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Christian Science

History

 The founder of Christian Science, was born in 1821, Mary Ann Morse Baker, in New Hampshire, U. S. A. She married three times in her life time. Her first husband, George Glover died early after only seven months of marriage, she brought up her son to him, and named him George. She shouldered single parenting and hardship for ten years before marrying her second husband, Dr. Daniel Patterson. She divorced him in 1866 on the grounds of desertion. Her third husband was Asa G. Eddy, in 1877 who was one of her students, and the first healing practitioner for the church, she outlived her third husband who died of heart disease in 1882. Mary Baker Eddy as a young person, was brought up in a Congregationalist Church, however she had doubts about certain teaching of the doctrines of the Bible. One was the Doctrine of Predestination, ( The doctrine of unconditional election or predestination, greatly troubled me: for I was unwilling to be saved, if my brothers and sisters were to be numbered among those who were doomed to perpetual banishment from God) ( Mary Baker Eddy, Retrospection and Introspection, 13:5-9) Her life later became characterised by the rejection of doctrines, that are central to the Christian faith.

 In 1866 while married to Dr. Patterson, Mary Baker discovered the principle of Christian Science, after a serious fall, left her close to death. Her account of the severity of her injuries was contradicted by the attending physician, nevertheless, the principles discovered during this time, became the basis of Christian Science. In 1875 her work " Science and Health" was published with the additional "Key to the Scriptures" added in 1883 for this work she claimed divine revelation: ( I should blush to write of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, as I have, were it of human origin, and were I, apart from God its author. But I was only a Scribe echoing the harmonies of Heaven in divine metaphysics, I cannot be super modest in my estimate of the Christian Science textbook ( The First Church of Christ, Scientist ,and Miscellany, Boston Trusties Publishers, 1941, page 115) In 1879 the Church of Christ Scientist was organised in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and in 1892 changed its name to The First Church of Christ Scientist.

Phineas Quimby

 In a sermon delivered in June of 1890 Mrs. Eddy again made a claim to divine revelation, ( Christian Science is irrevocable, unpierced by bold conjecture's sharp point, by bald philosophy, or by man's inventions. It is divinely true, and every hour in time and in eternity, will witness more steadfastly to its practical truth) ( Mary Baker Eddy, Seven Messages to the Mother Church, page, 20&21) There is strong evidence to the contrary, that Mrs. Eddy's divine revelation, is not original to her, but is a plagiarism of Phineas Quimby's writings and ideas.

Phineas Quimby was a self professed healer, who applied hypnosis and the power of suggestion in affecting his cures. He called his word, The Science of the Christ, and Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy became an enthusiastic follower of Quimby in 1862, after her back injury was healed by him. She wrote letters to the Portland, Maine, Evening Courier, praising Quimby, and comparing him to Jesus Christ. She said that Quimby healed with the truth that Christ taught, in contradistinction to all Isms. Eventually she attempted to separate any connection between herself, and Quimby, when charges of borrowing his ideas surfaced. In 1921 Horatio Dresser published The Quimby Manuscripts, which when compared to Mrs. Eddy's writings, revealed many parallels, leading some to comment, ( As far as thought is concerned, Science and Health, is practically all Quimby,) ( Ernest Sutherland Bates, and John V. Dittermore, Mary Baker Eddy, The Truth and the Tradition, 1932, page 156) Mrs. Eddy received the principles of Christian Science, from some other place other than the God of the Bible. Since her teachings contradict the teachings of God, as revealed in the Bible, they are condemned by the Bible, and she is therefore a false teacher.

Primitive Christian Healing

 The Church of Christ, Scientist, teaches that primitive Christianity was lost only to be rediscovered. The Christian Science Church Manual states their purpose as," to commemorate the word, and works of our master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" ( The Church Manual, 89th edition, page 17) Mrs. Eddy's claims are clear, the revelation she received while near death was divine. She also claims exclusive truth: "Is there more than one school of Christian Science?.........There can, therefore, be but one method in its teaching" (Science and Health, 112:3-5) Needless to say, that the one method she means, is her method. Mrs Eddy claims that Jesus, left his Church to wander blindly until she discovered Christian Science: ( Our Master, practiced Christian healing, but left no definite rule for demonstrating this principle of healing and preventing disease. This rule remained to be discovered by Christian Science.) ( Science and Health, 147:24-29)

