In the early days of the Christian Science movement, the Church of Christ, Scientist, was faced with many difficulties, some of which might have proved disastrous had it not been for the wise leadership of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.
In a letter to The Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, concerning a legal matter relating to the building of its first edifice, our Leader said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 141): "I believe,—yea, I understand,—that with the spirit of Christ actuating all the parties concerned about the legal quibble, it can easily be corrected to the satisfaction of all. Let this be speedily done. Do not, I implore you, stain the early history of Christian Science by the impulses of human will and pride; but let the divine will and the nobility of human meekness rule this business transaction, in obedience to the law of Love and the laws of our land."
This counsel so loving, wise, comprehensive, and timeless in its scope has guided Christian Scientists throughout the years in transactions of many kinds. And in proportion as we are obedient to its spirit, we shall find the injustices and pains of human will eliminated and the infinite goodness of God's will demonstrated.
The word "let" in Mrs. Eddy's admonition is important, for it points to the responsibility we have for the thoughts we think, whether good or bad, constructive or destructive. We alone can determine whether we let human will and pride govern our acts or let the divine will and the nobility of humility govern them. The
Apostle Paul used the word "let" in a similar manner (Phil. 2:5), "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
Christian Science healing is based upon the demonstrable fact that God is the great Physician. When speaking of his healing mission, Jesus acknowledged (John 14:10), "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." The Master's expression of meekness was invariably coupled with dominion. Because of his perfect meekness, he could speak with authority to any and every form of evil. And so too can we when we let the humility which accepts God's will govern us.
The Scriptures are filled with records of individuals who were meek and who also were mighty. Saul of Tarsus was one of these. When on the way to Damascus he saw the light of Truth, he was healed of his hatred "against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1).
Humbly he took the name "Paul," the meaning of which in the Latin is "little" or "small." Like a little child, he asked God what His will was. Sincerely he accepted the fact of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Almost at once he began to live and preach and teach the gospel of Christ Jesus. It was not long before he was journeying throughout a great portion of the then known world in order to carry on his missionary work. He "let the divine will and the nobility of human meekness" govern him; and great were the victories he won.
Great victories are also won today in every walk of life through the understanding of the spirit of Christ, which Christian Science imparts. A young businesswoman, a Christian Scientist, had a beautiful proof of this recently. In her office a problem had arisen which seemed almost impossible of solution. Three people, each the head of an established business, had to agree upon an important policy decision in order that the enterprise in which they were all associated could be successfully operated.
The Christian Scientist saw the justice of each one's argument, but she also saw that without some yielding on the part of each one, a harmonious solution could not be reached. The business day closed without anyone's yielding, and an appointment was made to resume the conference the next morning.
That evening the Scientist attended the Wednesday evening testimony meeting in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. One of the speakers in giving a testimony quoted the passage from "Miscellaneous Writings" cited at the beginning of this article.
It seemed to the young businesswoman as though the words came straight from divine Love to answer her unsolved problem. She saw that "with the spirit of Christ actuating all the parties concerned," the situation could easily and quickly be corrected to the satisfaction of all.
Holding steadfastly to the truth that no spirit but that of the Christ does actuate man, she went to the office the next morning with a sense of assurance that all was well. Before mid-afternoon an agreement had been reached, and the wheels were put in motion for the filling of the important orders that were involved.
What had happened? The light of Truth had banished bitterness and blindness and had revealed more of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, more of the spirit of the healing Christ.
Christian Science explains that God, the great I AM, expresses Himself in ideas. Man reflects God as idea. God's idea is necessarily spiritual and perfect because God is Spirit and is perfect. The humble acknowledgment of this truth is the appearing of the Christ in our consciousness.
Mrs. Eddy defines "Christ" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" p. 583) as, "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." The Christ-power necessarily dispels darkness and misunderstanding, pain, and fear. No material condition or circumstance, no arrogant, boastful claim of evil, can obstruct its healing light and might.
Christ is ever present, arousing and inspiring us to have and to hold the perfect dominion of good that God has given us. The nobility of humility recognizes this dominion, not only as belonging to our true selves but to the true selfhood of each individual everywhere. And herein lies the key to the healing of the nations, the elimination of rivalry and war, and the establishment of peace.
Well over two thousand years ago Isaiah, Micah, and other prophets foretold the end of war. Let us have part in the fulfillment of this prophecy. Let us not stain the history of our times with pride and fear, but let us acknowledge the spirit of Christ as ever operative, as the ever-present force of God operating in the thinking of mankind.
The one foe we have to face is the aggressive mental suggestion that there is a power apart from God. But the Christ teaches us that there is no power but God, no manifestation but the manifestation of God, no law governing creation but the law of God. This law, infinitely good, meets all human needs.
The great contribution to our communities and to the world, to our times and to future times, is to have absolute faith in God's law and to live in loving, grateful obedience to it. The glory of the Christ is operating in human thinking, here and now, and mankind can humbly awaken to its universal healing power.
