Article November 30, 1912 Issue

RESPONSIVENESS

CLARA A. CURTIS.

IN the practise of Christian Science it has been found that an attitude of obedience and humility is requisite to bring out a response to treatment, and this attitude is equally essential on the part of the practitioner and patient. In order to be obedient, we must first recognize divine authority; to be humble, we must be submissive. The honest, willing student of Christian Science discovers early in his experience that obedience is mental, and to the extent that he implicitly obeys the law of God and complies with its requirements, he gains the healing which is the fulfilment of all the wonderful promises of the Bible.

As we read of the marvelous healing works of the Master, we see clearly that the demands of God, of divine law, prompted the commands given by Jesus. At all times throughout his entire earthly career, Jesus acknowledged the authority of the Father,—"As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do;" and the loving obedience which he manifested enabled him to see man as God sees him, and instantaneously deliver the sick and sinful from the bondage of mortal belief. In every instance the Master required some token of obedience, a response to his requirement, by word or act, in healing the sick and raising the dead. On page 183 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength," and in the healing of the man sick of the palsy this was proven.

In this case, Jesus' first bidding to the sufferer was, "Be of good cheer." No medicine was prescribed to tone up or strengthen his system, but a complete change of consciousness was demanded. Imagine the discouraged, despairing mentality of the paralytic, filled with darkest foreboding and fear, and how impossible it must have seemed to obey, when the second command was given him to rise and walk. We read that the man obeyed, and surely the open accusations of blasphemy from the Jewish doctors and teachers in the throng must have been stilled at this proof of Truth's power; and all the people marveled and glorified God, when in obedience to that voice of authority the man arose and departed to his house.

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