hing."[9]

A legislator who patterned his life after Jesus would be justified in
enacting laws imprisoning for debt and scourging for misdemeanors.

Some may say that the sentiments expressed by Jesus were not mistakes
but merely presented the customs of his day. Possibly he did not intend
to advise all that he seemed to approve; but if Jesus was a practical
and prophetic guide he should have made it clear that he did not
sanction the actions he apparently commended.

In the parable of the pounds the nobleman, seemingly with the approval
of Jesus, denounced the servant as wicked who did not put his lord's
money in the bank to draw interest.[10] And in the parable of the
talents the lord rewarded those who had made 100 per cent profit through
speculation.[11]

Another contradiction of his theory of the blessedness of poverty was
his promise that those who followed him "shall receive a hundredfold now
in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and
children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal
life."[12]

Finally, Jesus stated the unfortunate truth, "Whosoever hath, to him
shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath
not, from him shall be taken even that he hath."[13] If Jesus did not
approve of that worldly method of distribution, he could have denounced
its injustice instead of leaving the comment as if it expressed his own
policy.

_Healing_

Many Christians value Jesus most for his healing powers, but Jesus
looked upon disease almost as he did upon demoniacal possession, as
something evil that could be cast out. "But that ye may know that the
Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the
sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house."[14]
There was confusion in his mind between sin and sickness.

Jesus healed leprosy and palsy by touching the sick person; he healed
the servant of the centurion by absent treatment, and restored sight by
spitting on the eyes[15] or anointing them with clay made with
spittle[16], or by requiring faith.[17] He healed a withered hand, cured
impediments in speech and deafness, all without medical applications,
even replacing an ear severed by a sword.[18]

Christian Scientists practice the same methods with confidence in
success, but medical and surgical treatment are the most reliable means
of effecting cures, disappointing as they are. If Jesus could cure
disease