Editorial January 27, 1923 Issue

Right Methods

Albert F. Gilmore

As one studies, in the light of Christian Science, the experiences of Christ Jesus in demonstrating the needful things, he becomes convinced that the Nazarene brought about these results through his profound understanding of divine Truth and his extraordinary spiritual illumination, rather than through contemplation of the material things which the situation seemed to demand in order to insure harmonious physical conditions. Whether the demand appeared to be for tribute money, for additional wine for the feast, for food for the hungry multitudes, for the restoration of health, or of the physical sense of life, it was not by contemplation of the seeming lack that the demonstration was made; but always and invariably through his perfect understanding of true substance. As Christian Scientists, do we not need a fuller comprehension of the great significance of the Master's familiar experiences?

Apparently, there are Christian Scientists who do not always hold strictly to this scientific point of view in relation to church building. Quite oblivious of the spiritual assurance that "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it," the temptation to adopt and pursue the material point of view is not always resisted, and worldly means are undertaken which are bound to be unsuccessful, because restrictive of spiritual growth. Forgetting that true church building—the unfoldment of divine consciousness—is a wholly spiritual process, it is mistakenly believed that the erection of a material structure is, in itself, church building; and, in consequence, the effort centers upon it, rather than upon the gaining of the Mind of Christ, of an ever larger consciousness of true substance, and of the infinity of divine Love, Truth, and Life.

The custom which has developed in some degree in recent years of undertaking a church building enterprise upon a scale larger than the church membership concerned believes itself capable of demonstrating and, in consequence, of calling upon the field of Christian Science to subscribe to bond issues, indicates a lack of spiritual vision; and it may lead to serious consequences. The reason is not obvious whereby Christian Scientists convince themselves that members of branch churches living at a distance, perhaps in other states or countries, are under any obligation to invest in bonds of a given local church. Likewise, does not the borrowing of large sums of money to complete a church edifice, by means of a mortgage or otherwise, seem directly to violate the Scriptural injunction, "Owe no man any thing"? In the full assurance that not only is spiritual unfoldment the goal, but that supply follows a larger understanding of substance as Spirit, Christian Scientists may patiently wait for divine Love to do its "perfect work." There is more than a modicum of truth in the old adage, "Haste makes waste."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"That no man take thy crown"