Being Ready for Christian Science

EDWARD EVERETT NORWOOD

While we know that all are really the sons and daughters of God, and in our awakening are ready for the spiritual uplift and regeneration that Christian Science brings, we find in our experience that some apply for the healing who are seemingly unwilling so to surrender the beliefs of materialism as to let the light of Truth come in, that the glory of the Lord may be risen upon them.

Recently a man applied for treatment, and prefaced his application by saying: "Now, first of all, I desire you to give me some proofs that this system of yours is going to cure me. I want to know if you have cured others of the same trouble, how long it required, and to know if you are sure you can cure me. I am a practical man, and do not intend to spend my time, patience, and money experimenting."

The writer, in so many words, replied: "My friend, what you are saying and asking is not new to me, for you have voiced the spoken or unspoken thought of a large majority of those who come to us for help in Christian Science. From a human sense basis, your demand seems reasonable enough, and it is perfectly natural for you to think it is so. But let us consider it a little and see.

"First of all, you tell me you have what has been pronounced by physicians (several of them specialists in their line) an incurable disease. You have spent large sums of money with them, a great deal of time, and I presume, much patience, else you would not have continued their treatment as long as you have.

"You have admitted that during this time you relied upon God, the divine Helper, practically not at all; even frankly acknowledging that your faith in His power and willingness to heal was very slight indeed. During this time the physicians failed to relieve you to any appreciable extent. Finally, as a last resort, you have come to Christian Science for help. Yet the natural inference from what you say is, that if I cannot promise you a complete and certain cure at an early date, you will abandon this system of mind-healing, which I firmly believe to be God's method, and return to the material. Now, it is a poor rule that will not work both ways. Before I even agree to take your case. I desire some proofs from you.

"First of all, I wish to say, Christian Science is not a doctor's shop. It is not merely a system of mental therapeutics, but it is a religion,—the Scientific Christianity which Jesus taught and demonstrated, and which we also are now endeavoring to demonstrate. Are you ready and willing to give up the false thinking, the sinful practices, which you admit to a great extent caused your trouble? Are you willing to endeavor to purify your consciousness of all evil, the beliefs of pleasure in matter, to deny false appetite? Are you ready to governed by my suggestions as to reading and to open your mind, prayerfully, hopefully, to see whether or not Christian Science is the truth? Are you willing to make a sacrifice of money to pay for your treatment, and of your time, that you may come here and let me tell you of God and His spiritual laws; and of your patience, that it may have its perfect work? Are you willing to give up your spirit of condecension and to come as a little child, saying, 'If this is God's word, if it is God's truth, I want it above everything else in this wide world, and will give up all else to get it, and shall patiently wait until my mind is renewed,—seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Truth, for Truth's sake—knowing that all other things will be added?"

"If you are not willing, my dear friend, to approximate these statements, or at least to change your attitude of thought to a great extent from what at present it seems to be, you would better wait a while, and come at some future time when you are ready. Such are the 'proofs' which we, as Christian Scientists, require, and they are far more reasonable than yours."

The person in question "went away sorrowing, for he had great possessions" of false beliefs, but his view-point was greatly changed, and it may be confidently affirmed, from various evidences, that he is not far from the door, and when he does come again, it will be in a better and more receptive state of mind.

Science and Health, p. 456, tells us, "Science makes no concessions to persons or opinions," and surely we should uphold the banner of Christian Science in a dignified way, and let all see that we have something they absolutely need, but to get it, they must say with the seeker of old, "Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief."

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