Article November 23, 1918 Issue

Christian Science Demonstration

IDA S. KOHL

The word demonstration has two meanings. It is either the thought process which is the act of proving the rule, or it is a certain result, the proof itself, showing that the rule is understood and utilized. Many who are suffering from a sense of limitation along the various avenues of human experience, when first taking up the study of Christian Science are apt to think of it as a ready means for providing them with what are called "the good things of this life." They soon learn, however, that the main purpose of Christian Science is to rouse the dormant human thought, asleep in its dream that matter and evil are real, to the apprehension of spiritual facts. This awakening renders human consciousness less responsive to fear and evil and more responsive to Truth and Love, the very source of harmony. Then instead of constantly looking for the proof of Christian Science in things material, there is a consecrated effort to gain the unfolding of divine Love, which insures the destruction of all discord and the establishment of harmony along every avenue of human experience.

What is incorrectly termed "demonstration" may be only the outcome of clever argument for projecting the schemes of human will. True demonstration in Christian Science has as its primary purpose the establishment of the kingdom of God among men, and stands untouched by the schemes of mortals. Those who think Christian Science can be demonstrated according to their personal desires often trample upon the rights of others to gain their own ends, only to find that they are made no happier thereby and their cross is heavier than before. Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellany (p. 303), "Christian Science eschews divine rights in human beings. If the individual governed human consciousness, my statement of Christian Science would be disproved; but to demonstrate Science and its pure monotheism—one God, one Christ, no idolatry, no human propaganda—it is essential to understand the spiritual idea."

There is only one true thing that can be known about any material condition, and that is, its unreality. We can only know the truth about that which is true of God and His creation. This truth, expressed as spiritual ideas, taking possession of human consciousness, unites us to the law of God; indeed, this activity becomes the law of God to us, which alone works out human affairs honestly and brings into human experience the right sense of peace, health, harmony, and abundance. If we turn the hands of the clock and make them point to twelve, that of itself does not make it noon. Attempting to regulate human affairs, we might appear to accomplish what we desire, but it would not be harmony. Harmony unfolds naturally, as a token of God's presence, to those who are striving to abide in the consciousness of His presence. We can work out a demonstration in Christian Science only as we seek a fuller discernment of what God is and what He does. Constantly seeking to change material conditions, either to rid one's self of something undesirable or to gain something desirable in matter, can never be rightly called a Christian Science demonstration. What becomes evident to sense as the outcome of thought in communion with God will be a blessing—a demonstration—which will not leave us content in matter but will be used as a stepping-stone leading out of matter.

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