Since the time of Jesus, Christians have turned to prayer for healing—not only of physical ailments, but of every kind of trouble. For several hundred years after Jesus' resurrection and ascension, his followers healed as he had—by relying on God alone to sustain the life, the health, and the well-being of all. However, for a variety of reasons, one of the most crucial elements of Christianity—scientific metaphysical healing—became lost, and for nearly two millennia, believers no longer knew how to apply the metaphysical laws that Jesus used to bring about healing. So while millions of people around the world continued to find solace, strength, and hope in the Bible, it wasn't until 1866 that a woman in New England—Mary Baker Eddy—discovered what she called "the lost element of healing" in the teachings of Jesus. She explained her discovery in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The following articles discuss how Mrs. Eddy's discovery, which she named Christian Science, continues to bless and heal humanity across the globe. —MJ
Recently, I received an e-mail from a man halfway around the world. Writing from somewhere in the Himalayas, he was requesting my immediate help through Christian Science treatment. He was suffering from severe diarrhea, so I needed to pray for him right away, which I did. Soon, he wrote back to say he was well again.
How does Christian Science treatment allow for a patient and practitioner to be on opposite sides of the globe while successfully meeting a serious need? Understanding the answer to this question enables us to better understand both how to heal and how to be healed.
In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy explained why distance between healer and patient never poses an obstacle in healing spiritually: "Science can heal the sick, who are absent from their healers, as well as those present, since space is no obstacle to Mind. Immortal Mind heals what eye hath not seen; but the spiritual capacity to apprehend thought and to heal by the Truth-power, is won only as man is found, not in self-righteousness, but reflecting the divine nature" (p. 179).
Christian Science treatment finds its roots solely in Jesus' method of healing. Jesus proved the limitless reach of God's healing power. He often healed people he never even saw face to face. When a Roman officer pleaded with Jesus to heal the officer's paralytic servant from a distance, Jesus replied, "I have not found so great faith ... Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (Matt. 8:10, 13). And the officer's servant was quickly healed. On another occasion a man asked Jesus to come to his home and heal his son, who was dying (see John 4:46–53). Jesus simply told the man to go home, that he would find his son alive. The man did as Jesus instructed and found his son well, just as Jesus had promised. Clearly, being physically present was not necessary for Jesus to bring about healing.
JESUS PROVED the limitless reach of God's healing power. He often healed people he never even saw face to face.
Because the application and action of God's healing Science is as immediately present as God, the practitioner does not bring the patient into God's healing presence. The patient is already in God's presence and infinite care. The practitioner is knowing this fact and surrendering any belief that there could be a mind separate from God, in order to spiritualize consciousness. Essentially, Christian Science treatment is the lifting of the practitioner's thought to the understanding of God as the only Mind and as absolutely good and holy, and of man as His image—expressing that same Mind, and therefore full of goodness and holiness. Physical distance presents no obstacle to this spiritualized consciousness.
Christian Science treatment has infinite precision as well as infinite range. God is not haphazard in healing. So each prayer inspired by divine Love is the perfect remedy that meets the exact human need. In this treatment the truth about the inseparable relation of God and man becomes evident—a relationship that cannot be invaded by anything foreign, such as disease. And this understanding becomes a light that shows what needs to be clarified in the patient's thought.
Healing is the effect of the Christ and the Holy Ghost on human consciousness; this healing doesn't result from the practitioner transferring personal energy to the patient. In fact, attempting to heal through belief in one's own power restricts healing because this kind of treatment has no reach beyond physical perception. Accuracy in assessing the situation that needs healing comes only through spiritual perception. This is why spiritual growth in living divine qualities of hope, faith, love, and humility are so important to healing. It is this spiritualization of our own consciousness that enables us to become healers.
This prayer, under the guidance of divine Mind, is not enhanced by physical proximity to the patient. Nor, for that matter, does praying in the presence of the patient take away the healing power. Either way, Christian Science healing results from the discernment of spiritual facts that erase the effects of material beliefs.
The Science of divine Mind's method of healing has no obstacle, but is infinite and therefore immediate and available to all, no matter the distance. This healing power shows God's universal care for each of us—encompassing all of creation in divine Love's infinite, healing embrace.
