Christian Scientists deeply appreciate Mary Baker Eddy's definition of "Church" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which reads in part (p. 583), "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."
God, divine Principle, being Spirit, that which "rests upon and proceeds from" Spirit of necessity must be spiritual. Therefore it is axiomatic that Mrs. Eddy's definition just quoted naturally refers to the spiritual sense of Church rather than to a mortal concept. Similarly, reference in Christian Science to the man God made relates to spiritual, individual selfhood rather than to mortal personality.
When confronted by aggressive suggestions that fear, disease, sin, and limitation are associated with their experiences, Christian Scientists turn instinctively and resolutely to the truth of man, whose selfhood is spiritual because born of God. Likewise, when subtle arguments of disunity, dissension, or any other discord would warp their concept of Church, Christian Scientists reverse such arguments and joyously contemplate Church as God knows it to be—spiritual, immutable, perfect, and universal. This spiritual concept of Church includes no problems of inharmony. All erroneous contentions to the contrary stem from a mortal concept of church.
