Articles

"'Swinging London,'" writes a Christian Scientist who lives there, "is something about which most Londoners read more than they experience. But the King's Road, Chelsea, is as startling, colourful, and 'way out' as its reputation claims.

Valiant as had been Elijah's stand for unwavering loyalty to the true God on the slopes of Mount Carmel, and his equally forthright destruction of the leaders of paganism following that event, he was challenged by a further test. The anger of Jezebel became even more bitter against him, and he was forced to flee the country.

Those who have enjoyed the blessings and regeneration brought about through the application of Christian Science usually desire to express gratitude by rendering active service in the branch Church of Christ, Scientist, of which they are members. Sometimes, however, church members find that they have been persuaded by erroneous suggestions to believe that they must work out many adjustments and personal problems before they can feel free to take on certain church activities or additional responsibilities.

The sincere desire of every earnest student of Christian Science is to maintain steady spiritual progress each day, to turn increasingly away from materiality toward a greater consciousness of life as spiritual. A deeper understanding of God, Spirit, and of the real man's perfect relationship to Him is, of course, a basic objective.

Throughout the ages humanity has been engaged in a struggle for freedom from its many yokes of bondage, from fear, sin, disease, want, oppression, and the myriad other evils that fetter it. However, let us consider two vital questions: Does humanity understand the nature of its bondage? Is it expending its efforts in the right direction in order to demonstrate freedom? The answer to these questions must be largely negative.

What would be thought of a hostess who lovingly invited guests to her home, only to ignore them or treat them coolly and with unfriendliness upon their arrival? As branch church members, we need to be careful not to commit this error at our church services, Sunday Schools, lectures, or in our Reading Rooms. Most Christian Science churches advertise in a local paper that all are cordially invited to attend the church services and to visit the Reading Room.

Many years ago, on the shores of the Galilean Sea, Christ Jesus asked Peter, "Lovest thou me more than these?" John 21:15; Jesus asked this question after his resurrection from the grave. At that time it must have seemed that the continuance of his mission of bringing the healing Truth to all mankind depended on a handful of men.

The last one hundred years have been a period of great advancement, an age of accelerated world progress and innovation. Inventions have shortened both the time and distance of communication.

Students of Christian Science who make the effort to assess their thinking regarding various phases of our Cause will be rewarded with a deeper understanding and appreciation of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branches. This Church is not just another human organization; it is, in fact, the effect in human experience of Mrs.

Religion is being challenged by the age of material development in which we live. Ours is an era of technological development of such scope and magnitude that religious teachings based upon ritual, dogma, and superstition are no longer accepted by a majority of educated people.