TO the onlooker, Christian Science appears no better in any community than the Christian Scientists themselves appear. He who knows little or nothing of the teaching of Christian Science is very likely to judge it by the conduct of its adherents. This may not be just or reasonable, inasmuch as Christian Scientists are only fallible human beings who have perceived a perfect spiritual Principle and are striving to demonstrate it; and moreover, nothing is more easily misunderstood by the uninstructed observer than is the application of Christian Science to human affairs. The general attitude, however, holds against Christian Science the indiscretions or the inconsistencies of its followers; and he who really loves the truth he professes, heeds for this reason St. Paul's injunction to Timothy: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
He who permits himself to be considered a Christian Scientist has large responsibilities. He identifies himself with the movement, and whatever he presents to the world is more than likely to be regarded as the effect of Christian Science. He who studies and proves Christian Science, knows well that his own mistakes, or those of his brethren, come not from Christian Science but from the lack of it, and he lives in the reasonable hope that more understanding will decrease his inconsistencies. The observer, however, is not inclined to make such allowance; and here the adherent of Christian Science meets one of his greatest opportunities to serve the cause. He can order his conduct so wisely, so lovingly, and so well, that no reproach can follow him; and when this is done, no reproach can touch that which he represents.
And why not this earnestness to protect the beloved teaching that has put much sin and sickness from his own life? If he wants the truth to reach and comfort others, he must let its beauty shine in him; must show forth its purity, its genuineness, its whole attractiveness. Of this responsibility King David wrote, "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." And for no better reason, surely, can the Christian walk in righteousness than to protect and glorify God's name. Many of us, indeed, will sacrifice much of selfishness and of personal indulgence to keep clear from criticism the name of even a dear companion or friend, and right affection will always inspire a noble surrender of self to hold in good repute the name of loved ones. So to the extent that God is dear to us we guard His name, and through right living hold it high; and since Christian Science means all good to us, we can do no less than order our lives to do it credit.
No individual can really estimate his own influence, for beyond his own reckoning it extends into time and environment, and whatever good it holds, thrives eternally; neither can any one of us comprehend altogether, perhaps, the stumbling-block he may be to his brother. A sudden burst of anger, a word of criticism, a thrust of malice, an exhibition of spite or greed, or any other unfriendly, unneighborly impulse, can outweigh in the mind of the onlooker any amount of good talking about the desirability of Christian Science. Indeed, he who sees another's mistake is not always in a position to see the hot tears of repentance and the genuine effort for reform which may follow it; and human society is too apt to inflate the error it sees and minimize the good which a hundred superficial things may hide from the world's view.
So the Christian who makes mistakes where his brother can stumble because of them, must bring his repentance and reform just as clearly to the light to undo the effect of the error; must reckon, too, with his temptations, and with ever-growing wisdom correct his thoughts before mistakes can occur. Good must be truly uppermost, and evident in word and deed in the life of the Christian Scientist, if he be an approved workman. If one actual deed of honesty or unselfishness or kindness can out-value hours of argument or break down years of prejudice,—and we know it can,—the Christian disciple, in order to win friends to his cause, must bring the shining evidences of his corrected life into the view of his fellow men. Herein lies testimony that is indisputable, influence not to be gainsaid.
Purity, wisdom, moral courage, and loving-kindness mark the good workman, the true witness. Christian Scientists are learning to find the source of these qualities in God, divine Mind. They are taught that by the spiritually mental process of reflection, divine thoughts may possess their thinking and govern them. Then he who stumbled in his purity, his wisdom, or his kindness before knowing something of Christian Science, knows now how to forsake the insecure righteousness of self and reflect thought by thought the unfailing goodness of God. He has proved that every time he stops his own disturbed thinking and lets divine Mind supply him with spiritual and right thoughts, he is strengthened and made steady in the highest purposes; that every time he lays down his fear and his self-will, divine Love heals him. Then why should he not expect something better of himself than before, and why should not his neighbors look for the things in him that at least approximate what he professes?
No one knows better than the honest Christian Scientist why his daily life is still so far from the ideal; and the intelligent student has learned not to consider himself an example, for he knows there is but one example for all mankind,—Christ Jesus, of whom we read in the Apocalypse that he is "the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead." Yet surely he who has seen the perfect ideal and has with it the divine rule for purer living, should in all ways be better than he used to be, and so much better that he bears impressive witness, at all times, to the faith he cherishes.
The genuine Christian Scientist is growing from a sentimental, an emotional, or a haphazard Christian into a scientific one. He of all people has least excuse for moods or acts unchristian, for Christian Science furnishes him spiritual rules for right thinking and right living. They are as exact as the rules governing the order of the universe; as easily understood, as practically applied. The trouble with many of us is not that we do not find these rules, or that we do not understand them, but simply that we do not readily obey them. It is expected of the Christian Scientist that his Christianity should cease to be a theory, and become to him a living reality that dominates his every thought. The Science of Christian living, instead of the caprices, suggestions, temptations, and false education of human belief, is to govern his every thought when he names the name of Christ in its fullest sense; "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ," as St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians.
Now the world knows that Christian Scientists claim to have found the way to transform their thoughts and to put sin and sickness out of their lives; and in spite of its unreason, its prejudice, and its readiness to catch at mistakes and to condemn unjustly, the world has a right to expect good evidence that this purifying process is under way. So the student of Christian Science cannot escape his responsibilities; and happy is that one who sets cheerfully about avoiding not only evil, but the appearance of evil, that he may in some measure, by a fair and serviceable life, pay his debt to God.
Pureness, by reason of reflecting God's purity; wisdom, because of thinking only as God would have us think; integrity and moral courage, based upon the working of divine Principle; loving-kindness, that manifests the unstained love of God,— these things are the privilege and the right of the Christian Scientist. Perhaps they are to be attained through tears of repentance, through testing times that strain the moral fiber to its utmost; but there is no other way in which Christian Science can be truly attested or Christian healing enter and remain.
At any cost to his selfishness the Christian Scientist must live the law of God; must order his own life purely; must be at peace with his fellow men. His thoughts must be so fair that all men could happily look in upon them. Undoubtedly not one has yet attained, but all are attaining in the measure of their pure and honest love for good.
"Earth's actors change earth's scenes," writes Mrs. Eddy on page 17 of her 1902 Message to The Mother Church. If one upright man can turn the tide of a business transaction; if one kindly woman can neutralize the bitterness of a neighborhood; if one wise and fearless individual can inspire a community to courage,—what, then, can every right thinker do toward changing the scenes of earth? However modest the work or however obscure the place of any Christian Scientist, he is, if worthy the name he bears, striving hourly to be a right thinker and a right doer; and in the measure of his success he is a workman approved, an actor whose privilege it is to see the scenes about him change from sin to holiness, from sickness to health, from dreariness and desolation to the brightness of the coming of God.
