Articles

IN Ecclesiastes we read, "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. " This evidently implies that nothing which is not good can remain permanently in consciousness.

THERE are two strong reasons why Christian Scientists love their church and are notably loyal to it. First, all Christian Scientists have experienced some form of healing, either physical, mental, or moral, through the ministry of the church.

ON page 327 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says, "Reason is the most active human faculty;" and it is in part because Christian Science appeals primarily to the reasoning faculty that it has in barely half a century gained such a hold and made such a vast impression upon human nature.

THE vow of poverty was at one time considered an effectual step toward the attainment of holiness, and even now a belief seems to linger that unsatisfactory economic conditions, deprivations, joylessness, or gloom, may be signs of spiritual progress. This belief probably arose from Jesus' words, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" A superficial view of the parable about Dives and Lazarus may also make it appear as if the latter were rewarded for his wretchedness, want, and sores.

A RELIGION involving through demonstration a positive experience of the power of good, may be relied on; whereas a theoretical religion may be subject to constant change, and if changeable it has no basis—is without Principle, and therefore unreliable. The latter may afford a temporary sense of satisfaction to the believer in its doctrines, but it means inevitable stagnation.

WHEN Jesus declared that "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth," he gave utterance to a truth which strikes at the very root of the belief as to what makes life harmonious and desirable. According to mortal man's estimate of the relative value of things, it is a fact too apparent even to be questioned, that without at least a modicum of earthly possessions life would scarcely be worth living.

MATERIAL sense always wears the badge of limitation. Controlled by this sense, mortals not only entertain limited beliefs about all things, but also manifest resultant conditions of limitation in all ways.

A STUDENT of Christian Science who has experienced moral and physical healing and whose consciousness has been uplifted to see the risen Christ-idea of Life separate from matter, who is loyal to the teachings of Christian Science, and who can devote his entire time to such work, is known as a Christian Science practitioner. He is not only a hearer but a doer of the word of God.

ALTHOUGH the power of the word of God is many times declared in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, Christian people outside of Christian Science have not been accustomed to rely upon it in a practical way, as the early followers of Christ Jesus evidently did, either for the healing of sickness or the overcoming of sin. This is indeed strange, because the psalmist plainly taught that when men cried unto the Lord in their trouble, even though they were drawing nigh "unto the gates of death," "He sent his word, and healed them.

ALL mankind are looking for happiness. This is the goal toward which all are striving.