IT is a great privilege to be a worker in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, which is engaged in the joyous activity of building a church edifice. Money may enable one to erect a material structure, but money cannot reveal the true Church. Christ, Truth, coming with its saving, redemptive message to the heart of each member, must first lay the foundation and raise the walls in individual consciousness.
The real Church is defined thus by the inspirational Leader of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583). To find Church, therefore, one must go to the spiritually mental realm; and one finds its foundation in the truth taught by the Master. Paul says: "As a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Let every member of a building church, therefore, first look to his own thinking to see how the foundation work is coming on. Is thought becoming rooted and grounded in the truth of spiritual sense, as taught and exemplified by the Galilean Prophet? Are we learning that God is Spirit, and that the material concept of existence does not present the truth about man? Are we looking to Christ Jesus as the Way-shower to real living and loving? If the answers are in the affirmative, we may know that the foundation stones in our "structure of Truth and Love" are being well laid; but let the builders test the ground upon which the foundation rests. No abiding temple can rise on the quicksands of dissension and political maneuverings. Only on the rock of Truth and Love is the structure secure.
How one rejoices to hear such a report as this: "We are a building church, and you never knew greater harmony and teamwork than are in evidence among our members. Our Wednesday meetings are literally paeans of praise and thanksgiving. If at business meetings differences arise in connection with certain building plans, we have silent prayer until the varying views are reconciled and we can go forward as a united band." There is an instance where the real Church is being erected in consciousness, where the foundation is established in Christ, Truth, and where, as Isaiah says, "Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise" (Isa. 60:18).
What a rare opportunity to learn of true teamwork, patience, and humility is presented to the member of a Christian Science church which is in the process of building! Who does not need to learn the Christian lesson of being willing to walk with a differing brother one, two, or even more miles, knowing the while that only Principle can govern?
One of the most serious questions to be considered is, of course, the approximate cost of the new edifice; and how earnestly should the Scientist pray for divine guidance in this matter!
Under the caption "God's Requirement" Mrs. Eddy has given this important By-Law in the Church Manual (Art. XXIV, Sect. 5): "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist." What a remarkable combination of terms—"wisdom, economy, and brotherly love"! Economy without wisdom and brotherly love might take on some of the characteristics of niggardliness; love without wisdom and a sense of economy might lead into unwise extravagance.
Occasionally, when the question arises as to the proposed cost of an edifice, some members, apparently more visionary than wise, will aver that nothing is too good for the people of God and propose a financial outlay for the new building far in excess of what might seem to be a reasonable expenditure. And may it be said that many times those who lack a sense of wisdom and economy and advocate a large expenditure are those who are not prepared themselves to contribute measurably to such an expansive program.
What right-minded individual does not abhor debt! Is not the honest recognition of contractual obligations a Christian tenet? In one of his matchless lessons the Teacher of Nazareth uses an illustration that may well be taken to heart by all who are inclined to walk unthinkingly into burdensome debt and justify their stand by declaring that divine Love will somehow meet the need. We read: "Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28-30).
Now there is every reason to suppose that alert Christian Scientists going to God in prayer will not be found starting building operations at an unwise or inopportune moment; nor will they be trapped into the incurring of an excessive indebtedness, or tempted to erect a temple of worship unduly ornate, or larger than their reasonable need. There is much wisdom in these words of our Leader: "Our proper reason for church edifices is, that in them Christians may worship God,—not that Christians may worship church edifices!" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 162.) Of course, in the matter of building a suitable church edifice the Scientists should guard not only against the error of undertaking too much but also against that of undertaking too little—that is, against failing to meet an obvious need.
He who names the name of Christianity today, as in the time of Paul, must know that his work is the work of a master builder. Day by day is he erecting in consciousness that shrine of divine Love which is the true Church. In truth, the temple is already erected, just awaiting mankind's recognition; so the work of erection is really the joyous task of revelation.
There is a beautiful expression common to much of Christendom—the "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." This outward and visible sign is inspirationally described in the second part of the definition of "Church" in Science and Health. We read: "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
Is not this the unquestioned sign of that inward and spiritual grace which is "the structure of Truth and Love"? Whenever we speak and demonstrate the truth about God and man, are we not in Church? When we wipe out some of the poison of bitterness, when we silence some suggestion of selfishness through the reflection of divine Love, are we not in some degree in Church? If brotherly love, spiritualized consciousness, and healing works are manifest in a membership, verily is the Church of Christ appearing, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).
