"LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE."

Archibald McLellan

One dominant phase of Christian Science which greatly impresses the inquirer who comes to its study with an open mind, is its insistent demand upon its followers for righteous living; or, to put the same idea into different words, its demand for applied righteousness in the lives of its followers. Nowhere is this insistence more pronounced than in the teachings which apply more specifically to those who would consecrate their knowledge of God to the healing of the sick. There is no mistaking the import of Mrs. Eddy's words, "In order to heal by Science, you must not be ignorant of the moral and spiritual demands of Science nor disobey them. Moral ignorance or sin affects your demonstration, and hinders its approach to the standard in Christian Science" (Science and Health, p. 483). Similar precepts abound throughout Mrs. Eddy's writings, and it is to the extent that Christian Scientists are imbued with both the letter and the spirit of these teachings that they are doing the "mighty works" recorded in our periodicals and reported in the Wednesday evening meetings in our churches.

In that epitome of Christian living which has come down to us as the sermon on the mount, Jesus pointed out to his disciples that in exemplifying his teachings they were to become "the light of the world," the light which was to lead the children of men out of darkness, out of the bondage of sickness and sin into the glorious freedom of health and happiness. And they were not hide from their fellows this wonderful light; rather were they bidden to let it so shine that all around them should share in its beneficence. But we must not forget why we are thus to shine—that it is not for our own glorification, but that praise may be accorded to the giver of all good, "our Father which art in heaven."

Sometimes Christian Scientists, though desirous of progress with the best of motives, namely, the advance of the cause, become impatient for a greater increase of numbers to their ranks than even that which is constantly going on and which is so impressive to the general public; but they would do well to curb such impatience and confine their efforts to living so righteously that the whole world may see their good works. Adding numbers to the ranks of Christian Scientists is not the great thing to be desired, but if it were, the surest means to accomplish this end would be for Christian Scientists to order their daily walk and conversation in such a way that they would be examples of Christianity and good citizenship to all their friends and to the community.

What is needed for the true advancement of the Christian Science cause, is not so much a great number of Christian Scientists, but rather that the followers of this religion should be the best possible Christians—Christlike in every word, act, and deed. It was said of the Master that "he went about doing good," and his professed followers can receive no higher meed of praise. It is the healing of the sick and the sinning in demonstration of the truth of its teachings that has placed Christian Science in the forefront of the battle against evil, and nothing can stay its advance toward the final overcoming of all that is unlike good, if only its adherents continue to be faithful to the ideal set before them in its teachings.

Again and again in her writings Mrs. Eddy emphasizes the need of demonstration as the strongest proof of the efficacy of Christian Science in the regeneration of mankind, and the standing of a Christian Science church in any community is to be measured not alone by the size of the congregation or the magnificence of its edifice, but by the "multitude of witnesses" who have been healed through its ministrations. This is the "faith illumined by works, the spiritual understanding which cannot choose but to labor and love" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 338), which affords not only the best demonstration but the best definition of what Christian Science is and what it is doing toward the coming of the kingdom of God among men.

Archibald McLellan.

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THE LEADING OF LIGHT

April 6, 1912

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