Serving God and Church is service to mankind. The love in one's heart widens affection and aids in establishing peace, love, and good in the world.
After her discovery of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy described the spiritual concept of Church: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." In the next paragraph she speaks of the institution that presents the true idea of Church to the world: "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." Science and Health, p. 583;
This definition of "Church" is a tremendously comforting promise. A better grasp of its meaning will lead us to a more joyful and satisfying existence through a better comprehension of God as divine Truth and Love. Active service in the human organization will provide many opportunities for spiritual growth.
The true concept of Church was always with Christ Jesus. He said, "I am among you as he that serveth."Luke 22:27;His divine sonship, the oneness with his heavenly Father that he continually claimed, and his great humility enabled him to express God's healing power.
More than any other individual, the Master lived—demonstrated—the true idea of Church through unselfed service to mankind. He taught in the synagogue, in private homes, in villages, by the wayside, and even in a fishing boat.
To serve Church in meekness is to humbly serve our heavenly Father. In addition to profound inspiration, serving Church brings commitment and healing. The relationship of God and man is a love that is holy, tender, and pure. As we earnestly endeavor daily to live the essence of God's Church, we discover that this love embraces all mankind.
In the Manual of The Mother Church our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says, "God requires our whole heart, and He supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members." Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 15; When we obey this requirement, our understanding of divine Love and its healing power grows. The writer of Chronicles says of Hezekiah, "In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered." II Chron. 31:21;
Serving expands our outlook, strengthens our love, deepens our insight into our Father-Mother God and man's relationship to Him. As His idea, man reflects God-given qualities such as love, faithfulness, and intelligence.
The law of divine Love, Principle, is supreme and casts out whatever would distract us from the special care for Church we express in participation at church services, committee meetings, lectures. Man, the expression of divine Mind, is ever God-governed, Love-impelled, Principle-directed. The Christ is constantly enabling us to demonstrate this.
To serve God and Church with gratitude is to live with God. From this we learn to work with others who also are expressing their love for Church. There really is nothing remarkable about working together when we all think alike. The proof of one's spiritual growth is whether or not he can work peacefully with those who rightly have differing opinions. Unselfed love provides this corporate unity, for love is the language of true communication. When we carry out our duties on this basis, we see that all God's ideas express the one divine Mind, and we can appreciate one another's reverence for Church.
In its claim to resist willing service, and the growth that serving brings, animal magnetism—the belief of a mind apart from God—would suggest lack of love for Church, limited time, indifference, incapability.
But lethargy can be replaced with true affection, the increased appreciation for Church that teaches so much of God's goodness, and a sincere desire to put Him first. Then we find, through reliance on divine Love, that we are able to demonstrate both our God-given ability to fulfill church commitments and sufficient time to do the work.
We never have to refuse to take a church assignment because we're afraid we might make mistakes. It has been said, "The only one who never makes a mistake is the one who never does anything." If our motive is to do right and we continue our effort to draw closer to Love and to better express Mind, even mistakes can't work against us. The ever-present Christ heals and saves. "For he [God] performeth the thing that is appointed for me," Job 23:14; declares Job.
How essential it is to promptly place in God's hands any work assigned. If somewhere along the way pressure seems to creep in, this might indicate we have taken the responsibility into our hands. We must reaffirm that all is under Love's perfect control, and proceed with greater trust. When we recognize what power does the work—namely, the divine—we know there is no other power to prevent the work from being properly done.
Because there is nothing in God, good, except good, there can be nothing in man, God's expression, but good. This realization enables us to see there is no form of mental resistance that can rob us of the treasures of church activity. On your way home from a committee meeting, have you ever gratefully thought of the work just accomplished as a cherished expression of your love for Church?
Christian Science offers much more than comfort, courage, and healing, wonderful as these things are. The truths utilized in dedicated church support and in daily living bring deep, inner tranquillity—a contentment far beyond selfish satisfaction that might tempt one to withdraw into unproductive solitude. We need this quiet confidence in God to keep thought free from what would hinder the continuous unfolding of His purpose for each of us. If we turn our "whole heart," our full attention, to desiring God's will, out of our obedience we can expect to find the peace that comes from God, Truth, and floods consciousness with eagerness to consistently serve Him. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Goodness never fails to receive its reward, for goodness makes life a blessing. As an active portion of one stupendous whole, goodness identifies man with universal good. Thus may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 165.
As we strive to exemplify our Leader's hope for the members of her church, we may grasp the opportunities at hand for service with fresh inspiration. More faithfully than ever before we can actively express our love for Church—a precious love that grows and grows.
