IN the early experience of many Christian Scientists there comes a time when they feel impelled to talk about their new-found faith to all their friends and associates, "in season, out of season," with the greatest confidence that their hearers will be as glad to hear them upon this subject as they are to talk upon it. To all who are now going through this stage of their career in Christian Science, we venture a few words of caution which may be helpful.
As a first word we might say that comparatively few of those who have become Christian Scientists were talked into a belief in the healing power of the religion which they now profess and follow. Not only were they shown through actual demonstration that Christian Science heals and saves, but they were also in a frame of mind in which they were willing to be shown this. To pour into unwilling ears a long and unappreciated argument in behalf of Christian Science is tiresome to the listener and also a waste of time. Likewise, to persist in injecting Christian Science into every conversation is to become a bore, and engenders an antagonism which can be overcome only by great patience and reserve.
As a second word of caution to the young and inexperienced Christian Scientist who is passing through what may be called the "talking stage," we can do no better than to warn him that frequently he is made to appear ridiculous, and Christian Science to seem inconsistent, through his sheer inability to prove the extravagant claims he has made in its behalf. The better way to prove Christian Science is to live it, even as the Master bade his disciples; that is, to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
