Article September 1, 1951 Issue

NO RETURN TO THE MATERIAL STATUS QUO

FLORENCE G. SCHELL

The great difference between Christian Science and other methods of healing lies in the fact that physical healing is not the primal object of this Science, but results from a correct understanding of God as Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. The natural and inevitable result of applying this understanding to human problems is the perfect solution of those problems. Healing, then, is the result of corrected or spiritualized thinking, which of necessity causes the individual to rise higher. Some individuals yield immediately to Truth, and instantaneous healing results. But whether the healing is instantaneous or not, in every instance of true spiritual healing thought is elevated to a higher plane; consciousness is uplifted, character regenerated, and one's whole concept of living is improved.

The Bible is full of instances of changes of character as a result of spiritual awakening. In Biblical days the name of a person often signified his nature; and when the nature of the individual changed, sometimes his name was changed also. The experience of Jacob, related in the thirty-second chapter of Genesis, furnishes a concrete example of self-correction through spiritual understanding. After years of living in a strange country he decided to return to his native land. The mortal beliefs of duplicity and fear which had motivated him when he left his father's house had to be met and mastered.

Jacob wrestled with these material beliefs until the light of spiritual understanding began to dawn upon his thought. However, he was not satisfied with a mere glimpse of this light. He continued to struggle until he saw something of his real identity as the image and likeness of God, as may be seen in his own words (Gen. 32:30), "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." This view of God and man resulted in a complete change of character, and ever after that Jacob was known as Israel, "a prince" who had "power with God and with men."

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