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ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Those who have not experienced the healing power of Truth, as demonstrated in Christian Science, are often much surprised at the faith in it which is shown by its representatives, and are apt to think it unreasonable. Mankind has so long been accustomed to rely upon material means for healing, that such a departure from them, as is entire reliance upon spiritual means, is too startling to be accepted before Truth is understood. Even remarkable evidence, in the way of healing through Christian Science, does not always bring confidence to those who have not themselves felt the power of Truth in this way. The fact is that "unfaith" is a characteristic of mortal mind, which ever doubts the reality and permanence of good, but believes in the reality and persistency of evil; and little wonder, for the material senses are always giving evidence of the latter. Until divine Principle is understood there is no stable ground for human expectation; today may be bright with the sunshine of promise, tomorrow the light obscured by the clouds of misfortune and fear, and because of this, even the greatest manifestations of divine goodness and power are not regarded as any warrant for future deliverance. This is illustrated in the following case of healing: The mother of a family had been almost immediately healed of an abnormal growth of a serious nature. The joy over her deliverance was great, but little interest was expressed, or felt, by the family, in the healing truth. Soon after, one of the children was attacked by measles, which the father considered too serious an ailment to be entrusted to a Christian Science practitioner. The mother's heart was, however, still warm with gratitude to her heavenly Father, for her own wonderful deliverance, and she felt that she could trust her child to His all-wise and loving care. The result fully justified her decision, and it led the entire family to understand, as have so many others, how the sick are healed in Christian Science. Some may smile at the inconsistency of the thought that would question the efficacy of that which had brought help when all material means had failed, but this same doubting thought is written on every page of human history. All Christians have had their Red Sea perils, which were safely passed under divine guidance, but this has not hindered them from doubting and denying the same power when, in the wilderness, their bread and their water were seemingly unprovided. It would seem as if no professed Christian could consistently deny that God has both the ability and the willingness to heal. Most of them admit that it is safe to trust cases of nervous disease to God, but draw the line at so-called functional and organic disorders. Such discrimination can, however, find no authorization in the Bible. Therein it is declared that God "healeth all thy diseases," — not the nervous ailments alone, — and it is said of the Master that he healed "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease," and that, too, without any aid from materiality. No proof can ever be given that matter heals, though mortals have long believed that it does. It has no life, hence it cannot give life; while God, Spirit, is Life, and "giveth life unto the world." In spite of popular indifference to this all-important truth, the divine Life is all about us, sustaining and restoring, and our only worthy endeavor is to know all that may be known of Life. With this knowing comes an ever-enlarging faith in all the possibilities of good, and a lessening belief in evil, whether it be manifested as sickness or sin. The Psalmist's admonition, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits," has a profound meaning. The beginner in Christian Science can no more appreciate the full import of his own healing than can the babe its mother's tender love. In both cases growth is needed, and as we call to remembrance our past blessings, gratitude is kindled anew, while their full significance becomes better understood. We should not overlook the fact that so long as we regard anything, or any relation of life, materially, we shall be subject to varying phases of discord, until every affection, motive, and endeavor is spiritualized, and we see things as they are in God's sight. On our way to this goal of all true aspiration, we are sustained by this word of Truth, "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him." The Master did not lead his followers to think that there would be no struggles on the way to victory; he said, "In the world ye have tribulation" (R. V.); but he added, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Thank God for this assurance, and also that we are made partakers of this selfsame overcoming of doubt and fear, — of all that constitutes the world of material sense, — by the revelation of Divine Science. Doubt and materiality are inseparably linked together; while faith and spirituality are forever joined, and are eternally victorious over sin, disease, and death. History and individual experience alike show that spirituality and faith in good have ever held the key to progress and prosperity.
The Christian Science Journal, September, 1905 |
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