What does the concept of structure mean to you? A building? A piece of sculpture? The fabric of government? Structure easily brings to mind impressions of steadiness, order, freedom from chaos or instability.
In light of such qualities as these, it is understandable why we may feel a certain strength, durability, security, when we ponder the spiritual nature of Church as Mrs. Eddy defines it: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Science and Health, p. 583. Clearly, she is directing our thought away from some sort of material "thing" to a profoundly spiritual sense of Church.
How natural it is through prayer to underpin our human institution of church with a firm and sturdy sense of this spiritual ideal. The more we understand of this divine idea, the more the activities of our church organization take on a spiritual flavor. But if our perception of structure rests only on this sense of fixedness (indispensable as it is), we need to broaden that perception. Otherwise we miss a vitalizing aspect—one that is essential. Yes, Truth and Love are fixed. They are changeless reality. However, this does not mean they are static or unprogressive. The action of Truth and Love is the very opposite of stagnation. Here is the authentic source of spiritual unfoldment. Truth and Love do have structure; they are timeless, perfect, free of disorder. Yet they are ever active, producing eternal renewal.
When we discern "the structure of Truth and Love" from a mental and spiritual standpoint instead of a material perspective, renewal comes more naturally. We find our church activities not only have stability; increasingly they have a vitality rooted in newness and freshness. Without the broadest recognition of the structure and order of Truth and Love, we may see only their fixed nature; then the door is open for periods of inaction—a stall rather than a forward thrust. If it appears that a church membership is deteriorating, there may well be a need to discern more of the eternal renewal that flows from the idea of divine structure.
Church blesses body
Perhaps it's most natural to apply the spiritual definition of Church, and its implications, to our church organization. And it is essential that we do so. But the definition actually has much wider application. When we think of the structure of Truth and Love in its fullest sense, we're describing the very order and substance of divine reality. This has profound meaning for so many areas of human experience that need healing and regeneration.
Consider the material body. Obviously, at this point in human development, we're unprepared to relinquish this concept. Yet, if we leave the physical structure on its own, fundamental troubles may present themselves. The more we understand of Truth and Love, the freer we are from any intimidation by the body. The Christian Scientist understands the material body to be a manifestation of thought. Because it is, he sees that the answer to any kind of degeneration is regeneration—spiritualized consciousness. It is material consciousness that breaks down; it is Christianized consciousness that has permanence.
If a person is suffering from some kind of deterioration (either physical or moral), one very natural step in approaching the situation might be to strengthen his concept of Church. If we have a love for Church, this means we have a love for the God-given order and fixed nature of reality. It also means we cherish the nature of Truth and Love's eternal renewal. And a very practical effect can come from such an embrace of the divine substance.
An acquaintance, faced with a medically diagnosed degenerative bone condition, looked to Christian Science for healing. Through a better understanding of the purely spiritual essence of Church he was able to walk again. How could a clearer grasp of the nature of Church have a healing effect on such a "physical" condition? Christian Science shows us that a bone condition is actually mental because the body itself is essentially a mental concept. An increased understanding of the constant action of Truth and Love can bring renewal. A growing discernment of this idea of divine structure—this pure and perfect unfolding order—has a transforming effect on our consciousness. And inevitably the body responds to spiritually enlightened thought.
As we consciously increase our embrace of the idea of structure that God, divine Spirit, preserves in His creation, we strengthen both our continuity of being and the constant renewal of our being. Man's genuine identity is purely spiritual. We can be healed because the substance of our true nature is of God. In describing the broad effects of spiritual healing, Mrs. Eddy writes, "Secretions have been changed, the structure has been renewed, shortened limbs have been elongated, ankylosed joints have been made supple, and carious bones have been restored to healthy conditions." Ibid., p. 162.
Broader application
And what about aspects of structure other than the church body or the physical body? People in the United States hear quite a bit nowadays about a deterioration of their country's "infrastructure." This means that its roads, sewers, bridges, and so forth have reached the point where major renewal has become necessary. In some quarters this deterioration has caused quite a bit of alarm.
At first glance it may seem rather far-fetched to think that any of this could have even a remote connection with Church. But the true concept, the spiritual sense, of structure reaches to every part of human experience. And anyone who has a growing appreciation and understanding of Church will be lending his support to solving the problems of a country's infrastructure. An enlarged demonstration of Truth and Love could even have the practical effect of contributing to a more intelligent and wise overall planning of the restoration that is needed, including a high standard of quality in the materials and workmanship involved. There may be specific instances when a penetrating view of the structure of Truth and Love will solve particular challenges in this major task of renovation.
Many people feel there are frightening cracks in the structure of world order. There can be little question that there is a growing urgency for the renewal of global stability. In fact, in every area that includes some aspect of structure, of order and renewal—whether the national or international economy, marriage and the family unit, or even the whole fabric of society with its family of man—more than limited material solutions are needed. It won't be enough just for new roads and bridges to be built; more is needed than stabilizing the structure of human relationships. Restoring bones to soundness through prayer, and filling up church auditoriums are wonderful steps—but they actually are only beginning steps.
The great demand is for a basic transformation of consciousness. Every right and progressive human experience needs to be underpinned by an increasing realization of the fundamental nature of Church; the structure of Truth and Love needs to be recognized in its broadest application to the world we live in. Any deterioration of our sense of structure can signal the need to build up our sense of Church. Nothing can break down the structure of Truth and Love. Christ Jesus said of the Church he revealed, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 16: 18.
Our own growing discernment of the eternal renewal that the structure of Truth and Love brings will greatly bless the various facets of human existence. And finally, as we entirely outgrow the beliefs of life and intelligence in matter, we'll see that the order of all spiritual reality never does deteriorate; it is eternally new, permanently fresh.
