The question has sometimes been asked: What constitutes a Christian Science practitioner? It might as well have been: What does it mean to be a Christian Scientist; for how can one be a Christian Scientist without practicing Christian Science? So soon as one first sees that Christian Science is the Science of the Christ, he understands that to be a Christian he must be one scientifically, and to be one scientifically he must be one practically; for one can only understand Science as he demonstrates it. Then the fact is that every one who has united himself with Christian Science and is endeavoring to be true to its teaching in any degree, has become a practitioner of Christian Science. He is either a good one or a poor one. Which shall it be?
Christ Jesus was the perfect Christian Science practitioner; but although his work was always perfect, it was nevertheless progressive in its magnitude. He did not immediately accomplish the ascension, but took every step required from the beginning to the completion of his demonstration. Each Christian Scientist must follow in Jesus' footsteps if he would reach the possibilities our blessed Master attained and which he held out to us, when he commanded his followers to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." It is an encouraging fact that the instant a truth is known it can be proved, it can be practiced, demonstrated. Then however small one's comprehension of Christian Science may be, in just the degree this Science is understood it can be used, and from the moment of its first acceptance by any individual he can begin to practice it.
When one applies the rules of Principle as revealed in Christian Science, results follow and he is encouraged to press steadily on to the apprehension of its wonderful possibilities. Sometimes when Christian Science first unfolds to one he finds himself speaking to the claims of error with what appears to him a marvelous authority, and he wonders how so small an understanding as his can bring such great results. Here he may recall what Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 449), "A grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth;" and it should be carefully noted that she goes on to say, "but more of Christian Science must be gained in order to continue in well doing." This is a point of great importance in the progressive work of the Christian Science practitioner, for a constantly increasing understanding of both the letter and the spirit must be gained if one is to advance.
