Article October 16, 1915 Issue

Our Dependence

JUDGE CLIFFORD P. SMITH

Original Christianity as taught by Christ Jesus included a perfect ideal for Christian endeavor. He expressed it in these words: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Christian Science emphasizes this idea, shows how it can be put into practice, and points to the life-work of the Master as constituting a perfect example.

In the course of Mrs. Eddy's writing on this subject she has given warning of a persistent temptation: "Do you not hear from all mankind of the imperfect model? The world is holding it before your gaze continually" (Science and Health, p. 248). These words are extensive enough to warn us against copying the imperfections in one another. As students of Christian Science who have not yet attained perfection in practice, we have need to beware of accepting others as models. In that unique code of law, manual of instruction, and charter of rights, our Church Manual, we find this rule of action : "He who dated the Christian era is the Ensample in Christian Science" (Art. VIII, Sect. 3). Therefore for a Scientist to gage his demonstration of Science by that of any other person, or by the average accomplishment of the Scientists whom he happens to know, might tend to limit his success.

Akin to the error just described is that of dwelling on failures in the practice of Christian Science. If we are tempted to take account of what an imperfect practitioner has failed to do, we should remember what the one perfect Exemplar said to Peter: "What is that to thee? follow thou me." Whoever is proving the existence and operation of divine Principle, or even inquiring into this subject, should not give much thought to the observation of failures. For such an inquiry, the positive evidence of success is logically of far greater weight than the negative evidence of failure. Since Christian Science is based on absolute Principle and is demonstrated according to an invariable rule, it is verified by a single instance of healing brought to pass by the understanding of its Principle and conformity to its rule. Logically, the conclusion thus evidenced would not be disproved by many failures to understand or obey. They would not prove that Christian Science had been tried and found wanting, but that it had not been fully tried. So every one should look for the positive evidence of demonstration and not be discouraged by merely negative phenomena.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Hold fast that which is good"