According to Christian Science, Church is an idea of divine Mind and is necessary to the complete expression of this Mind. God, Mind, is perfect, without a single element of imperfection or discord. Otherwise God's kingdom could not stand, for as Christ Jesus points out in Matthew,"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."Matt. 12:25; Therefore, divine Mind, God, being perfect, the divine idea, Church, is perfect. It cannot be divided or destroyed; it will stand forever.
This wholly spiritual concept of Church is defined by Mrs. Eddy in the Glossary of Science and Health as follows: "Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."Science and Health, p. 583; Since everything that really exists must rest upon and proceed from divine Principle, everyone in his true being is eternally at one with, and cannot be apart from, the real Church.
Our Leader continues the definition of "Church" by saying, "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 latter part of the definition shows the manifestation of Church in the human belief of existence. It may be seen that the real Church is no more dependent upon a, human church institution than the real man is dependent upon a material body for existence or for identity and individuality.
