Articles

The following is an edited transcript of a panel discussion on “Why Church?” that took place during the “Being a force for good” summit of 20- and 30-somethings held at The Mother Church in October 2019. On the one-year anniversary of the summit, we hope you will join us in reflecting on the ever-expanding idea of Church, especially as we all continue to discover new ways to experience church in person, online, and by phone.

Most everyone has had to handle discouragement at some point. Even Moses, wise and faithful to God as he was, got discouraged when the children of Israel were tired of the wilderness.

Dear Reader, I’ve recently learned to livestream. What took me so long to adopt this technology? Working at home created a demand for it.

“We are undisturbed. ” These were the words of assurance I spoke to my neighbors.

Christian Science Sunday School attendance was one of those things I never really questioned growing up. We went.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I John 3:1, New King James Version). The concept of being God’s loved children is central to Christianity and to Christian Science in particular.

For many years, I anticipated receiving and enjoyed reading the weekly and monthly Christian Science periodicals. These magazines always brought me inspiration, spiritual growth, and healing.

Among the many helpful ways of describing healing in Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy explains in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony” ( p. 390 ).

The healing and transforming inspiration that can be gained from reading the Bible is endless. Christian Science brings to the study of the Bible an approach based on divine revelation, reason, and demonstration that makes practical every part of the Bible for our modern experience.

The opening pages of the Bible, the 31 verses in the first chapter of Genesis, are special to people around the world. But while many view them as the record of a creation that took place in the past, Christian Science reveals that it is a timeless description of creation as it always truly is, spiritual and perfect.