EXPERIENCED Christian Scientists, accustomed to working out the various problems of daily life with the truth as taught in Christian Science, are well aware of the great importance of metaphysical work done in preparation for meeting the material phases of human experience. They know that the successful outcome of any work is based on the effectiveness of this metaphysical work. This holds true in every branch of our activity; and perhaps there is no place where it is more evident than in connection with our church services.
The responsibility of this preparatory metaphysical work for the church services falls specifically upon those officers, Readers, and other workers who are directly responsible for the spiritual welfare of the church and the actual conduct of the services. But in a larger sense it is the responsibility of every church member, of every Christian Scientist present at the service, for as each one is guarding and protecting his individual thinking on all matters pertaining to the church and to the service, holding in his consciousness the true concept of Church and its activities, he is bringing out this true concept of Church for himself, and is thus aiding in demonstrating the presence and power of Truth.
Mrs. Eddy has given us a wonderful corner stone on which to base our metaphysical work in her definition of "Church," found on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the first paragraph of which reads: "Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." How all-inclusive! Since God, divine Principle, is "the universal cause, the only creator" (ibid., p. 331), there is nothing real that does not rest upon and proceed from divine Principle; and consequently there is nothing real excluded from, or outside of, Church.
What a rebuke this wonderful definition brings to self-satisfaction and self-justification! However large and overflowing the congregation in our churches, there is no room for self-satisfaction while to human sense there still seem to be many ignorant of this life-giving truth and far removed from our church activities. And however small or struggling a Christian Science church or society, there is no room for self-justification. It is our work to demonstrate the truth of Church here and now, wherever we may be, just as it is our work to demonstrate the scientific fact of man's true identity and his unity with God. There are no extenuating circumstances upon which to base self-justification or self-satisfaction.
If material sense testimony should declare that our church congregation is limited because of certain arguments of so-called mortal mind, this does not mean that such beliefs have to be accepted. They do not justify a sense of limitation or acquiescence therein on the part of Christian Scientists, for it is not the false claim that is limiting the size of the congregation or the activity of the church, but the acceptance of such a claim by Christian Scientists. We know that whenever and wherever the truth is persistently and correctly applied the false mortal belief must yield and disappear, whether it pertains to the church membership or to an individual. Error cannot stand in the face of Truth; but we must be awake to deny the error, and we must apply the truth. We must ever be awake to the fact that there is no imperfect idea in divine Mind.
Furthermore, the divine idea, Church, perfectly expresses the activity of Truth. Since this idea is wholly divine, error has no place in it; nor can error act through it to limit the activity of Truth or impair its constant perfection. As one holds persistently to Truth and denies material sense testimony, any sense of lack or limitation must disappear, and a better concept of church activity will appear.
If, in like manner, we turn to this definition of Church for our concepts of all that is included in the church, what a marvelous change is brought about in our thinking! What an antidote and preventive for either the glorification or the condemnation of human personality! We see and understand that there is nothing real except that which "rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Such beliefs as envy, jealousy, hate, criticism, condemnation, pride, personal ambition, and their claim to manifestation, are thus seen to be utterly false, insubstantial—nothing. And so to see them is to insure their destruction.
The Christian Scientist who holds steadfastly to the true concept of Church, and who is constantly active in the earnest desire to demonstrate Truth as ever present and as all that is present, is a true supporter of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Such a one is putting into practice Paul's exhortation, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus;" and he may gladly expect the blessing so beautifully promised by Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 22): "When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving."
