The mission of Christ Jesus, climaxed by his resurrection and his ascension above materiality, was the good news of the first century of the Christian era. It was told and retold by apostle and disciple. Churches began to be established whose members healed the sick and raised the dead.
A number of these churches arose in Asia Minor, where Paul's early missionary travels were so effective. The beloved disciple John likewise had a part in contributing to the spirituality which characterized these early Christian churches. In the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation appear the messages that he sent to the churches in Asia Minor, messages which are applicable today as Christian Science churches, whose members likewise practice Christian healing, spring up in many parts of the world.
The verse, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," appears in each of these messages. Mrs. Eddy's definition of "ears" reads, "Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses, but spiritual understanding" (Science and Health, p. 585). The messages in the Book of Revelation are, therefore, addressed to all in every age who have any degree of spiritual understanding.
Something of the spiritual understanding that John himself possessed is shown in the expression of divine Love that prevails in these messages. Wherever possible the Revelator pointed out the good in the churches and uncovered the evil only that it might be healed.
In writing to the church at Ephesus, he first referred to their works, patience, and abhorrence of evil. "Nevertheless," he tenderly wrote, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Possibly John discerned that the members had begun to depart from the Christ, or true idea of God, that had first inspired them and had proved so practical in healing.
The church member of today might ask himself, "Am I remembering my first love, divine Love itself?" He might also ask, "Am I, through words and works, expressing love to those who seem to have departed from the pure Christianity revealed in Christian Science?" In reality no one has ever left the Father; there are no prodigals among the sons and daughters of God. To the degree that we understand this, we rise to the consciousness of divine Love, which John exemplified in his tender, healing messages, and we thus return to our first love.
To the Christians at Smyrna, John expressed his sympathetic understanding for the poverty they had endured but, he also assures them, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." If a Christian Science church is today struggling with poverty, let the members recall and obey this command; then the reward it promises will be theirs. Their individual faithfulness to the teachings of Science will be manifested in abundant supply for right activities, among them more generous contributions to the finances of their church.
At Pergamos there were some whose lives did not conform to strict morality; and John wrote that repentance was essential. In Mrs. Eddy's first address in The Mother Church, she stated (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 109), "Watch and pray for self-knowledge; since then, and thus, cometh repentance,—and your superiority to a delusion is won." Repentance is more than regret because of suffering. As taught in Christian Science, repentance involves beholding the complete powerlessness of wrong thoughts and actions to accomplish good or evil for ourselves or for others. And it leads on to the consciousness and demonstration of good as the only reality, good that belongs to man in God's image and likeness.
The next message of John, which was given to the church at Thyatira, urged the necessity of holding fast to the Christ rather than to person. We as church members should individually hold fast to the Christ, Truth, and claim man's God-given government rather than look to some well-thought-of church member for guidance. A human being may err, but God never does, and one who is governed by God abides in the light that reveals the right way to everything good, guides in bringing a right decision, and leads to successful fulfillment.
Today Christian Science offers the opportunity to help others through healing and encouragement. At Sardis there were those who should have been strong enough to do this but were not; and so John rebuked them for their lack of works. Let us not warrant this rebuke. Whenever we serve, whether as usher, Reading Room librarian, Sunday School teacher, or in any other church activity, let us remember that we are serving to glorify God and thereby meet someone's need for love and healing.
In her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, Mrs. Eddy mentions John's messages to the churches and says, "Note his inspired rebuke to all the churches except the church in Philadelphia—the name whereof signifies 'brotherly love'" (p. 14). If our activities are to contribute to making our branch church a church of brotherly love, we must endeavor to abide by Principle, divine Love, in all that pertains to church work. As we do so, we shall receive the blessing extended to the church at Philadelphia, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan ... to know that I have loved thee."
John's call to activity to the Laodiceans is an awakening one to us also. He said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Our only worthy dedication to God is in complete allegiance. We cannot show this in a halfhearted application of spiritual truths to daily problems. We cannot be mildly active and still demonstrate Life; we cannot be indifferently friendly and still prove Love; nor can we be shallow in our belief in the truth and at the same time show forth clearly the nature of Mind.
Today the light of spiritual understanding is cast upon the Scriptures, which include John's messages to the churches in Asia Minor, making them vital and practical. The individual church member of today may well ask himself: Am I discerning and loving the spiritual qualities of God when I vote at church elections for individuals to fill church positions? Am I listening earnestly, humbly, and lovingly to what Spirit, God, says to me regarding my branch church? Do I consistently turn to God and listen to His voice instead of to the voice of person?
Such questioning in relation to the points that the Revelator brings out in his messages will reveal ways in which all of us may improve. "What the Spirit saith unto the churches" shows the qualities exemplified in John's messages, namely purity, faithfulness, consistency of word and work, diligent steadfastness, love, and consecrated activity. As we listen to "the Spirit," we shall manifest these qualities and see them in others who are striving as we are to do God's will in connection with branch church activity. Church is then clearly seen not as a structure of wood, stone, or other material elements, but as that which is built upon Principle.
