In today's world, where one hears of heart disease, organized crime, increasing divorce rates, drug addiction, campus violence, and myriad other problems, is there receptivity to spiritual truths? Is the Christ, Truth, having an effect on the world's troubled thought? Will the Science of Christ continue to have an effect in the years to come?
The answer to all three questions is a resounding Yes. To study the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy is to find the sweet assurance that the divine influence of God is continually at work in human consciousness. There is receptivity in the world today to the law of God.
If we look at the past century of Christian Science in the perspective of the previous thirty-five hundred years, we perhaps can appreciate more fully the leavening effect of Truth today. From the time of Moses, about a millennium and a half before Christ Jesus, the truth behind the Ten Commandments gradually elevated human thought in preparing it for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus performed marvelous healing works, but even his immediate followers were not then prepared to bear all that he could have said to them. After Jesus' time, spiritual healing continued for a period in areas around the Mediterranean. Then it was practically lost for many centuries.
In 1866, Mrs. Eddy, in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, discovered Christian Science. And in the past one hundred years spiritual healing has spread to at least six continents.
If spiritual healing is not to be again almost lost, it is vitally important what each church member does in the next twenty-four hours—and in the twenty-four hours after that—and in the twenty-four hours after that. In the words of a hymn,
What can we do to hasten the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with
the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea? Christian Science Hymnal, No. 82;
For one thing, we can be obedient to Mrs. Eddy's provision in the Manual of The Mother Church: "Christian Scientists shall not report for publication the number of the members of The Mother Church, nor that of the branch churches. According to the Scripture they shall turn away from personality and numbering the people."Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 28;
To be always anxiously concerned with how many are present at church services, is to numb thought to the good already present. To believe in and fear lack of receptivity on the part of others may paralyze our own receptivity. As we turn away from the material problem of declining membership and drink deeply at the fountain of spiritual understanding until thirst is quenched, we find healing, growth, progress, activity, for ourselves and our church. To stop being mesmerized by numbers and awake to spiritual facts means to see and accept ever-present spiritual activity as the reality of the one true Church and thereby see this spiritual activity expressed in a more active human institution.
"What can we do to hasten the time . . .?"
We can be more obedient to Mrs. Eddy's Manual provision: "Healing the sick and the sinner with Truth demonstrates what we affirm of Christian Science, and nothing can substitute this demonstration. I recommend that each member of this Church shall strive to demonstrate by his or her practice, that Christian Science heals the sick quickly and wholly, thus proving this Science to be all that we claim for it." Art. XXX, Sect. 7;
The real question to be faced and answered is not, What is the world doing about Christian Science? The important question for the individual is, What am I doing with Christian Science? What more do I need to do to live up to what Mrs. Eddy expected of her followers? The salvation of the individual does not wait on the salvation of the world.
In finding the dynamic potential of this religion for our own spiritual progress we find receptivity in our neighbors. To demonstrate spiritual healing scientifically is a sure way to make others eager to learn about it. Our attainment of peace leads others to want to know why we are happy. Eagerly studying Christian Science and imbibing its spirit, we find those who want to know what we're learning; and if we are willing to share our newly gained understanding unselfishly, others will be receptive to what we have to say. Making full use of all the channels Mrs. Eddy has provided whereby to reach humanity with Christian Science results in the world becoming more receptive to her discovery.
"What can we do to hasten the time . . .?"
We can be obedient to Mrs. Eddy's words: "Judge not the future advancement of Christian Science by the steps already taken, lest you yourself be condemned for failing to take the first step."Science and Health, p. 459; Disobedience separates us from growth and progress. Weeping over progress that should have been made but wasn't slows down or perhaps stops present progress.
To cry over lost opportunities, whether our own or others', is to miss present opportunities. Lamenting what might have been prevents what can be, and crying over any apparent unreceptivity to Christian Science in the world today, only delays our responding to the plea for help right now. If we are to survive error's hatred of Truth, we cannot excuse our own "failing to take the first step." We cannot blame the increasing materialism and opposition of worldly thought for our own failure to demonstrate Christian Science more consistently or for the failure of an individual branch church to grow.
"What can we do to hasten the time . . .?"
Our part in bringing into focus the receptivity of unprejudiced minds is to realize the unreality and powerlessness of animal magnetism. Static on the airwaves hinders clear reception of the message. Elimination of the static clarifies reception. Elimination of animal magnetism's influence clears mankind's perception. To work actively to refute animal magnetism's mesmeric lie that Christian Science does not heal is to enhance the present receptivity to spirituality. Our diligent work to destroy mortal mind's hypnotic lie that Christian Scientists cannot rise to the challenge of the times will attract the unbiased newcomer to our church services.
Animal magnetism comes disguised in many ways. One is the attempt to adulterate Christian Science with medicine. Another is failure to acknowledge Mrs. Eddy as our Leader and the Manual as our guide. To maintain the purity of our religion, to recognize Mrs. Eddy as coming in fulfillment of Scriptural prophecy, to obey every Manual provision, is to be receptive and, consequently, to see receptivity in others.
Animal magnetism comes disguised in still another way, as fear—for example, the fear that if we introduce Christian Science to someone, he may ask us questions we cannot answer. This fear can be eliminated by realizing that, in reality, as Mind's expression, we can know all we need to know. We don't need to know everything about how Christian Science works. If we know and prove that it does work, and willingly share it, we will experience receptivity to Christian Science in the world today.
Jesus said, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35.
