"True church elections are Christian Science demonstrations. Through humility each member prayerfully seeks the divine will. Our Christly willingness to serve allows the government of God to operate in church." So began a letter announcing a branch church business meeting. The letter ended this way: "Mrs. Eddy comfortingly assures: 'It is safe to leave with God the government of man. He appoints and He anoints His Truth-bearers, and God is their sure defense and refuge.'"Retrospection and Introspection, pp. 90—91; This spiritual insight culminated in a decisive election.
When Christ, Truth, reveals God's government and its operative law of harmony, Truth exposes and destroys the errors preventing the realization of His government on earth. Then deep mental purgation occurs at election time. As we metaphysically rise above personal sense and human will to obedience to the divine will, human reason is refined and motives enriched and purified. Church elections, approached prayerfully, are an example of healing in human government. We are then better equipped to face local and national elections in the healing light of proving God's government supreme on earth as in heaven.
Christianity and democracy are complementary means of solving humanity's problems. Both are committed to the dignity and worth of the individual. Both depend on the individual's willingness to serve and the collective expression of intelligence in elections. Democracy improves as individuals improve. Individuals improve as their understanding of God improves; this is Christianity's work. Christianity allows democracy to operate most efficiently, for to be truly self-governed is to be God-governed. In this light true democracy may be considered the effect of applied Christianity in the field of government. Here each individual has a double duty in Christ—to improve himself while simultaneously improving society. Each branch Church of Christ, Scientist, should strive to be a model of Christianity and democracy in action. This takes a willingness to serve.
