One of the greatest gifts Mary Baker Eddy has given to humanity is a better understanding of the nature of Church. Throughout her writings it's clear that she understood the distinction between the spiritual ideal of Church and the human efforts to put this ideal into practice in daily life and ministry.
Church, the divine idea, rests wholly on Principle—on God and spiritual law. Church, then, gives expression and evidence of Truth and Love. As an infinite idea, formed and governed by God, Church is forever new. It is never exclusive, never struggling, but universal and complete.
Church is also expressed through man. Paul, the great church builder of the first century, puts it this way: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" And he continues, "... for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." I Cor. 3:16, 17.
