A Protestant minister who is a friend of mine wanted to know more about Christian Science and its emphasis on spiritual healing, so he joined me in attending a midweek service at a nearby Church of Christ, Scientist. That night several people gave remarkable testimonies of healing, but afterward my friend was mainly interested in talking about certain changes for the better that were told about, which, he felt, "might well have happened by themselves."
What my friend basically wanted to know was, Given the serious problems facing people these days, is it right for Christian Scientists to pray about minor, personal concerns—such as a lingering cold or a lost purse—especially when it is easy for others to argue that God may not have had anything to do with the results? Are the prayers of Christian Scientists primarily focused on having things go smoothly?
These were fair questions.
