What is encouragement? Is it based on belief in the fleeting and changeable, or on an understanding of the facts of the eternal and changeless? Have any found enduring encouragement in anything that works on the so-called material emotions? Have any failed to find encouragement in the true understanding of God, perfect substance, and of man, God's idea? Christian Science invites consideration of these questions, knowing that the opposite of encouragement is mentally wrong, and, like all that is different from God, may be readily overcome by the seeking and accepting of divine reality.
A common error with many, including the professed followers of Christ, is that of limited expectation of good from Christ's Christianity. Too often is expressed the belief that Christianity is effective for good up to a certain point only, as, for instance, in rightly preparing one who is about to die, while it is forgotten that Christ Jesus overcame death. Also, too often the belief is expressed that mortals are born subject to adverse conditions and material laws, and that discouragement thus appears to be inevitable some of the time.
Now Christian Science is the Science of Christ. Revealing God as embracing all reality and power, and matter and evil as having no power or reality, Christian Science at once points to spiritual freedom, wherein are no material limitations. There are many who, having studied Christian Science, gladly proclaim that never before had they even faintly realized the unlimited possibilities for good in human affairs flowing from a correct understanding of God and man.
God's children, made in the image and likeness of Spirit, reflect the perfect, infinite Mind, and are maintained by Mind in freedom and harmony. By understanding God, and clinging persistently to the eternal fact that they are, in reality, the children of God, Christian Scientists experience here and now actual spiritual correction and healing. Thus, Christian Science, the law of Mind, accomplishes unlimited good in human affairs. It is the law by which Christ Jesus healed the sick, cleansed the sinful, and raised the dead. Surely, the knowledge that this healing again is practiced in our time bountifully encourages all who seek after good.
Christian Science does not leave material beliefs undisturbed, but reverses them, correcting and healing whatever needs this redemptive attention. It destroys false gods and overcomes unnatural dependencies, self-pity, and mental laziness. Its spiritual influence awakens an unquenchable determination to rise to higher and purer thinking and living. Always, this Science, the law and activity of unlimited good, is present to supply substantial encouragement and to strengthen spiritual aspirations.
Is one disabled by a belief in sickness? Then be assured of the promise of God, voiced by Malachi, "Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." The sick are not helpless. They can at once accept the ever-present remedy, which is not apparent to material belief but is known to spiritual sense. Spiritual sense may be acquired and used by the study of the inspired Word of the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, especially her principal work, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Mrs. Eddy writes on page 1 of Science and Health:"The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,— a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love. Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience."
None have found courage in believing they were sick or dying, while many have found courage and health on learning in Christian Science that they are not sick or dying. The traveler wending his way in a deep mountain gorge may call to someone higher up the mountainside to inquire the way out, and he follows the direction of the one who knows and sees the way. So those who have looked to material sense to guide them out of sickness, and have found that material sense fails, should not be discouraged. That they see the futility of material sense and admit that they must look elsewhere is a sign of progress and encouragement. Christ Jesus saw and proved the way. The Discoverer of Christian Science saw and proved the same way. The spiritual revelation thus given to the world may safely be trusted and gratefully acknowledged.
Is one disheartened because of some supposedly chronic sin? "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Christian Science shows us how prayerfully to commune with God, Mind, and how to reason spiritually regarding sin. Evil is not overcome by the belief that evil is real. Evil can be overcome only by an understanding of spiritual good. The source of spiritual good is God. Good thinking, which means entertaining thoughts proceeding from God, without fail overcomes opposite evil beliefs, which have no hold whatever on one who truly finds good.
In overcoming sin, Christian Science promptly uncovers the false foundation on which any sin rests, and from which it appears to derive its seeming power. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 67), "Sin was, and is, the lying supposition that life, substance, and intelligence are both material and spiritual, and yet are separate from God." By spiritually exposing and casting out this "lying supposition" about life, substance, and intelligence, Christian Science brings to light real existence, in which there is nought but good. Attempts to overcome sin by turning attention to something on a material basis are only superficial, and any so-called benefits from such means are only temporary. Christian Science is absolutely scientific in destroying the false foundation on which sin rests.
Error would lead one to believe that he is weak and perhaps defenseless against unseen evil power; but Christian Science enables one to know that his true selfhood is sinless, and by reflection is possessed of divine strength. Permeated with encouragement is the spiritually scientific overcoming of sin, by which one learns that God is not the author of anything unlike good, and that nonintelligent matter cannot make any demands on the child of God. Thousands of proofs of the overcoming of sin in human affairs by Christian Science demonstration of the powerlessness of material sense are cause for unbounded gratitude. These proofs encourage those needing to demonstrate the healing power of Truth.
Is one distressed by believing in the supposed inevitability of death? The Bible says: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life." Christian Science affirms this record, but material sense would have one disbelieve or not understand it. This Science shows that redemption from disease and death is not gained by dying, but by eternally living the life which reflects Life, God. This fact excludes the belief of life in matter. The materialist tries to do something to a physical body in the belief that thus one may restore health. When one learns that Life is God, then he understands that matter—drugs and other material means—are unreal, powerless. Life is not in danger. Life is self-existent, self-contained. Danger is material belief, applying only to itself, not to God, Life, or to God's man.
Mrs. Eddy writes in "Unity of Good" (p. 38): "Death is a contradiction of Life, or God; therefore it is not in accordance with His law, but antagonistic thereto. Death, then, is error, opposed to Truth,—even the unreality of mortal mind, not the reality of that Mind which is Life. Error has no life, and is virtually without existence. Life is real; and all is real which proceeds from Life and is inseparable from it." From this correct definition we see that the law of Life is the law of righteousness, and there is no law requiring death and unrighteousness.
Thus Christian Science tells what belief in death amounts to. It is an experience of the material belief that man lives apart from God in matter. Death is an illusion, just as sickness is only a false belief or illusion. Belief that death is unavoidable must eventually be relinquished. Tardiness in demonstrating eternal life, as superior to matter and its limitations, does not mean that death is real. By showing that death is not what mortals suppose it to be, and instructing its adherents regarding eternal life, Christian Science stimulates confidence, silences fear, and thereby obtains healing.
Beliefs in pleasing personal attachments, with their false sense of harmony and peace, establish no permanent encouragement. Selfishness is based on belief in matter, which is fleeting, and, when selfishness appears to be satisfied, that effect is not true encouragement. All that is truly good and helpful comes from God. Therefore, true encouragement is here and now available through Christian Science, the revelation of Truth.
One cannot expect to receive encouragement from matter. The freedom and strength which never falter, never fail, never change, never are less than perfect, should be claimed and demonstrated as one's true heritage.
Christian Science removes from human experience nothing that is truly good and spiritually helpful, but encourages the use of all the gains heavenward which are being achieved. It heals even the best that now is known by revealing greater spiritual light. It calls on all to study and accept the teaching of the Bible and Christian Science, wherein are to be found certain encouragement, strength, and cause for gratitude.
Encouragement! Yes, it is ever present. The spiritual meaning of the Bible, revealed in Mrs. Eddy's writings, when properly understood, accepted, and lived, establishes true encouragement.
