IN the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583), Mary Baker Eddy defines "Church," in part, as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." To one young student of Christian Science this definition of Church seemed obscure and difficult to comprehend. Reared as she had been in a home where the church, with its attendant rites and ceremonies, was held in great reverence, almost awe, this new, spiritual structure seemed so beautiful,—oh, so beautiful!—but it appeared far off, insubstantial. Yearning to behold this spiritual structure, and praying for understanding to do so, she was led to the study of Jesus' statement as to what should constitute the foundation upon which he would build his Church. Jesus questioned his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" And then he brought the question home closer to the individual, and asked, "But whom say ye that I am?" And Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then followed that wonderful declaration of Jesus: "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."
The world with its creeds and doctrines, its beliefs of life and intelligence in matter, of good and evil mingling, had not revealed, could not reveal this to Peter; God had shown it to him in the words and works of Jesus. The truth of spiritual being; the power of Life over death, of good over evil; the love of the Father for His children; the love of man to man —all these Peter had seen in the works of Christ Jesus, who did, as he said, the will of his Father, did always those things which pleased God. Peter had perceived the Messiah, and upon this "rock" or foundation—the perception and acknowledgment and demonstration of the Christ, Truth—was to rise the true Church.
Joyfully, then, the student saw that this Church could be really built only in consciousness, upon the individual perception and acknowledgment of the living God and His Christ, the truth concerning all reality, including love and good, together with the forsaking of all evil, consequent upon this revelation. For thus, and thus only, could the real Church, the "structure of Truth and Love," become visible to mankind.
