True Christian Science.
By Editor
THE following paragraphs are excerpts from a letter written to a friend by a young lady who has been a patient at one of our sanitariums. She is a member of one of the large evangelical churches. As to whether she is a Christian or not, her own words will convey better the idea. She says: “These Adventists are certainly a peculiar people. When they go in to teach people religion they teach them how to live. They do not believe that belonging to a church will save a person. They do not believe a person can be a Christian if he is filthy in clothing or in personal habits; they do not believe that a man can hope for a better condition, and keep on chewing or smoking tobacco, or putting poison into his system and making a hog of himself. If all these things are corrected, and he will take a bath, eat to live, take care of his physical strength, living right in every way, then he is fit to be a church-member.” Of course in this the young lady is somewhat mistaken, because the one essential thing above all others in order to be a Christian is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All these other things ought to follow as the fruit of faith. She remarks to her friend to whom she writes:6“I think of old B. — at F. —, and all those other ‘bums’ the Methodist church took in regularly at revivals, and who joined about twice every year. “I have some respect for religion as the Adventists practise it. It is something plain and simple, and a practical solution. I used to be taught, or given to believe, that sickness and distress and trouble were punishments sent by God on people who disobeyed Him; but I believe now that these things are not from God, or in His plan, but we were made subject to laws and given the power of choice. A man can not be given the power of reason without having the power of choice; so all sin and sickness come from laws broken. If we kept all the laws of health, and if our ancestors had done so, we would not be sick. “I think the churches do a great deal of harm in giving the people the idea that they can come from a disorderly, dirty home, and from saloons, and from idleness and neglect of duty, and simply by joining the church be given a spiritual life and right to a reward to come. If they were told—especially the young people—how to live, and what true Christianity is; if they were taught physiology, and that a person can not have a brain capable of healthy action unless he lives right and normal; and that mental and moral power depend to a great extent upon physical power, better characters would be developed. “The idea that I had in the past was that the church could save men. But I do like the idea of health reform and right living; and the church for the purpose of holding enlightened people together, and for the purpose of teaching others, is a good thing. This is the first place I have seen applied Christianity. They make a practise of it in everything. Perfectly truthful and honest, never any disturbance or unpleasantness, and things go so nicely. It is infinitely more than I could see ahead a short time ago, that I could have health. I have not worried about anything here, and everything about the place gives me confidence that there is no need of worry. Life is not so hard among such people as these. I have seen lots of new things, and have come at such a time as to see and appreciate. I have some books on hygiene I want you to read.” Our readers may be interested to know how the teaching of God's laws of health and hygiene looks to one who has never known them in the past. They may also see how they are truly connected with Bible Christianity, true Christian science.