A Clearer realization of the true Science of being was never more needed than it is today. The many discoveries of material so-called science and the increasingly destructive uses to which they are being put make it necessary for students of Christian Science to see clearly the exactness of its teachings and to demonstrate to mankind that Science is divine, not material.
Although they may still disagree with its teachings, theologians and medical physicians are now more or less accepting Christian Science as a religion that heals human ills. Its function as Science, however, has yet to be more definitely acknowledged. A dictionary defines the word science in part as "accumulated and accepted knowledge which has been systematized and formulated with reference to the discovery of general truths or the operation of general laws." Christian Science is certainly the discovery of the truth of being and of the operation of divine law; and our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, through great consecration has made this discovery available to bless all men.
That we may help to bring about the fuller recognition of Christian Science in the field of science, therefore, we need a clearer understanding and conviction of the allness of God, of His true nature, and of man's relationship to Him. Then we can prove more abundantly to ourselves and to the world that this Science, when applied to every individual, national, or international problem, is more exact and more certain in its results than material science can ever be.
The writer was at one time in charge of the work of a number of committees formed of experts in the scientific field, and she was always impressed by the manner in which they would reject evidence and refuse to include it in their results until it had been tested and proved over and over again by practical experiment.
On pages 109 to 112 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy tells us of her three years' research to discover the Science of Mind-healing. She glimpsed the fact that there must be a law—a spiritual law—involved in Christ Jesus' healing work, or he could not have repeated his works with such unvarying results. With each step in her research she also tested and proved her discovery by innumerable instances of healing the sick and sinful and raising the dying. Her teachings show God, divine Principle, as perfect and undeviating in operation.
When we prove the truth of divine Science, the apparent effect may be the correction or healing of a material condition. But the real result is that we have gained the realization that man and the universe are spiritual and not material, forever expressing the perfection of God.
In "Retrospection and Introspection" our Leader tells us something of the method by which we may attain the understanding of true Science. She says (p. 28): "I had learned that thought must be spiritualized, in order to apprehend Spirit. It must become honest, unselfish, and pure, in order to have the least understanding of God in divine Science. The first must become last. Our reliance upon material things must be transferred to a perception of and dependence on spiritual things. For Spirit to be supreme in demonstration, it must be supreme in our affections, and we must be clad with divine power."
Our first need in demonstrating that Science is divine, not material, is therefore to gain a clear understanding of God. And we need to understand the true nature of God before we can glimpse the true nature of man. Mrs. Eddy defines God on page 275 of the textbook, where she says, "Divine metaphysics, as revealed to spiritual understanding, shows clearly that all is Mind, and that Mind is God, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,—that is, all power, all presence, all Science. Hence all is in reality the manifestation of Mind."
This revelation, however, is of practical value only as we also realize the truth of the statement in Genesis (1:26), "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Let us ponder carefully and deeply the full import of this statement as to man in the light of the definition of God given above. This is the truth, the Science, regarding ourselves and regarding our brother, whoever and wherever he may be. It is the truth regarding the whole universe. Mrs. Eddy emphasizes the Bible definition of man in her inimitable statement (Science and Health, p. 470), "Man is the expression of God's being." What definitions of man these are! Think of all they imply!
When we read our Leader's writings, let us pause to consider the full meaning of each word that she uses. There is nothing hesitant or doubting in what she says; each statement of metaphysics is a positive statement of fact or a positive denial of error. If we will study her writings in this way, each sentence will be vibrant with meaning for us. It will be a living, scientific statement of fact that we can prove in our own lives. Like the disciples after our Master's resurrection, we shall then understand, instead of merely believe. In this way we shall indeed prove that Christian Science is true Science.
The acknowledgment and realization or demonstration of the allness of Mind, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter, is completely scientific; it admits of no failure or error. Can one think of a more scientific research than that which has as its object the purification of oneself from all erroneous material thinking? The healing of the sick, which follows the understanding of God and man as defined above, proves the teaching of Christian Science to be pure Science, divine Science, the only Science there is, for the same results will always follow when the rules are faithfully and consistently practiced.
Is not the expression of brotherly love in its truest sense the most scientific state there is? Not the sentimental love that would condone sin or selfishly claim another's attention, but the love that sees man, impartially and universally, as he is—"the expression of God's being." Can there be a more exact Science than this? With this awareness of the true nature of God and man we can meet the false claims of so-called material science or law, and so relieve the fear of mankind by showing what Science really is.
In his ineffable prayer to the Father, Jesus said (John 17:19—21): "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; . . . that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." The world's need to know that Science is divine, not material, is great. Are we willing so to sanctify ourselves, through the truth of man's real being, "that the world may believe"? It can be made to believe in no other way, and this calls for complete consecration. The world is crying out for what Christian Science alone can give. It will find the sure, compassionate answer to its problems as we are faithful to the trust our Leader has left us —to gain the certain realization of God's allness and of man made in His likeness. As we ponder and demonstrate the full import of each statement in our beloved Leader's writings, we shall show forth that true Science which reveals God as the divine Principle of all that really is.
