The term "church" is derived from a Greek expression meaning "the Lord's house." Think of the connotation of those words, "the Lord's house." Not your house or my house, but "the Lord's house." Not your church or my church, but God's Church. When we acknowledge it to be what Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, calls "the structure of Truth and Love"Science and Health, p. 583; in her definition of "Church" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, we will be careful what we think about it. We will not think of it in human terms, as a material edifice or an organization of human personalities banded together for the sake of convenience. It is something far more than this. It is a divine idea in Mind, represented humanly as an institution designed to bring the divine idea to mankind.
Mary perceived the divine idea, or Christ, and brought forth the human Jesus as its highest earthly expression. Mrs. Eddy perceived the divine idea of Church and brought forth the Church of Christ, Scientist, as its highest earthly expression. Just as the human Jesus could not be separated from the divine nature of Christ, so The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branches cannot be separated from the divine idea of Church. They may go through difficulties, as Christ Jesus went through difficulties, but the divine idea of Church that they represent will sustain and preserve them.
Jesus himself, speaking of the church he founded, said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."Matt. 16:18; With what complete confidence, then, we can support the Church of Christ, Scientist, in any situation and realize that it can never be overthrown. Why? Because it is identified with the divine idea of Church that coexists with God, the divine Mind, in which this divine idea exists.
