Article January 2, 1904 Issue

Christian Science Work

F. B. HOMANS.

In Christian Science we learn how to live, but it does little good to learn how, unless we practise what we learn. One may study art of the best masters in the world for years, but unless he takes the brush and practises what he has learned he will never be an artist. The study of law never makes a lawyer, it is the practice of law that produces our great jurists. It is not the theory of blacksmithing but the actual work at the anvil that develops the effective worker, and it is just the same in Christian Science. It is a religion of works rather than words, of doing rather than saying. Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." All his life, by both word and deed, he taught the necessity of work. It is not necessary to be a professional healer, teacher, or lecturer in order to do this work; for if we keep our thoughts so filled with the love of God that we can deny error at every point we are doing God's work. We can do this in the shop, in the office, and in the home. We should always be ready to give a cup of cold water (a loving thought or word) to one of God's children. Mrs. Eddy says, "Take away the spiritual signification of Scripture, and that compilation can do no more for mortals than can moonbeams to melt a river of ice" (Science and Health, p. 241). We must read, but we must understand what we read and prove that we understand by demonstration.

Error is ever busy trying to weaken our trust in God, ever striving to keep our thoughts on material things. One of error's most subtle means of attack is to induce us to talk about, or listen to the talk of others about the weakness or failings of some one else. To resist this temptation is to do a noble work in Christian Science. To yield to it is to commit a great error. By this yielding we bind upon others burdens we know are hard to bear. By yielding we break one of God's laws, and one that is not the least of them.

Another point on which error attacks us is that of lack of supply. God gives us all the good we have and gives us the ability to acquire more. Jesus said, Lay not up treasures on earth, but in heaven. Why did Jesus say this? Because the desire to hoard impels us to recognize and fear evil,—poverty,—and thereby we fail to trust God, who is the absolute source of all needed supply. Our Leader teaches us that giving rightly does not impoverish, and that witholding does not enrich. (Science and Health, p. 79.) If God can and does take care of us to-day, He certainly will to-morrow.

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