Sometimes it is suggested in a Church of Christ, Scientist, that membership should be open to anyone who chooses to affiliate himself with Science, and that if such a one is engulfed in sin of some kind, he can overcome it after he becomes a member.
The question members need to ask is: What is the purpose of this church? What do we expect it to accomplish? If the purpose is only to please its members, and if the members expect only to encourage one another in their efforts to heal their own ills, the requirements for membership are largely a matter of compatibility. But if the purpose is to bring to the community the truth that demonstrates the nothingness of matter and the allness of Spirit, each member should be capable of defending himself and of doing his part in defense of the church as it meets opposition to its work.
Any attempt to expose as false the belief in matter as the basis and substance of life will meet with opposition, and the more effective the awakening activity, the more formidable the opposition. Of course, opposition to God, divine Truth, is really nothingness; but the behavior of the mob at Christ Jesus' trial and crucifixion illustrates vividly the show false belief puts on before it yields to Truth.
