for Christian Scientists The Christian Science Board of Directors recognizes that certain organized educational, recreational, cultural, and social activities carried on by and for Christian Scientists are filling important present needs. The church does not become officially involved in such activities, nor can these secular organizations established by and for Christian Scientists perform the religious role of the church. The Church of Christ, Scientist, is devoted to uplifting the ideals and healing the ills of humanity through spiritual means. Its ministrations are directed to its members, to those in the community who are receptive to its help, and-through scientific, compas sionate prayer--to the whole world. These ministrations are necessarily religious in charac ter, for their aim is the spiritualizing of human thought, the Christianizing of human motives, and the healing of those basic misconceptions that would seem to separate man from God. The secular activities referred to above, however valuable and worthy, are for the Christian Scientist secondary to church responsibilities. Each individual Christian Scientist must decide for himself to what degree he may wish to participate in or support such activities, evaluating their worth on the basis of Jesus' statement, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Honoring the Christ-idea He was a child. But they came from far places to pay their respects. Wisemen came, and kings. His birth had been foretold by prophets, and now here was Jesus, born of Mary. But this representative of the Christ, which is the true idea of Life and Love, was not to be given room in the popular thought. Those who would believe the prophecies would recognize the star, and they alone would find the manger where the child was. Years later a lowly woman came to pay her respects to the same child. Jesus was now called Master by his prestigious host. By now it was an honor to have him as a guest. But only the uninvited woman recognized the Christ-idea. When the host, Simon the Pharisee, saw her anointing Jesus' feet with costly oil and wiping them with her long hair-the way she wore it marking her low status-he was indignant. But Jesus saw that she had been touched by the idea of Life and Love, the important part of his nature, and that she was repenting of her material view of man and honoring the Christ-idea-something he longed for others to do. Jesus rebuked Simon and acknowledged her tribute. Many years later Mary Baker Eddy wrote the textbook of the Science of Christ, Science and Health with Key to the Scrip tures. In it she included a chapter entitled "Christian Science Practice." Many thousands have studied this chapter and have taken from it a knowledge of rules to follow when healing the sick. But how many have noted the way in which the author introduced the subject? And if her manner of introducing a discussion of the practice was noted, how many have recognized whose example Mrs. Eddy asks us to follow in order to be good healers? The human consciousness that has "no 388 room... in the inn"1 may learn to do all the right things. It may take up the study of Christian Science healing in an eagerness to be not really like Jesus but like what one might think it would be like to be like Jesus. But there was only one Christ Jesus. Our work begins with looking up to the Christ. In Science, man is the spiritual idea of divine Life and Love-of God. The Christ is his true identity or selfhood. If we really want to be healers of the sick, we will approach everyone who seeks help in the truth as the lowly woman approached Jesus, recognizing the Christ and repenting of whatever in ourselves sees a sick or sinful mortal. When we take our posts as practitioners and this is the post for everyone who claims the title Christian Scientist-we are setting out to honor the Christ-idea. If we are ready to struggle each day with our own false sense of man until we see only the true idea of God, we have no struggle trying to see perfection in someone in order to heal him. The perfect idea is clear immediately, and the healing result is immediate. And with this readiness to heal no one can fail to experience the great and ceaseless flow of seekers for regeneration and healing. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Here is suggested a solemn question, a question indicated by one of the needs of this age. Do Christian Scientists seek Truth as Simon sought the Saviour, through material conservatism and for personal homage?" 2 She continues in the next paragraph, "On the other hand, do they show their regard for Truth, or Christ, by their genuine repentance, by their broken hearts, expressed by meekness and human affection, as did this woman?" And on the next page, "If the Scientist has enough Christly affection to win his own pardon, and such commendation as the Magdalen gained from Jesus, then he is Christian enough to practise scientifically and deal with his patients compassionately." If we are practicing Christian Scientists, this age is appealing to us to pray daily for world peace. The world is our household, and the people of the world are reaching out for truth. In our daily work, how much of our time do we spend showing our regard for the true selfhood of these men, women, and children by repentance, broken hearts, Christly affection that wins our own pardon, "and such commendation as the Magdalen gained from Jesus"? If we want results, this is what it takes to get them. Some of the world's people are reaching out in ways that appear hostile to us. We call them enemies. But even here we repent of our belief in man as mortal-as we must, for man is the immortal idea of divine Mind-and strive with ourselves until we have overcome that in us which prevents our seeing the true idea. Christ Jesus put it bluntly: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." 3 With Christian Science, life here and now is beautiful. The beauty is in the Christ. When we begin to love everyone, not by forcing ourselves to like something that is offensive but by recognizing the true identity of everyone, we find friends and enemies alike coming, in some way, to learn of the truth we see. And that truth finds everyone dwelling in the Father's house. In our celebration of Christmas how much effort do we put forth doing the traditional things, giving parties, shopping for gifts, "through material conservatism and for personal homage?" More attention to the Christ-idea would prepare us to heal the sick and the sinning. And we could make a real contribution to the peace of the world. CARL J. WELZ 1 Luke 2:7; 2 Science and Health, p. 364; 3 Matt. 5:44, 45. See int Why Argue? If one watches his thoughts carefully, he will note that much subjective argument goes on in the course of a day. The pros and cons of various questions and problems are silently argued and decisions made. Sometimes unworthy or discordant suggestions try to gain the floor in one's thought, arguing for their legitimacy, and clear, vigorous reasoning, or counterarguments, are needed to silence them. Mental argument plays an important role in the healing practice of Christian Science. It is a technique that enables the healer to lift thought above the insistent assertions of disease or other inharmonies and through scientific reasoning arrive at a clear realization of God's allness and evil's nothingness. Mrs. Eddy tells us: "The Christian Scientist's argument rests on the Christianly scientific basis of being. The Scripture declares, "The Lord He is God [good]; there is none else beside Him.' Even so, harmony is universal, and discord is unreal." And further on she adds, "Hold these points strongly in view." Once the study of Christian Science reveals to us the mortally mental nature of all phenomena the value of argument in the practice of this Science can be clearly seen. Since the physical body and its environment are nothing more than mortal thoughtpictures, it is plain that they must respond to thought. The arguments of the carnal mind, named in Christian Science animal magnetism, sometimes produce pictures of disease, lack, unhappiness. These false assertions can be countered and destroyed by the uplifting, enlightening effect of spiritually scientific argument. When they are obliterated from thought, they disappear from the body. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony. All metaphysical logic is inspired by this simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality. By the truthful arguments you employ, and clearly into view. We reach our patient's thought by first purifying our own, by ruling out the carnal elements that dim our spiritual vision. This vision is a vital element in every treatment. It results from both the spirit and the letter-from the Godlike qualities we strive to express in daily life and from the scientific accuracy of our affirmations of Truth and denials of error. There is no place here for any sense of rigid technique. Formulated statements devoid of love and inspiration heal nothing. A Christian Science treatment is not an incantation. It is a God-directed channel through which the divine reaches the human situation and brings it healing and comfort. 8 progress of the modern world? houghtful consideration of the spiritual igin, nature, and past accomplishments of is divinely inspired institution must lead the conclusion that it does. To the degree that it has been built on e revelation of God as the universal ather and of man as God's son, as demstrated by Christ Jesus, the Christian urch has been a strengthening, guiding, iritualizing power in the community, and divine message ensures that in proportion as it is humanly discerned as present and operative it must continue to exert a beneficent influence in mankind's affairs in the twentieth and ensuing centuries. Christian Science shows that Church in its spiritual meaning is an all-inclusive idea. It is universal, embracing the identity of every individual God-created being, the sum total of all that really exists as the expression of infinite Mind. Mrs. Eddy defines the spiritual idea "Church" as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This spiritual idea appears to human consciousness through a form of institution that is tangible to mankind as an elevating, energizing, healing agency. Through its revelation of immortal Truth it arouses the human mind from its dream of materialism. It rends the veil of illusive physical sense testimony and bears witness to the allpresence of perfect God and perfect mandivine Love and its manifestation of true consciousness and universal harmony. This revelation of Truth, or Christ, inevitably results in the healing of human ills, and finally leads on through the Christianization of mankind to ultimate spiritualization, or ascension above all earthly beliefs. The Christian Church in all its denominational forms has its roots in the Mosaic laws for moral conduct, and it blossoms in the Gospel teaching of the Golden Rule of Love. Humanity still needs instruction in both law and gospel and how to apply them to the entire field of human affairs, from the behavior of men and women toward each other individually and collectively to the relationship of mankind with the animal kingdom and the universe as a whole. One purpose of the Christian Church, based as it is upon the fatherhood of God, is to shepherd mankind in their efforts to fulfill both moral and spiritual requirements. Christ Jesus demanded both morality and spirituality. "Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's" was his admonition. But he added, "And to God the things that are God's," 2 implying that implying that while the fulfillment of human obligations is essential, it is also vitally important to render to God the homage of obedience to His spiritual demands to express the qualities of divine Spirit, to have no other love, intelligence, aims, values, or desires except those that are purely spiritual, and to sacrifice completely the claims of materialism. Shepherding by the Christian churches is desperately needed in today's world. These churches have an essential contribution to make to the emergence of individuals and nations from materialistic slavery. But if in this age they seem to be less successful than in times past in helping mankind to gain perfection and happiness, may it not be that there is a shortfall of spirituality in their teaching and demonstration? Modern society demands deeply spiritual explanations of Truth that can be thoroughly understood and demonstrated instead of merely believed. The Church of Christ, Scientist, is equipped to supply this demand. Founded as it is on the simple teachings of primitive Christianity, it presents the scientific explanation and proof of the validity of these teachings in the intricate challenges of contemporary living and spiritualizes the thoughts and lives of those who faithfully practice its teachings in a manner before unparalleled. This modern Christian church has been established for less than a century, but its record for healing not only broken hearts and distorted minds but diseased and crippled bodies through spiritual means alone is unmatched since the days of Christ Jesus and his apostles. It has no secret formula for success. Mrs. Eddy writes, "As the ages advance in spirituality, Christian Science will be seen to depart from the trend of other Christian denominations in no wise except by increase of spirituality.” Now, when Christian Scientists are modernizing the human home of The Mother Church in Boston with the intention of increasing its outreach to the world, they realize that this Christian Science Church Center building program can prove its usefulness only in proportion to the extent it represents their own increasing spirituality. The project is in itself evidence of the members' awakening to and faith in the immense work that the Church of Christ, Scientist, is destined to perform in meeting the needs of mankind in this and forthcoming centuries. But there can be no com placency. As Mrs. Eddy writes, "Nothing aside from the spiritualization-yea, highest Christianization-of thought and desire, can give the true perception of God and divine Science, that results in health. happiness, and holiness."4 While the building operations progress, the alert Christian Scientist prays for individual growth in grace and the ultimate spiritualization of the whole world's thought and experience. NAOMI PRICE the 1 Science and Health, p. 583; 2 Mark 12:17; 3 Miscellaneous Writings, p. 21; 4p. 15. |