Mrs. Eddy assures her followers that they are practicing the same rules, that Jesus practiced ( Late in the nineteenth century, I demonstrated the divine rules of Christian Science. They were submitted to the broadest practical test, and everywhere, when honestly applied under circumstances where demonstration was humanly possible, this science showed that truth had lost none of its divine and healing efficacy, even though centuries had passed away since Jesus practiced these rules on the hills of Judea, and in the valleys of Galilee) ( Science and Health, 147:6-13)

 

The Bible's Teaching on Healing

 The healing of the sick in Christianity has not been ignored throughout the history of the Church. There are testimonies in every age where faithful Christians prayed for to be healed of sickness and were healed. The difference between this and what Mrs. Eddy wrote of is of great importance. The strength of Christianity is not found in what God does to our Physical body, but to our soul when we are regenerated through the renewing of the Holy Spirit. ( He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth, and renewal by the Holy Spirit.) ( Titus 3:5) Christian Science puts its emphasis on the well being of the BODY, above that of the SOUL.

What about those in the Bible that were not healed, Paul had physical infirmities, ( As you know it was because of an illness, that I first preached the gospel to you.) ( Galatians 4:13) Paul also left his companion Trophimus  sick in Miletus ( Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus) ( 2 Timothy 4:20) And He also prescribed wine for Timothy's stomach, and frequent illnesses ( Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine, because of your stomach, and frequent illnesses) ( 1 Timothy 5:23) There is ample evidence that God heals in the Bible, but the seldom discussed passages cited above, show us that he does it according to His will, and His plan for our lives. The Gospel message as outlined in the Bible, concerns our eternal destiny, God's primary purpose in sending Jesus as our saviour, was to save us from eternal condemnation in hell ( For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son, into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him) ( John 3:16&17) Healing as well as other blessings, may come to the believer through prayer, but EVEN then, it is by God's MERCY, ( Indeed he was ill, and almost died, but God had MERCY on him, and not on him only, but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.) ( Philippians 2:27)

Mrs. Eddy did not rediscover a rule for healing that was lost from the first century. Her concept has two outstanding errors, It challenges the authenticity, and reliability of the Bible, and it renders the words of Jesus meaningless, when He promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would bring all things, to the disciples remembrance. ( But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you.) ( John 14:26) There are no teachings of Jesus essential to our salvation, that are missing from the Bible. Mrs. Eddy's teaching on healing, is completely wrong, she is teaching that we can demand healing for our bodies, from God, as we seen in the scripture above, it depends on God's will, and mercy. Besides if we could get healing from every ailment we would never be sick, and come to think of it we would never die either, as we all know all the Apostles in the first century died, and Mary Baker Eddy, died too, in fact we all die. Again the message of the Gospel is that our soul needs to be saved.  The soul lives on in eternity, and goes to a place of punishment, without God, or to Heaven with God, .  Mrs. Eddy's gospel is that we have our bodies saved from sickness in this life. Our bodies will one day be saved from sickness, it will be redeemed, and we will receive them when Christ comes back for us, we will receive a glorious body like the Lord Jesus, and it will be fit for life in eternity. Paul writes about this in his letter to the Corinthians. ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

Authority

 Christian Science, like many other cults, claims further revelation that goes beyond the Bible, that is to say, new divine truth previously not revealed. Mrs. Eddy quotes the Apostle Paul ( I want you to know brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up, I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.) ( Galatians 1:11&12) She follows the quotation with the claim that hers is the final revelation. ( In the year 1866, I discovered that Christ Science, or divine laws of life, truth, and love, and named my discovery Christian Science. God has been graciously preparing me during many years for the reception of this final revelation, of the absolute divine principle of scientific mental healing) ( Science and Health, page 107:1-6)

 Mrs. Eddy claimed that she derived her teachings from the Bible, which she considered her final Authority. However in practice, and as we can gather from her writings, she also claimed that her revelations, were better and higher than the Bible. Where the Bible contradicted her beliefs, she felt free to dismiss its authority. Although she claimed that the Bible was her guide, her view of Scripture was something less than desirable, ( The material record of the Bible, is no more important to our well being, than the history of Europe and America.) ( Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings, 1833-1896, 1921, page 170)

