The question is often asked, "What are the qualifications for a practitioner of Christian Science?" and in trying to answer this question it may be well to define the term Christian Science. No one can do this as clearly as has Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and its pioneer practitioner.
In "Rudimental Divine Science," in answer to the question "How would you define Christian Science?" she says, "As the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." In Science and Health she writes: "The term Science, properly understood, refers only to the laws of God and to His government of the universe, inclusive of man." "The term Christian Science relates especially to Science as applied to humanity" (pp. 128, 127). Again, in "Retrospection and Introspection," we read: "I named it Christian, because it is compassionate, helpful, and spiritual" (p. 25). From all this it will be seen that the requirements for practising this Science are not superficial. They must reach to the depths of one's nature and exact the final destruction of all that is not Christian, not based on divine Principle.
The first necessity is honesty, absolute integrity of thought. A certain frankness in surface relations with others is considered honesty by many. Such persons may not consciously cheat, lie, nor steal, yet they constantly deceive themselves regarding their motives and desires. Selfishness largely actuates their acts of supposed kindness and charity. This being the case, there is need for each one to obey the terse injunction of the old Greek, "Know thyself!" There are two ways in which one must know himself. He must be able to recognize his faults, weaknesses, and sins. He must also comprehend in some degree the actuality of his true being as the perfect expression of divine Mind, God's own image and likeness. This knowledge of himself enables one to overcome human weaknesses and manifest in their stead the qualities of God.
The right motive for the practice of Christian Science is the establishment of God's kingdom, here and now, through the elimination of all evil in our consciousness. One must intelligently study the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in order to form a concept of Life from the standpoint of Spirit. The spiritual concept of Life and man is the basis of true healing. One learns from Mrs. Eddy's teachings that the process of Christian Science practice is moral and spiritual, not coldly intellectual and formal. This is the point not grasped by some philosophers who criticize Christian Science. In their pursuit of a philosophy based on the human mind, they have overlooked the fact that there is a spiritual philosophy which transcends the human mind and can be grasped only as the human mind becomes meek and exchanges its limitations for the boundless unfoldments of Spirit.
The practitioner must prove by his work that Christian Science is not personal magnetism. He must guard against fear, self-will, self-seeking, and conceit, for these prevent progress. Worldly success and high-sounding talk do not bear witness to a real Christian Science practitioner, neither do mock humility and puritanical pretense. The witness to real success is healing—disease banished, grief assuaged, discordant homes made happy, and sin overcome. In the serene activities of good and in the eradication of every thought of self-aggrandizement, the Christian Science practitioner gains dominion over human beliefs.
Broad-minded compassion and much patience are needed to deal rightly with the sick and sinning. Each day one needs to seek a deeper insight into the ways and means of Spirit. He should expect and be content with nothing less than a manifest and continuous growth in the understanding of God, as shown by the ability to apply this understanding to the problems of daily living. The inspiration of today will not serve for tomorrow, unless it is increased and deepened. It is well to take time for self-examination and self-correction. The ignorance of the human mind is not overcome by ignoring it, but by acquiring knowledge of the divine Mind.
One may well ask, Have all who are practitioners of Christian Science attained to these requirements? The answer is, No; but all who have consecrated their lives to this great work daily "press toward the mark," and keep their model, Christ Jesus, always before them. The more they learn of Spirit, the less they lean toward materiality, and so the way grows less complex. They do not forget that they have much to overcome in themselves, and that unceasing watchfulness is the price of liberty.
