What a privilege and obligation—to belong to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, and to one of its branches!
What does it mean to be a Christian Scientist? Is an individual ready for church membership when he studies the Bible Lesson In the Christian Science Quarterly . every day, attends church services regularly, and refrains from drinking, smoking, and relying on drugs? Does membership in a Church of Christ, Scientist, provide more than a handy place in which to attend services of the religion of our choice and a job on a committee? Is it, in fact, a call to discipleship?
We might ask ourselves what Jesus required of his disciples, and what made them effective church workers after Jesus had ascended, leaving them on their own to preach the gospel. (Think of the way they converted thousands! See Acts 4:4 .) A clue can be found in Luke, chapter 24, where we are told of two disciples who were walking away from Jerusalem after their beloved Master had suffered what must have looked to them like a terrible defeat—crucifixion. As they were journeying, Jesus joined them, although they didn't recognize him at that point. The Bible tells us that Jesus quoted Scripture, enabling them to see that what had happened was not a defeat but a fulfillment of prophecy. Later, he broke bread and gave it to them, and they finally recognized him. What occurred during this encounter must have changed the nature of their commitment—so much so that they left Emmaus and started back to Jerusalem that very night. "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Luke 24:32. Their hearts burned within them! The meaning of Scripture had been opened to them, they had seen their risen Master, and inspiration— deeper insight—impelled them to return immediately to their fellow workers and share the good news.
More of what Jesus required of his disciples is explained earlier in Luke, chapter 9. We see that he expected a commitment beyond any other commitment. In order that one might be an effective disciple, he was required to relinquish anxiety about providing for himself. Jesus' disciples had to trust their welfare to God. The Master goes on to imply that even a longing backward glance to a previous, more-satisfying-to-personal-sense way of living would render one unfit for discipleship. Christ Jesus required more of his followers than a mere interest in the truth he was teaching.
The demands of discipleship should not be taken lightly or ignored. We need to pray to be able to rise above worldly concerns, materialistic goals, and social distractions—to be ready to devote more of our lives to God. How does one reach such a point in his spiritual walk—the point where he is ready for church membership?
The call is to all of us, but it is heard only as one so learns and lives the truths of Christian Science that the previous attractions to a more worldly way of living start to pale. He begins to understand to some degree what it means to walk with God. Healing becomes important, and he begins to experience and effect spiritual healing. He feels the desire to solve his difficulties by spiritual means, and his heart glows with the desire to help others do the same. There is a change in him, and it is sometimes recognizable in his countenance and often in his conversation. Spirituality is what characterizes a true disciple. And spirituality is what opens our church doors to the world.
A fervent love for Truth and confidence in its power enable one to rely radically on Christian Science in a crisis, while a superficial loyalty to a cause cannot stand the test. An individual is ready to become a member of this Church as he understands something of the teachings of Truth and has the spirit of love and commitment demanded of a disciple. The Bible shows us what is necessary for one to be a true follower of Christ Jesus: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance explains the word "grace," as it was used in the Greek language, as "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life." James Strong, "Dictionary of the Greek Testament," The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1890), p. 77, no. 5485.
While the understanding of Truth is certainly necessary for church membership, doesn't effective membership—effective discipleship—require the divine influence on one's heart and its obvious reflection in one's life? Mrs. Eddy's words could be a summary of the requirements: "We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love,—casting out error and healing the sick." Science and Health, p. 35.
There are those who are ripe—perhaps more than ripe—for the step of church membership. Yet there may be occasions when an individual needs more time and spiritual growth to feel the commitment to discipleship. A Christian Scientist I know spent several years attending church services regularly, studying assiduously, before applying for church membership. She applied when she realized that living the truth and sharing it meant more to her than anything else in her life. The executive board of the branch church she applied to recognized her dedication and accepted her for membership. Unless one's study and application of Truth are producing a heart aflame with the desire to demonstrate and share this way of life with others, he may still be reaching for discipleship.
Jesus' profound yearning to help humanity out of its needless suffering moved him to lament over Jerusalem. See Matt. 23:37 . Will any lesser yearning accomplish for our world what needs to be accomplished? What does it truly mean to be a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist? The effectiveness of our Church greatly depends on how deeply our hearts burn within us.
