Many people who read the Lesson SermonIn the Christian Science Quarterly. and Christian Science literature regularly, who feel they love this teaching and depend on it for healing, don't go to church. Work schedules, family responsibilities, entertainment, and sports keep some people away. Distance from a church or society can be another deterrent. Alienation from church, caused by hurt feelings or disappointment, or the current trend away from organized religion keeps others away. Then there are those who don't want to be publicly identified with Christian Science.
Certainly the essence of our religion is the individual's living of his relationship to God—daily drawing closer to Him through prayer, study of the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy, and demonstration of the power of God in healing. But coming together to worship is a valuable part of Christianity. Christ Jesus declared, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18:20.
Behind whatever reason we may have for not attending our church services is the world's resistance to the Science that teaches the allness of God, good, and the nothingness of matter and mortal mind. Obviously, mortal mind has much to lose when our services fulfill their purpose. So we shouldn't be surprised at resistance that would keep these services from being holy, healing occasions. This resistance is not somebody, or some place, or some thing, but impersonal evil that would make absentees out of those receptive to Christian Science.
