The challenge of church activity is a spiritual one. Mary Baker Eddy defines "Church" on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in two parts. The first part reads, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This relates to the true, spiritual Church, everywhere present. The second part states, "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."
This second part deals with the human organization and its purpose to bring to mankind the blessing of the undivided garment, the understanding of God and man, through which healing and salvation are demonstrated. Our Leader's discovery and founding of Christian Science have revealed to the world the meaning of Church in its completeness.
The human activity relating to Church is essential to the student in his practice of Christian Science. This practice involves adherence to a basic concept of this Science, love for God and man. The Church of Christ, Scientist, provides the student with the indispensable avenue for fulfillment of the command to love God and also to love man. The member of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, must see not only that his love of man is nourished, but that it is expressed as a living desire to bless others by sharing the truth.
The church member should not allow the intrusion of suggestions of apathy or personal interests to deter him in his zeal to present Christian Science to the community in the most practical and up-to-date manner. In his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul wrote (14:12), "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."
In Article VIII, Section 14, of the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy directs that the Christian Science periodicals, which are the organs of The Mother Church, should be kept abreast of the times. It is also essential that the methods of presenting Science to the community through the varied activities of the branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, should be abreast of the times, for all are in different ways concerned with spreading the truths of God and man.
True activity is spiritual and joyous; it is the continuous, conscious reflection of God's qualities, of the intelligence of infinite Mind, the freedom of divine Life, the warmth of divine Love. In every phase of his activity the consecrated church worker must preface his actions by knowing the truth of each situation. He must recognize that as God's image and likeness he does indeed reflect God's qualities; and that when brought to bear on the particular problem or duty, these qualities ensure that the healing purpose of the work will be fulfilled in God's way.
In her book "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 234), "In love for man, we gain a true sense of Love as God; and in no other way can we reach this spiritual sense, and rise—and still rise—to things most essential and divine." We must look outward in our love for man and forsake any limited conception of the scope and purpose of the branch church in which we serve.
When we understand the truth of God's loving government of all and are willing to be guided aright in each successive footstep, we are then assured that the Word of God cannot return to us void, but will accomplish God's purpose. With this in thought, the Readers in each Church of Christ, Scientist, will not be content to regard the services as mere routine, but will recognize that the process of reading will evidence the joyous expression of God's Word through His reflection, man.
In a Christian Science Reading Room the librarian, in varying the display in the window, will be guided by the reflected intelligence of divine Mind. He will be conscious that God, Love, is the only attraction, that those waiting and ready for the message displayed will receive it, and that the God-given message cannot fail in its healing mission. With this approach the window display will be orderly. It will appear fresh, clear, and inviting to the uninitiated but interested passer-by. And when the worker on the literature distribution committee delivers literature, he must be aware in each instance that he is truly carrying a message certain of fulfillment, a spiritual message that cannot fail or be frustrated in its mission, for it is a message of Truth, supported by God's infinite power.
The challenge of all church activity is in this inspired, spiritual approach, linked with the essential human footsteps. Christian Science must be presented to the stranger with freshness and simplicity. Then the fruitage will surely appear, and "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14). When all church activities are impelled by the true, spiritual motive, love for God and man, obstacles to progress such as the perpetuation of conditions which are barriers to effective service to the community will be removed. A simple illustration of such a barrier is a Reading Room display which does not adequately fulfill its mission because the display window is not clearly visible to the passer-by.
Love demands that every service to the community which is consistent with the unfolding progress of the church shall reach the unprejudiced minds. The healing power of each church activity should not be lessened by a sense of self-satisfaction or by a routine performance of any duty. The community has to be embraced in our love, and this reaching outwards wins sure reward. The progress of the church reflects the thinking of its membership. Surely we do not wish to deserve the reproof given to the church of the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:15), "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Farther on is the admonition, "Be zealous therefore, and repent." Rather would we merit this commendation awarded the church in Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love (verse 8): "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it."
Each member must express the reflected animation of divine Love in his zealous desire to bless the community, thus fulfilling the mission envisaged by our Leader. In Psalms we read (68:11), "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it." In order that we may meet the challenge of these times, it is imperative that the church members of today should be imbued with the spirit of zeal befitting them as pioneers of Christian Science, with a deep and living desire to bless mankind. This zeal is born of gratitude for the true understanding of God and man, with its healing power, which our Leader's discovery has given us.
We are still pioneering, and to meet the challenge, we must entertain no suggestion of withholding or of limiting the outpouring of blessings. We must recognize that the power to share good is God-given and that nothing can vitiate it. In serving the community, the individual church member loves man by seeing all in the community in their real status as perfect ideas of God. To the degree that this spiritual work is patiently and faithfully performed by the church membership is the attraction of Truth and Love made manifest in human experience and the progress of the church assured.
Our Leader writes in Science and Health (p. 454): "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must 'have her perfect work.'" Here is the infallible means for meeting the challenge of church activity.
