinely directed to discover the science underlying the words and works of Jesus, which, to their understanding, is the restoration of primitive Christianity—the Comforter promised by Christ Jesus.”