What About Healing?

Do healings "prove" that Christian Science is the Truth?

Mary Baker Eddy said that Christian Science is a revival of "primitive Christianity" with "its lost element of healing." (Manual of The Mother Church, p.17) She also stated that the principles of Christian Science are demonstrated through healing. “This proof once seen, no other conclusion can be reached." (Science and Health, p.109:9-10)

In his great compassion Jesus did heal the sick and lame, touch and restore lepers, and raise the dead. Yet when asked for a sign to prove the validity of his teachings, he did not perform any healing miracle. Rather, Jesus rebuked the Jewish religious leaders for demanding signs. He told them, "an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign," meaning “adulterous” in the sense that the seeker's loyalty and devotion are given to whoever performs the most impressive sign. The Bible specifically states that Satan and his minions also have the power to effect signs and wonders and healing miracles, and that they use that power to lead men astray from the true way of salvation (see Exodus 7:10-11, 20-22; Exodus 8:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:12-14; Revelation 16:14). Deuteronomy 13:1-4 makes it clear that our faith should not be based on any sign, wonder, or miracle but on God's stated Word to us:

"If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to him."

From this passage we can discern two important truths. First, that signs and wonders can accompany falsehood, thus invalidating Mrs. Eddy's claim that healings irrefutably prove the validity of Christian Science. Second, that Scripture tells us we are not to rely on signs and wonders as the earmarks of truth, but we must evaluate how the message accompanying those signs and wonders compares to the Word of God. The Bible exhorts us to "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). What are you holding fast to - the word of man or the Word of God?