IN the sixteenth chapter of Matthew we read of Christ Jesus' questioning of his disciples, evidently seeking to awaken them to a higher recognition of his spiritual selfhood and mission. To his question, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus' response was in part, "And I say also unto thee, . . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Peter saw beyond the human personality of the Master. He recognized Jesus' divine selfhood as the manifestation of God, the Christ-idea, embodying God's qualities and attributes. Jesus approved this recognition. From his statement we understand that the true Church is founded upon the rock of the impersonal healing Christ, Truth. Mary Baker Eddy gives us the 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." Against this Church "the gates of hell"—the dangers which lurk in the worship of and the bowing down to personality and material selfhood—cannot prevail.
Christian Science is built upon this same spiritual foundation and is distinguished for its healing efficacy. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, tells us in Science and Health (p. 35): "Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love,—casting out error and healing the sick." The Cause of Christian Science could not have prospered and endured if Mrs. Eddy had not first proved its divine origin and sanction by healing all manner of disease and distress. The various authorized biographies prove that her healing work emulated that of Jesus.
It is significant that despite the magnitude of her revelation Mrs. Eddy sought no personal homage or recognition. She consistently endeavored to turn the thoughts of her students and followers away from reliance upon her human personality to an ever higher and more demonstrable understanding of the divine Principle, Love, which upheld and impelled her every word and deed. She writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 117), "There was never a religion or philosophy lost to the centuries except by sinking its divine Principle in personality."
Each student of Christian Science should often pause to consider the consecrated life led by our Leader and should remember the trials and sacrifices she endured in order to establish and found the Cause of Christian Science, including The Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, with its many and ever-increasing branches.
In the God-inspired Rules and By-Laws of the Manual of The Mother Church our Leader gives us the key to any problem which can ever arise in church government. But we must pray earnestly for divine guidance in the application of these By-Laws. When studied and applied consistently, they are seen to emanate directly from divine Principle, and it is to be admitted that they do not promote human personality, human will, or human foibles. Thus as each member obeys them, The Mother Church, with every one of its branches, is protected and preserved and is divinely promoted.
To become a member of a Church of Christ, Scientist, and to cherish and maintain the motives which induced this affiliation enable us to become imbued with the Science of Christ, and in proportion to our fidelity to Christ, Truth, we become aware of the healing power which Jesus demonstrated. Church membership calls for active expression of such qualities as our beloved Master embodied throughout his earthly experience, the divine attributes of obedience, spiritual power, humility, and love. In the performing of any duty in connection with our church activity, it is helpful frequently to clarify our concept of Church that each task may be performed joyously and willingly.
Do we, as church members, sometimes leave our mental windows unlocked and the door of our consciousness unbarred and unguarded? Do we allow unloving thoughts of our fellow church members to enter, thoughts of envy, jealousy, rivalry, criticism, dislike? Do we willingly admit the bitter enemies which impede spiritual growth and progress—apathy, indifference, discouragement? These are the thieves against which we all must guard if we would preserve intact the church which heals and attracts and saves. Let us as members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, protect our mental sanctuary of devotion and consecration that we may increase our measure of service and usefulness, and let us foil the insidious attempts of error which would, if it could, destroy everything that represents Christ, Truth.
A church without members would be no church. Each church of our denomination needs the God-inspired motives, thoughts, and lives of its individual members. The growth and scope of each church is determined by the quality of Christianly scientific endeavor, obedience, and love which its members express. They must be actively conscious of the second part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "Church": "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."
Every consecrated member should gratefully realize that he is acting as a direct contributor to world peace, for it is becoming increasingly clear that permanent world peace cannot be brought about by means of material force. Peace must and can only be attained through the spiritual might and moral strength of the individual. Our obligations as the church members of today are clear, and we should increase our faithfulness in carrying out these obligations.
This troubled period of world upheaval and chemicalization does not, then, call for mere passive acceptance of Christian Science, but for active participation in the church organization and in the utmost endeavor to prove its practicality. In being faithful to this sacred trust, we shall find our own lives progressively enriched and blessed.