 The fact is, the teachings of Christian Science, are in direct contradiction to the Bible. The real authority in Christian Science, is not the Bible, but the writings of Mrs. Eddy, she has this to say about her writings, ( It is the voice of truth to this age) ( Science and Health, 456:27&28) also she states ( The revealed truth uncontaminated by human hypothesis) ( ibid, 457:1-2 ) and again ( No human pen nor tongue taught me the Science contained in this book, SCIENCE AND HEALTH, and neither tongue nor pen can overthrow it) ( ibid, 110: 16-19) She also writes ( I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration. The revelation of truth in the understanding came to me gradually, and apparently through divine power) ( ibid, 109: 20-23) 

Christian Science does what many of the cults do, it has a second authority, which supersedes the Bible as the final authority in solving doctrinal matters. The writings of Mrs. Eddy, constitute the final word, as far as Christian Scientists are concerned, with the Bible relegated to a secondary status. By making the remark that truths are missing from the Bible, does not make it so. She failed to show any early manuscripts, of the Old or New Testament that contained her truths. Did the Holy Spirit forget to give these truths to the Apostles, when he inspired them to write the New testament? The final revelation of God to man is found in Jesus Christ. ( Hebrews 1:1&2 tells us, (  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times, and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.)  Jesus speaks to us through the Bible, it is the complete revelation of God to man.  And also the Bible warns of adding, or taking away words from it (Revelation 22:18,19)  which Mrs Eddy has done, with her writings.

Christian Science Theology

God

 Mrs. Eddy defined God as, The great I Am, the all knowing, all seeing, all acting, all wise, all loving, and eternal, Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, Love, all substance, intelligence. ( Science and Health, 587:5-8) Elsewhere she calls God, Divine Principle, Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit, Mind. ( ibid, 115:13-14) When she refers to God as Mind, she is not saying that God is a big brain up in the sky. Mind in metaphysical writings, refers to an impersonal, everywhere present spirit that contains all available knowledge. This concept is a denial of the personal God in the Bible, she denies the Trinity, since that also involves the personal nature of God. " The theory of three persons in one God......suggests polytheism, rather than the one ever present I AM ( ibid, p. 256)

Jesus Christ

 The person of Christ is unbiblical according to Christian Science, ( Christ is the ideal truth that comes to heal sickness and sin through Christian Science, and attributes all power to God. Jesus is the name of the man who more than all other men, has presented Christ, the true idea of God, Jesus is the human man, and Christ is the divine idea, hence the duality of Jesus the Christ) ( Science and Health, 473:9-16) Mrs. Eddy attempts to make a distinction between, Jesus and the Christ as if they were two separate entities. The spiritual Christ was infallible she wrote, Jesus as material manhood, was not Christ. ( Miscellaneous Writings, page 334) Therefore what Christian Science is teaching concerning the person of Jesus Christ, is that Jesus, and Christ, are two different entities. ( Jesus Christ is not God) ( Science and Health, 361:1,2,12.) The teaching of the Bible is that Jesus Christ is God.

Atonement

 In Christian Science there exists no evil, ( Here also is found the path of the basal statement, the cardinal point in Christian Science, that matter and evil, including all in harmony, sin, disease, death, are unreal) ( Miscellaneous Writings, 27:9-12) According to Christian Science, Christ came to destroy the belief of sin ( Science and Health, 473:6,7.) It is further emphasised that, evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis. Evil is a false belief, God is not its author ( Science and health, 480:23,24) Since evil is an illusion, the idea of the death of Christ on the cross for our sins is unnecessary ( The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin, when it was shed upon the accursed tree, than when it was flowing in his veins as he went daily about his Father's business.) ( Science and Health, 25:6-8)

Salvation

 Concerning salvation, Mrs. Eddy said, Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all sin sickness and death destroyed ( Science and Health, p. 593:20-22) Since to the Christian Scientist there is no such thing as sin, salvation in the biblical sense is totally unnecessary. Mrs. Eddy's teaching on salvation is ambiguous and inconsistent. She stated over and over again that sin is an illusion, ( Miscellaneous Writings, 27:11,12) ( Science and Health, 71:2,- 287:22,23- 480:23,24) On the other hand, she states, as quoted above that salvation is sin, sickness, and death, destroyed. If sin is only an illusion, having no real existence, how can it be destroyed? Its impossible to destroy something that doesn't exist. Since there is no harmonious teaching in Christian Science concerning salvation it is difficult to evaluate it objectively.

