If one learns that the sun is the center around which revolve the planets of the solar system, including our earth, he can say to himself, "Isn't that interesting" and go about his business as though he had never heard it. But if one learns that his very substance is Spirit, not matter, he either devotes his life to living the nature of Spirit or he denies what he has learned.
Christian Science points out that Christ Jesus' works illustrated that our true substance is Spirit. He proved the allness and goodness of divine Love and the nothingness of hate, and he showed Love and Spirit to be one, and material belief and hate one. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Let men think they had killed the body! Afterwards he would show it to them unchanged." Science and Health, p. 42; And in her explanation of the Science Jesus taught she gives us "the scientific statement of being," which begins with these words: "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all."p. 468;
One does not serve the truth of being as he serves a business or fraternal organization or a social system. If one believes it, he lives it as he breathes air knowing that it is air. One who accepts Christian Science as the revelation of Truth should not need to be told that it is his duty to give so many hours a day to the study and practice of his religion. What one actually believes true one practices every waking hour. What else is there to practice? If one actually believes matter has no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance, what is there to strive for but to master the belief that it has and to demonstrate that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation"?
In Jesus' parable of the great supper, all who were invited "with one consent began to make excuse."Luke 14:18; Christian Science bids each of us to accept and enjoy life in Truth. Like the invitation in the parable, it says, "Come; for all things are now ready." In Mrs. Eddy's words: "Truth is revealed. It needs only to be practised."Science and Health, p. 174; Practitioners are needed who will give their lives to the work of healing the sick, who will put all else aside and answer calls selflessly twenty-four hours a day.
We may insist that we must work up to these things gradually. And it is true that we must not go beyond what we understand. But do we not already understand enough of spiritual reality to put off many of the traits which proclaim a belief in matter and material self—traits such as selfishness, self-righteousness, pride, the craving to be above others, the tendency to lean on others, and so on? These are facets of belief in material selfhood from which we cannot emerge too soon.
One can attempt to practice what one does not actually believe and get himself into trouble in the process, as Peter did when he tried to walk on the water. But to profess belief in the allness of Spirit and the nothingness of matter and still pursue material goals at the expense of spiritual progress is to lack integrity, or at best to deceive oneself.
Ask yourself whether you have thought of yourself as eventually serving God and mankind as a public practitioner of Christian Science. Do you respond with a positive affirmation or do you give an excuse for not being able to come to the supper?
Some have families to care for, some have business commitments which would hold them for a number of years; some insist they would, of course, consider it an honor if led to go into the practice but do not feel worthy. Many will be happy to enter this work when all human obligations have been taken care of. But how many find that the practice of Christian Science is their very life and that they are now working as rapidly as they can toward making it their primary occupation?
Actually all practice of Christian Science is public, in a sense. The truth one lives shows in all he does. If one thinks of himself first as a practitioner, and if he believes that his Life is Spirit, not matter, and that his Mind is Love, not a mortal self, he will share the truth he practices with all mankind. There is no other course to take. And taking it with integrity will make one a better parent, a better businessman, a better artist, a better artisan. And it will lead many to find that their major skill is the ability to heal the sick.
If we really believe in the truths of our religion, we shall not ask ourselves, "What would I like to do? Where would I like to go?" We shall ask rather, as Jesus did when he prayed in Gethsemane, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."Matt. 26:42. One who knows how to heal the sick has a moral obligation to make himself available for this all-essential work. If we have an egotistical sense of glory about being a healer, this will rob us of the support of divine Love. We gain this support as we see instead the spiritual glory of facing the world's hatred, the so-called force of material belief, and of giving all willingly for the victory of Truth.
The truth Jesus manifested and Mrs. Eddy revealed is true. If we believe it, can we do less than dedicate ourselves to its practice?
