Article June 3, 1916 Issue

Simplicity of Christian Science

ANNE MAY LILLY

One often hears from those who are investigating the teachings of Christian Science such remarks as, "I cannot understand Christian Science; I am not sufficiently intellectual," and other statements of like character. As a matter of fact, however, material education or intellectual ability is not essential to a grasp of spiritual truths. It is oftentimes the humble thought, unbiased by the world's opinions, which soonest grasps the spiritual truths. Little children, especially, prove apt pupils of Christian metaphysics. Mrs. Eddy illustrates this on page 237 of the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," when she writes: "A little girl, who had occasionally listened to my explanations, badly wounded her finger. She seemed not to notice it. On being questioned about it she answered ingenuously, 'There is no sensation in matter.' ... It might have been months or years before her parents would have laid aside their drugs, or reached the mental height their little daughter so naturally attained."

The great Teacher often expressed his affection for this pure child-thought, with its receptivity to Truth and Love. The gospel narratives contain many illustrations of his tenderness toward them and of his efforts to impress on his hearers their need to gain a like degree of simplicity and love. A characteristic example of this is found in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, where we read: "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

In a majority of cases where difficulty is experienced in gaining a measurable understanding of the fundamental propositions of Christian Science, it will be found that the inquirer is trying to graft the conclusions of this Science on the material premises held in his own thought, and this cannot be done. The basic facts of Christian Science are that God is Spirit, that He created man and the universe after his own likeness, and they are therefore spiritual and not material. All real being is Spirit and spiritual. This proposition, which is demonstrable as well as supported by the Bible teachings, must be taken as the basis of all right reasoning. Starting from this standpoint, even though it be accepted at first only as a working hypothesis, the glorious truths of Christian Science speedily become luminous and susceptible of proof by demonstration.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Simplicity of Christian Science

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access