Article May 25, 1912 Issue

UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

CALEB H. CUSHING.

In commencing the study of Christian Science, and sometimes after one has spent considerable time in the endeavor to grasp its teachings, the suggestion may come to the student that this Science is either hard to understand or that he is not one of the favored few who can understand it and be benefited by it. History shows that it has seemingly been no easy task for mortals to grasp, assimilate, and make practical Christ's teachings, and the understanding of Christian Science has been something of a problem to many. Our great Exemplar, Christ Jesus, however, upon whose teachings Mrs. Eddy founded Christian Science, plainly taught that the Science of Christianity was really so simple in itself that it was readily understood by the child thought. This child thought, with its natural expectancy of good, its enthusiasm, purity, and activity, typified to the Master those mental qualities desirable and necessary in order to understand and demonstrate the truth.

The basic difficulty in getting the real practical understanding of any study is the failure to apply the teachings according to rule without deviation therefrom through personal bias or prejudice. In Christian Science many fail at the very outset to apply and make practical the fundamentals of Christianity which were summed up by Jesus in the two commandments: first, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind;" second, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." It may be easier first to consider and put into practice the latter, as by so doing we shall be obeying the first and preparing the way for a full obedience to both.

Most of us can recall, as we look back upon experiences of the past, many of the opportunities we have let slip to exercise that same love toward our brother man that we would desire to have extended toward us. How many times daily do we fail to observe that kindness toward our fellows in the round of business and social life and within the home circle which we ought! How many times have we failed to keep from criticizing and condemning and from allowing the sense of self-righteousness to choke the springs of brotherly helpfulness when some little kindness and the suspension of judgment would have meant so much to some relative, friend, or acquaintance! The boy or girl who does the little helpful things for father and mother with that love and thoughtfulness taught in Christian Science, and the parents who remember to restrain impatience and harshness and show that kindly interest in the problems of their little ones, not only do much toward happifying existence, but make the pathway of life smoother and clearer for both present and future. The child who willingly and smilingly offers to do some errand or service for the parent, and the parent who cheerfully and patiently ministers to the needs of the child, are thereby demonstrating more practical Christianity and Christian Science than they would if they were able to memorize and repeat the contents of the Bible and of Science and Health from cover to cover, without demonstrating their teachings, although a thorough knowledge of the letter is most requisite.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD"