When Christ Jesus' disciples asked him to explain his parable of the tares of the field, he said to them that "the field is the world."Matt. 13:38; It is possible the statement startled them. Jesus worked constantly to enlarge his followers' restricted view of the universal promise of the Christ. He said, "I am the light of the world."John 8:12; He knew that the disciples' concept of the vast possibilities in their role of sharing this light with all men must be stirred and awakened.
The Church Center building project challenges Christian Scientists to enlarge their concept of the mission and the place of Christian Science in today's world. The new buildings of the Church Center project at The Mother Church will represent expanded activities and increased outreach to the world. But it is clear that the progress of Christian Science in its second century is directly linked to the demonstration by every church member of much more of this unselfish and universal outreach of Christ, Truth.
Mary Baker Eddy did not confine her definition of Church to an absolute statement of metaphysics. She included in her definition a call to action in human experience. Christian Scientists were not to be lulled into comfortable abstract theorizing about her definition of "Church" as, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."Science and Health, p. 583; For she added: "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."
