Articles

Christian Scientists in their association with each other sometimes hear it said by one who has been endeavoring unsuccessfully to rise above some physical or financial difficulty: "I cannot understand why this problem is not met, for I have held steadfastly to the teachings of the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and have struggled to the best of my ability to live in accordance with what I know to be true. Yet the difficulty seems so aggressive and refuses to yield.

How often do we think and say that there is nothing external to consciousness? But have we really begun to plumb the depth of meaning, the practical import, of this fact to our own lives and to the well-being of the world? Really to know that God, divine Mind, is the only true consciousness and that Mind includes all knowledge, all presence, all substance, and law would render comparatively simple our solving of the problems that challenge our understanding and faith in good. For, says Mary Baker Eddy of human experience ( Unity of Good, p.

" Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" ( Matt. 5:16 ).

As a woman traveled alone one night through the countryside, with utter darkness behind, to the right and to the left, and with the headlights of her car penetrating but a little of the gloom ahead, she thought, "How symbolic of my human experience right now. " Since she was a student of Christian Science and was earnestly seeking God's guidance, His presence and care were immediately made manifest by the following angel message: Darkness was powerless to impede her progress as long as light was focused on the highway.

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?" To those who have enjoyed the beauty of white clouds serene against the background of a blue sky, this passage from Job ( 37:16 ) points out a grand, spiritual lesson. One has but to recall the utter effortlessness of superb equilibrium to perceive that such a scene symbolizes "the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge.

In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mary Baker Eddy makes this important statement in connection with the scientific demonstration of truth ( p. 242 ): "Christian Science is absolute; it is neither behind the point of perfection nor advancing towards it; it is at this point and must be practised therefrom.

Have we taken time today to be quiet? Have we turned aside from the rush and pressure of human affairs and, in the silence of spiritual communion with the one God, renewed our confidence, strength, and joy, praying for others as well as for ourselves? If so, then we have returned to our tasks refreshed and comforted. Mary Baker Eddy set the example of communing with God, as she did in so many right things.

The theology of Christian Science includes the healing of sickness as well as of sin and by the same spiritual means. Physical healing is not the more important, but it does illustrate the signs which follow the reformation of thought and action.

The challenge of church activity is a spiritual one. Mary Baker Eddy defines "Church" on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in two parts.

Mary Baker Eddy states a fundamental teaching of Christian Science in these lines from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" ( p. 492 ): "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence.