FAQ on the Healing Practice
Q: I’ve still got issues that I’m praying about in regard to myself. Should I wait until those things are resolved before trying to help other people? A: Most Christian Science practitioners will tell you that some of the leading elements to prayer involve a willingness to do two things: 1.
Q: How can I overcome the fear of failure as a practitioner—that I won’t be good enough, equal to the challenges? A: Your question shows your love for God, for Christian Science, and for the dear individuals in need of healing who may call upon you for Christian Science treatment. Your very reason for being in the practice is to bring healing to them.
Q: How can I understand the By-Law about consulting with an MD? “Duty to Patients. sect.
Q: Can I accept patients who know nothing of Christian Science? How much should I explain to them about this Science? A: It’s a joy to accept patients who know little or nothing about Christian Science. I’ve had people walk into the office to ask what a Christian Science practitioner is, and then ask for treatment.
Q: I am not educated. I am wondering—can I still take Primary class instruction in Christian Science? A: This question came from a man who lived in one of the mountain regions of the Philippines, during my trip to conduct meetings on the practice of Christian Science healing.
Q: When through his prayer the practitioner can see through the claims that seem to be burdening his patient, but the patient seems to be resistant, apathetic, or fixed on the physical condition, what should the practitioner do? A: There’s isn’t a practitioner on earth who hasn’t had to deal with this issue at some time or another. One real and very practical answer—one that the human mind wouldn’t necessarily expect or accept—can be found in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me” ( 45:5 ).
Q: What should I do when someone asks for treatment for some other adult in his/her family (an adult son, a senior parent, etc. )? A: The heart of a Christian Science practitioner yearns to help others through prayer.
Q: What are the roles of the practitioner and the patient in working together for healing? It sometimes seems to those who call a practitioner that the practitioner is expecting the patient to heal himself. A: The healing practice of Christian Science is a sacred ministry.
Q: How do I know if God is calling me to be a practitioner? A: God is calling you—God is calling everyone, including every Christian Scientist—to be a healer. In fact, it's a mistake to think that there are a few privileged Christian Scientists who are called to be healers, and others—the majority—who aren't.
Q: I love Christian Science and love the idea of praying for other people. What is holding me back, though, is that I just don't think that I will know the right words to say to patients.