The early Christian Church was a powerful force—so powerful that it literally changed the course of human history. Certainly the pundits and social observers of the first century a.d. in the Roman Empire may not have recognized the real significance or eventual range of such a small group's influence, but something truly remarkable was taking place nonetheless. And the good the young Church was accomplishing was directly proportionate to its healing work.
The Christian Church was in fact founded on spiritual healing, and to remain true to its calling today would demand that the Church continue to heal in the way Jesus taught. In the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing." Science and Health, p. 136 And when the Saviour was directing his disciples in their healing work, he clearly commanded them, "Go ye into all the world . . . ." Mark 16:15
But perhaps that call "Go ye into all the world" has been among the most difficult to comprehend in its full implications—and to obey. Wouldn't it require of Christians an almost constant reassessment of priorities, a genuine willingness to go to the world where it is, even while remaining separate from worldly mindedness?
Mrs. Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, to follow in the way of Christ Jesus—to bring healing and redemption to the whole human family. Clearly, Mrs. Eddy would never have intended her Church to become one day some sort of museum for housing what the world might consider to be quaint relics of Victorian idealism or a few venerable antiques of pious optimism from the late nineteenth century. Rather, everything our Leader has to say about Church—and everything she did in directing her Church—points to a kind of spiritual dynamism, a spontaneity, a newborn energy, vitality, and ongoing life. What Mrs. Eddy established was, and must continue to be, a truly vigorous, living mission—a mission to share the healing gospel of Christ with mankind.
Yet the human mind, which isn't always prepared to move ahead, may not feel entirely comfortable with a church that is actively trying to minister to all the people of the world. But aren't the people of the world—including the sick, the suffering, the sin-burdened— those for whom the Church was actually and always intended? And perhaps we shouldn't really expect that we're supposed to be entirely comfortable as our Church moves out among mankind to heal and to save. Perhaps hoping to feel "comfortable" with such a ministry may actually be missing the point and could even be debilitating, both to church progress and to one's own spiritual development.
When one's thought only remains at ease with the status quo, with mere tradition, with outworn modes and means, it is in danger of becoming atrophied and worn-out itself from lack of inspired use. But freshness, newness, originality, are all part of the individual consciousness that is imbued with Christ, Truth. And these same qualities are also an essential part of the Church that is imbued with Christ, Truth.
Would this mean, however, that all the work and activities that have come before in the history of a church are unimportant or unnecessary, not to be appreciated, not to be heeded? Far from it. There's a wealth of practical wisdom to be gained from the history, the combined experience over the years, of a religious movement.
In the past hundred years of the Church of Christ, Scientist, there has been much inspired guidance and direction. We learn many valuable lessons from understanding what has gone before us and what has been accomplished at great cost to our Leader and to all the dedicated workers of an earlier time. Even so, no institution hoping to accomplish its purpose, especially a universal healing and saving purpose, could possibly live in the past without facing the very real possibility of extinction.
So how does one manage to put together these two elements: first, a sincere appreciation for and commitment to the fundamental, spiritually demonstrated means of church work established by our Leader; and second, a spiritually impelled alertness and readiness for keeping, as Mrs. Eddy calls it, "abreast of the times"? Manual of The Mother Church, Art. VIII, Sect. 14
Part of the answer has to do with developing the discernment to see the relationship between the essential spiritual substance of what our Church is and the most practical means of the day for doing what our Church is supposed to do. We need to understand clearly the underlying spiritual causation, or divine power, that impels what our Church is really all about—and, again, our Church must always be about healing. The divine impelling, the permanent spiritual foundation, is what gives us the capacity to be a Church, and to act like one. It's what gives the Church the capacity to survive and move forward, even in the midst of a largely materialistic, self-interested, and self-consumed society. This spiritual foundation is the Church's unity with Christ—that which the Bible tells us is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Heb. 13:8 The spiritual foundation, the basic purpose of elevating and healing humanity, can never and must never change.
Everything Mary Baker Eddy
has to say about Church—
and everything she did
in directing her Church—
points to a kind of spiritual
dynamism, a spontaneity,
a newborn energy, vitality,
and ongoing life.
But what about the practical means for accomplishing this purpose? Wouldn't some of those, of necessity, be required to change as the times themselves change?
To keep "abreast of the times" one needs to understand the timeless nature of spiritual truth in its immediate application to presentday concerns. In many ways, people's individual needs are much the same as they always have been—the challenges of grief, loneliness, sickness, poverty, hopelessness, sin, are not much different in the late twentieth century than in the late nineteenth century. And yet, as much as those things remain the same, so too is there a whole new array of challenges—radioactive waste; chemical and biological warfare; massive oil spills in the world's oceans; the demand to feed, clothe, and shelter a global population of more than five billion; depletion of the ozone layer; acid rain; widespread destruction of the earth's vital rain forests; soaring inflation and unprecedented national debt levels.
These things can sometimes seem just too big even to think about, much less do anything about. But can a church have something to say about such large-scale issues? Can the Church of Christ, Scientist, offer anything toward solving the world-size problems as well as the "close to home" variety?
The Science of Christ does show the way to healing throughout the whole range of human experience, but keeping "abreast of the times" isn't a simple matter. Still, that is what this Church is honestly striving to do—and is doing. And as this happens, through the action and spirit of Christ, people intuitively sense it. They respond to it. They feel something of the warmth of divine Love. They catch something of the light of divine Truth as it applies to their lives today. And there is healing.
It will continue to be essential that the communication of what Christian Science is and of what it offers humanity find the broadest, most effective avenues possible. We must go forward to meet and embrace all of humankind. We cannot live only for a select part of humanity, because soon that would get reduced to living only for those closest to us and finally perhaps, to living only for oneself. Again, the Master's command: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." And, "Heal the sick."
This is what the Church of Christ, Scientist, is about. And this is why it must continue to be always "new," always healing.
