When my husband and I first joined a Church of Christ, Scientist, we were impressed by the love of the members for one another. The board chairman had a sense of shepherding rather than controlling business meetings that allowed him to step back mentally and let the Christ guide the proceedings. And while the members didn't always agree, they approached differences in a spirit of goodwill and appreciation for one another.
A friend speaks of her first Christian Science church experience in a similar way. She says that when discussions occasionally became heated, someone would always stand up and request a moment of silent prayer. The members didn't pray for their own opinions to prevail, but that the unity of the one Mind, divine Love, be apparent. The discussion would invariably proceed in harmony.
How can we consistently contribute to that spirit of unity and Christlike shepherding in our own churches? It takes love. But because the source, divine Love, is infinite, the supply of love is truly unlimited. There is plenty of love to fill every heart in every church. And we don't need to wait for somebody else to love first; we can take the initiative in reaching out to embrace all in the Christlike love that does not require a response.
