A STUDENT of Christian Science who has experienced moral and physical healing and whose consciousness has been uplifted to see the risen Christ-idea of Life separate from matter, who is loyal to the teachings of Christian Science, and who can devote his entire time to such work, is known as a Christian Science practitioner. He is not only a hearer but a doer of the word of God. He stands a living exponent of practical Christianity. He has had it proven to him that truth is demonstrable, and in gratitude for what has been done for him, the one desire of his life is to be pure enough in thought to bring the healing truth to others. Freely as he has received, freely would he give to others.
In a scientific sense all who are healed in Christian Science and who take up a systematic study of the subject are really practitioners, in that they know that they must demonstrate or make practical what they are taught, but all do not enter upon the public practice of Christian Science. Not a day passes, however, without opportunities to prove for one's self, and often for others, what one knows is true about God and man. The more we apply Christian Science, the sooner we shall be called to do the higher work—to leave all for Christ.
This by no means signifies that the practitioner requires no time for self-examination and mental pruning, because he does. The more keenly he realizes this fact, and the more studiously he plans to devote a portion of each day to quiet meditation and study of Christian Science, and the reading of its literature, the more successful will he be in his work for others and in his own moral and spiritual advancement. Many have made the fatal mistake of allowing all of their time to be consumed by others, and have thereby lost sight of their own individual needs. It makes very little difference how efficient one's weapons are, if they are not used in one's own behalf the time must come when something which should have been done will be left undone.
