The desire to improve the practice of Christian Science healing, to master the claims of sickness and sin through the Science of Christ, is at the heart of every Christian Scientist's life. Therefore alertness to whatever would claim to retard our progress in this direction is important. Christ Jesus' way of salvation has been made evident in this age through the discovery of Christian Science by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. Through fidelity to the teachings of Christ, Truth, mankind has the opportunity to find the way of salvation.
The wise Christian Scientist never underestimates the healing power brought to a life that accepts the discipline of our Leader's Manual of The Mother Church. Spiritual discipline is that training process which instructs, corrects, molds, and perfects all thought and action, which brings "every thought to the obedience of Christ."II Cor. 10:5. It is living that exemplifies Christ Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
Writing of the vitalizing spiritual power of the Church Manual, Mrs. Eddy explains, "Of this I am sure, that each Rule and By-law in this Manual will increase the spirituality of him who obeys it, invigorate his capacity to heal the sick, to comfort such as mourn, and to awaken the sinner."The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 230. Such achievements are the aim of every active Christian Scientist, and Mrs. Eddy assures us that the desire to do God's work is prayer—prayer that is answered.
Mrs. Eddy considered one provision of the Manual so essential to the prosperity of our Cause and to the success of every student that she provides for its reading on the first Sunday of every month in every Christian Science church. She obviously felt that a student of Christian Science should accept the directions of "A Rule for Motives and Acts,"See Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 1. should acknowledge the truth it states, and should strive actively to demonstrate the standard it upholds. And while the standard may seem humanly daunting, a commitment to this rule quickly reveals that Mind, God, works with us, giving us the victory over evil in proportion to our demonstration of divine Love.
When one neglects or ceases to heed such a provision, and begins to feel the turmoil and mental suffering that such neglect inevitably brings, one is forced to seek relief through Christ, Truth. "Then," as Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, "we begin to learn Life in divine Science."Science and Health, p. 322. "A Rule for Motives and Acts" brings the design of divine Love into every life. It ends conflict and discord. It gives us Christ's great gift of peace.
The following Bible text stands forever: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. . . . And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."I John 4:10, 11, 16.
In the Lord's Prayer, Christ Jesus instructs us to pray, "Deliver us from evil."Matt. 6:13. Such prayer for freedom from evil influences and intentions is greatly needed. It establishes our oneness with God, including His Christ. Then we feel and experience the government of divine Love. It heals the sick and reforms the sinner. It gives enormous impulse to the practice of Christian Science.
This is the first in a series of statements from The Christian Science Board of Directors on the Church Manual. A related editorial can be found on page 36.