The Bible's Answer to their Doctrines

 The God of the Bible is infinite ( Psalm 139:7-16) yet personal ( Isaiah 45:20-25) The God of the Bible and the God of Christian Science, are not the same God. The apostle Paul declared the true God: ( The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life, and breath, and everything else.) ( Acts 17:24,25) Mrs. Eddy denies the Trinity, the Bible clearly teaches this doctrine. We do not believe in polytheism, or more than one God. We believe that in the nature of the one true God ( Isaiah 43:10) there exists three eternal and distinct persons, the Father ( Luke 3:22) the Son, ( John 1:1,14, & 2 Peter 1:17) and the Holy Spirit ( Acts 5:3,&4)  these three persons are the ONE God. ( Matthew 28: 19)

 The distinction that Mrs. Eddy makes between Jesus as a man, and the Christ, as a principle is not possible because Jesus Christ is ONE person. Jesus the Greek from the Hebrew Joshua, meaning God is Salvation, and Christ, from the Greek of the Hebrew word Messiah,  his title meaning The Anointed One. This shows a complete lack of understanding of the Bible, by the Christian Science movement. Scriptures like ( Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord) ( Luke 2:11) and also ( Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the Antichrist, he denies the Father and the Son.) ( 1 John 2:22) and also ( Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God) ( 1 John 5:1a)

 Concerning salvation the reality is found in Christ's atoning sacrifice. The Bible teaches that evil is real ( We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.) ( 1 John 5:19) and that we would be without salvation, if Jesus Christ had not died on the cross for our sins ( In fact the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness) ( Hebrews 9:22) As Christians we can rejoice in the good news that we are saved from eternal damnation, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ( Who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father) ( Galatians 1:4)

Healing

In a section entitled "Fruitage" in Science and Health, the following claim is made: "Thousands of letters could be presented in testimony of the healing efficacy of Christian Science, and particularly concerning the vast number of people who have been reformed and healed through the perusal or study of this book" ( Science and Health, p. 600) Followed by this claim are about one hundred pages of testimonies of healing of every conceivable disease, by those who have embraced the principles of Christian Science. So you say, can Christian Science heal? While many of the healings in Christian Science can be explained without appealing to the miraculous, there are some accounts of true healings. If this be the case then we must examine what the Bible says ( The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan, displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders) ( 2 Thessalonians 2:9) I know this verse is speaking of the coming of the Antichrist but it speaks of the work of Satan as the counterfeit genius in deceiving people. As John says (  Dear children this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, EVEN NOW MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME, this is how we know it is the last hour) ( 1 John 2:18) And also in the same book of John ( Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God, every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God, this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and even now is already in the world.) ( 1 John 4:1-3)  Paul writes concerning false prophets ( For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. AND NO WONDER FOR SATAN HIMSELF, MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT)  ( 1 Corinthians 11:13&14)  Satan is the great counterfeiter and his attempt to duplicate the works of God, and the miracle of healing is no exception, we all want to be healthy, and healed from disease, but if its at the expense of abandoning the truth of the person of Christ, as Christian Science teach, then its not of God and should be rejected entirely. What's the point of being saved in body of disease?  And then after that your condemned to eternity without Christ. This is what they teach because they haven't the truth concerning salvation as outlined in the Bible.

The Bible is not read in its entirety by Christian Scientists, most verses are only partially quoted, and read in light of Mrs. Eddy's discovery. Christian Science is neither Christian nor scientific, because every important doctrine of historic Christianity is rejected by Christian Science. The claim of divine revelation by Mary Baker Eddy, is contradicted by the facts that clearly attest she does not represent the God of the Bible. Although she speaks in the name of Jesus, in fact all cults speak in the name of Jesus, her teaching like all cults, conflict with HIS in every respect.

  Yours in Christ

    David Victory 

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