A friend of mine who had been a student of Christian Science for several years was discussing the subject of class instruction. She quoted the Bible verse, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." Prov. 9:9. She also mentioned having read in the Manual of The Mother Church by our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, that one of the requirements for a member of The Mother Church is the following: "The Bible, together with Science and Health and other works by Mrs. Eddy, shall be his only textbooks for self-instruction in Christian Science, and for teaching and practising metaphysical healing." Man., Art. IV, Sect. 1. My friend then wondered: "If I have all this self-instruction, what about class instruction? Do I need that too?"
It's not unusual for questions to arise when one is seriously assessing his spiritual progress and contemplating a forward step. If the question is just a progress-stopper, however, it needs to be seen for the deceiver it is and handled.
In the familiar biblical allegory of Adam and Eve, we see the way the talking serpent controlled Eve by deliberately distorting the message she had heard from God. If a Christian Scientist should find himself or herself entertaining suggestions of reluctance or resistance to the opportunity of having class instruction in Christian Science, this may be a time to pray more earnestly, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts." Ps. 139:23. Resistance to good does not originate in man; and Mind, God, certainly never causes it.
