In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy defines "Church" in its absolute sense as, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (p. 583). As "the structure of Truth" Church embodies all health and perfect being, and as the structure of "Love" it embodies all harmony and absolute good. Since Church is based upon divine Principle, it is governed by perfect law.
The human institution of church is the manifestation of the unfoldment of spiritual truths to human consciousness. Mrs. Eddy says in the same definition, "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."
Only in the degree that spiritually scientific truths are unfolding in the thoughts and experience of church members individually and collectively is a Church of Christ, Scientist, strong, active, and well supplied. The supply of a branch church, then, will be in the exact ratio to the membership's turning to God, Spirit, consciously and intelligently in understanding and practice, not in blind faith. Turning to a material source for supply is like going to a broken cistern for water, as Jeremiah put it; but turning to Spirit is turning to the infinite source of all good, which never fails.
