While working recently on the subject of church building, the thought occurred, Where does church building begin? Does it begin when the first crust of earth is turned to make ready the erection of a Christian Science edifice? Does it begin in the church edifice on Sunday morning after one is seated at service? Did church building begin when the foundation of The Mother Church was laid? Or did it begin when our Master, who himself healed the sick, said to Peter, "Upon this rock will I build my church"?
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing.'" Again, "The corner-stone of all spiritual building is purity" (pp. 136, 241). Webster's International dictionary defines purity, in part, as "freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter." In view of all these statements may we not truthfully say that church building begins in a consciousness so imbued with the nearness, the allness, of Spirit that no suggestion of matter as having existence or activity can shake it? Upon such a foundation we may safely build our superstructure.
"But, Paul says," let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. . . . Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest." Let our superstructure be in keeping with our foundation. Let it manifest God's presence, already established. Our superstructure must rise into individual demonstration, or the foundation will be of little value to mankind. Only through daily deeds and hourly communion with God can each individual see Christ's church, already established.
