Alleging That Jesus Is Not Christ
By R.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE has a unique notion with reference to the relation between the names Christ and Jesus. For example, in the chapter, “Science of Being,” of the authoritative book, “Science and Health,” the following statements are made: “The word Christ is not properly a synonym for Jesus, tho it is commonly so used. Jesus was a human name, . . . Christ is not a name so much as the divine title of Jesus.” “Not that the human Jesus was eternal, but, that the divine idea of Christ was so; . . . not that the corporeal Jesus was one with the Father, but that the spiritual idea, Christ, dwelt forever in the bosom of the Father, God.” Granted that the two terms, as words, are different in meaning, the two apply nevertheless to the same eternal, divine being; the two names are His for eternity. More might be quoted along this same line, but this is enough to show the teaching. Such as this, was never derived from the Bible; there is not one syllable in all the word to give any sort of credence to any such doctrine. In fact there is enough said in the Bible to show that this idea set forth by Christian Science is utterly erroneous. First, we have the notable words of the angels at the time of the ascension. They do not give us the slightest doubt about who this Jesus may be. “Ye men of Galilee,” they said, “why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. This scripture states that it was Jesus who ascended to heaven. It also states that it is this same Jesus who will come again, descending from heaven “in like manner” as He was seen “go into heaven.” Then the One who disappeared, and the One who, at the end of the Christian age, will reappear, is Jesus; and logic teaches that all through the period that intervenes He must still be “this same Jesus.” How utterly this contradicts the doctrine of Christian Science as quoted above. Again we have the word of Stephen on the famous occasion when he was about to be stoned. “He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55. As Stephen beheld this marvelous sight, “being full of the Holy Ghost,” he described to his hearers what he saw; but they were maddened by it and killed him. As he died he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” If Christian Science is correct in saying what it has about Jesus, then Stephen was mortally wrong in calling on Jesus to receive his spirit, and the writer of the book of Acts was incorrect in saying that Stephen saw “Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” The editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES received a letter the other day from a prominent teacher of Christian Science, in which he averred that Christian Scientists accept the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. If the above examples show anything at all, they show that, if this sort of teaching is accepting the Bible, then the rankest sceptics accept the Scriptures also whenever they teach exactly opposite to the sacred word. Also we have against all this false teaching the word of Peter. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36. Peter is not at all hesitating about this statement which he makes; he is not at all uncertain about the matter; he says, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly.” And now we ask, Do you know it? Or is it possible for somebody to rise in these last days and make a simple statement that puts all that Peter said into the fog? Is it possible that a woman can arise and get people to accept her statement against that of the apostle Peter, the sainted Stephen, and even the angels of God? The text-book of Christian Science further says, “The corporeal Jesus manifest in flesh, continued until the Master’s ascension, when the human, material concept, or Jesus, disappeared.” From the scriptures already quoted we see that this statement from “Science and Health” is incorrect; it is absolutely untrue; and furthermore there are other scriptures which show that the teacher of Christian Science knows very little in this connection about the New Testament. Directly opposed to this doctrine we have the very words of the Lord Himself. When Saul was on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus on a persecuting trip, a mighty light shone round him from heaven, “and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” Acts 9:4, 5. Is it sacrilege for me to ask, Did Jesus know His own name? Then by just as much as it may be thought out of place to ask such a question, it is out of place for anybody to say in any sense of the word whatever that Jesus is not the Christ; by the Lord’s own words, after His ascension, He is still Jesus, no matter what anybody may say about it. And yet Christian Science says, “Not that the human Jesus was eternal;” “not that the corporeal Jesus was one with the Father;” “the corporeal man Jesus was human;” “Jesus was the offspring of Mary’s self-conscious communion with God;” “the fleshly Jesus.” Against all this sacrilegious teaching about our divine Lord, we place the one statement of our Master. The divine Being who appeared to Saul with a light above the brightness of the midday sun said, “I am Jesus.” That is enough for us. We believe it ought to be enough for anybody. And where does it place Christian Science? We will leave you to answer the great question yourself just now, but in a few paragraphs from this you will have a Biblical answer to the question. It is nothing strange that when Paul afterward tells of this experience he should say, “He said unto me, I am Jesus.” Nor is it strange that he on one occasion, as at Thessalonica, should reason three Sabbath days “with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging . . . that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Acts 17:3. And now a word as to where all this puts Christian Science. We will not depend upon any man’s word. We will take God’s word alone. Christian Scientists claim to accept the Bible; then, will they accept the following? If they will and do, they will at once renounce Christian Science, and follow God’s word. We have no authority for impugning the name of Jesus as not being the name of the divine Son of God. Listen! “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. Do you believe that? But what of him who does not believe and teach that Jesus is the Christ? And mind you, it is not that Jesus was the Christ, but is the Christ. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?” 1 John 2:22. And the very last words that Jesus Christ has left on record for His church, include these significant words: “I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star.” Rev. 22:16. And now once more contrast this description of the evidently divine Jesus with the quotations from Christian Science given above, and may God help you to heed well the lesson. The success of Christian Science shows easily enough that there are those to-day who will accept and teach on the naked word of an erring human being alone that which is flatly contradicted in the Christian revelation, the New Testament, and who will still assert that their unscriptural, unchristian teaching is all Christian and all in accordance with the Scriptures! R.