Both the beginner and the advanced student of Christian Science are vitally interested in understanding what Mary Baker Eddy so aptly designates "solid Christian Science." She says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 156): "Science is absolute, and best understood through the study of my works and the daily Christian demonstration thereof. It is their materiality that clogs the progress of students, and 'this kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting.'" A little farther on she adds: "Spirituality is the basis of all true thought and volition. Assembling themselves together, and listening to each other amicably, or contentiously, is no aid to students in acquiring solid Christian Science."
Here we see that Mrs. Eddy is very definite as to both the right and the wrong method of working to acquire an understanding of "solid Christian Science." The weekly Lesson-Sermons, outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, provide both the beginner and the advanced student with the solid foundation for their understanding and growth in Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy chose twenty-six subjects for these Bible Lessons, which are so comprehensive in their scope that through the study of them, students may learn the true nature of God, man, and the universe. This is not accomplished, however, by one's merely going over the Bible Lesson each day in a perfunctory manner, but by approaching this study as one hungering after righteousness. Then is fulfilled the promise of the Master (Matt. 5:6), "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
According to one dictionary, the word "solid" is defined in part as: "Sound; strong; ... stable, real, genuine. ... Serious in purpose or character." The one Mind, which we learn in the study of Christian Science is the Mind of man, is never weary, nor is it burdened by a false sense of responsibility. And in the Manual of The Mother Church, our Leader writes (Art. XVII, Sect. 1): "A Christian Scientist is not fatigued by prayer, by reading the Scriptures or the Christian Science textbook. Amusement or idleness is weariness. Truth and Love rest the weary and heavy laden." Just as the Mind which is God is never weary, so the Life which is God is spiritually solid, that is, genuine, sound, and indestructible, and God alone is man's continuing Life.
Mortals have been taught that life is something apart from God, structural and organic, dependent on certain material conditions. The belief that God is afar off has been largely responsible for humanity's fears as well as for its reliance upon remedies other than those of the great Physician, God, who, as the Scriptures declare (Ps. 103:3, 4), "healeth all thy diseases" and "redeemeth thy life from destruction."
Mortal ignorance must give place to the spiritual understanding of God as the present and only Life of man. The infinite God sustains forever the completeness of man, His own image and likeness. Regardless of the appearance to the contrary, the divine order has not been reversed.
"Solid Christian Science" reveals that the only God there ever is, is infinite Life and that the real man is the lovable, perfect expression of God. Man is now exactly as God is causing him to be—the perfect effect of the one and only perfect cause. Merely to accept that spiritual truth is not enough. We must learn to demonstrate moment by moment our oneness, or unity, with God, our inseparability from Him. Only then shall we realize and demonstrate that because man is the son of God, he does not belong to mortal mind's frustrated kingdom, and he cannot become the victim of this so-called mind's lies.
Humanity is now faced with the challenge of atomic radiation. "Solid Christian Science" has an answer to that challenge. Science reveals true atomic action to be Spirit, not material and destructive. The only action there can be proceeds from the divine source, the omniactive, infinite Mind, eternally radiating its own beneficence throughout the universe. From such radiation, who would seek to escape? Matter is actually not real. It is not a solid or liquid substance to be either demolished or preserved. Matter has no genuine shape or form. Matter is an illusive objectification of false thinking, regardless of its label. Safety must be found in the truth, that is, as the result of understanding Mind, for Mind alone is causation.
It is significant that Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 83): "Science only can explain the incredible good and evil elements now coming to the surface. Mortals must find refuge in Truth in order to escape the error of these latter days. Nothing is more antagonistic to Christian Science than a blind belief without understanding, for such a belief hides Truth and builds on error."
No longer can mankind depend on fragile matter for safety; no longer can they build on the sands of belief in two opposing powers. They must build on the solid rock of understanding, which rests squarely upon the spiritual fact that because God, good, is infinite, there can be no opposite. There can be no opposition to that which is All. Of equal importance is the fact that man, created in God's image, is just as safe as God is.
Christ Jesus, ever aware of the solidity of Spirit and therefore completely fearless in his thoughts and actions, used spiritual power as no one else has ever used it. He said (Luke 10:19), "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." With equal seriousness of purpose, students of Christian Science today may know that the powers that be, are of God and are working in their behalf, not against them.
There is no middle ground between Truth and error, between the spiritually solid and materially transient. Where are we standing? Are we awake and active in demonstrating Christian Science, or are we asleep to the truth of being, which alone can free us from believing in what is not true?
Christian Science reveals that the allness, perfection, and solidity of Mind, God, are already here, awaiting recognition and demonstration. Therefore, in praying, a student does not presume to give God instructions; rather does he report for duty, as it were, with a humble prayer for guidance. He does not permit himself to become so weighed down with the demands of materiality that he forgets that the only legitimate demands made on him are to think truly and solidly, to love universally, and to live eternally.
Are we grateful enough for the fresh views of creation which "solid Christian Science" reveals? Let us express true gratitude by being about our Father's business, listening for His voice, and doing good works. Individually we must live and act according to what we as students of Christian Science know to be true. We must demonstrate "solid Christian Science."
