Christian Science teaches the Science and practice of Christianity, the religion which was taught and demonstrated by Christ Jesus. When the Master sent out those disciples whom he had instructed, he said to them, as Matthew records: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." He did all these deeds himself; he had striven to impart his knowledge of God and God's law to them; and, in consequence, his command to those who had caught something of the Christ-idea was clear and emphatic. It lacked nothing in directness; it left no room for Pharisaical quibbling as to its meaning; it has resounded down through all the centuries since it was uttered; and to-day it is being fulfilled in Christian Science as it has never been before, because Christian Science has made its fulfillment scientifically possible.
Any one reading the gospels of the New Testament must be aware that Christ Jesus delivered his message to the people. He did not address himself especially to the ecclesiastical dignitaries of his time and nation. Indeed, it is historically true that these rejected his revelation of God; and to put an end, as they thought, to his doctrine, they demanded his crucifixion from the Roman authority. Jesus' message was for all the men and women and children in the world. How it would reach them was largely a question for those who accepted his doctrine. But without doubt he declared the fatherhood of God, not to particular sects, not to particular men, but to the whole of mankind. And underlying all his teachings, these teachings upon which depended the healing of sickness and sin, were two main factors: one, the understanding of God; the other, the Christ-spirit, which animated himself. Mrs. Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p.141), analyzing the position, says: "In healing the sick and sinning, Jesus elaborated the fact that the healing effect followed the understanding of the divine Principle and of the Christ spirit which governed the corporeal Jesus. For this Principle there is no dynasty, no ecclesiastical monopoly. Its only crowned head is immortal sovereignty. Its only priest is the spiritualized man."
Every one who takes up the study of Christian Science recognizes the need of gaining an understanding of God. No longer does blind faith satisfy. And whenever one begins to grasp the truths of spiritual being, he has left the uncertain path of credulous faith for the firm and certain way of spiritual understanding; speculation has given place to revelation; and in proportion to his understanding he is able to demonstrate or prove what he has learned, by healing sickness and sin. Spiritual understanding—that is, knowledge of spiritual reality—is the great essential of the Christian life; and it forms the basis of the cultivation and growth of the Christ-spirit. Indeed, spiritual understanding and the Christ-spirit cannot be disjoined. They are inseparable.
From the wonderful combination of spiritual understanding and the Christ-spirit there springs one of the most gracious activities of Christian Science,—its liberating power. Thus, it is freeing mankind to-day from every form of tyranny,—ecclesiastical, medical, political; liberating men in every direction from the bondage of the so-called human mind with its limiting material beliefs; and so allowing them to enter into their rightful heritage as the sons of God. No longer do men need to submit to man-made theories or dogmas; divine Science replaces all these with the simple, yet profound truths of spiritual being.
Healing is a comprehensive term. It is very commonly limited to the healing of disease; but as used in Christian Science, it goes far beyond that. It includes the rectification of every imperfect condition. Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p.148), "Christianity is the summons of divine Love for man to be Christlike—to emulate the words and the works of our great Master." Thus, the more Christlike one becomes, the greater is the healing he has received, and the better able he is to heal others. No one ever had a fuller understanding of the Christ than had Jesus; and no one ever demonstrated greater freedom from disease and sin than he, or healed others as he was able to do. It is a fallacy to believe that Christianity, rightly understood, can do other than produce healthier men and women. Weakness and sickliness are the results of error, not of truth. It has been proved in innumerable instances that the realization of some phase of truth has healed inveterate disease, or destroyed some form of sin which had tortured some one, perhaps for a long time. Can any doubt that if one possessed the understanding of God implied in Peter's words, he would not be well on the way towards emancipation from all the beliefs of evil. "Be ye all of one mind," said the apostle, "having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing." The Christ-spirit heals.
In Christian Science churches great opportunity is afforded to practice scientific Christianity in relation to one's fellow-members and to those who are more or less beginners or interested students. In all such relationships the Golden Rule should ever be before us: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." This Christian rule sets forth the Christ-spirit perfectly, implying compassion, gentleness, patience, loving-kindness, mercifulness, justice, serenity, restraint of speech and deed. Every Christian Scientist has to learn to listen. It is often much easier to talk than to hear what some one else may have to say on a question. But it should not be forgotten that it is frequently far the better way silently to handle the false beliefs presented in some wordy display of error, by knowing their nothingness, than to meet them by audible argument. As every Christian Scientist of experience knows, the great bulk of our work has to be done in silence, in "the secret place of the most High."
While Christian Scientists endeavor to solve their church problems in the Christ-spirit, practicing the Golden Rule, striving always to realize the allness and omnipotence of good to the annihilation of all false, evil beliefs, they, at the same time, do not lose sight of the fact that the Christian Science church has before it the regeneration or healing of all mankind. Our revered Leader never allowed her vision to be circumscribed; it took in the whole of humanity. In "No and Yes" (p.7) she says, "Sooner or later the eyes of sinful mortals must be opened to see every error they possess, and the way out of it; and they will 'flee as a bird to your mountain,' away from the enemy of sinning sense, stubborn will, and every imperfection in the land of Sodom, and find rescue and refuge in Truth and Love." That is the desire, the prayer, of every Christian Scientist. How necessary, then, to be right ourselves, by obtaining the mastery over "sinning sense, stubborn will, and every imperfection in the land of Sodom"! Christian Scientists have countless opportunities of doing so in the home, the office, the street, at business meetings, and at church services. And when the Christ-spirit rules in our hearts and lives, the Christ-spirit begotten of the understanding of Truth and Love, we can be certain that Christian Science is being put into practice.
