Article January 26, 1924 Issue

The Growth of the Church

JOHN A. BARRON

To speak of the growth of the Christian Science church is another way of referring to the growth in spiritual understanding of its members. By recalling Mrs. Eddy's statement in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 450), "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good," it is seen that every member of a Church of Christ, Scientist, accepts very definite responsibility.

A call goes forth to groups of like-minded individuals in communities to provide, through church activity, a means whereby other Truth-seekers may have an opportunity to learn of the blessings of Christian Science. As each individual member thus associated demonstrates in thought, word, and deed more of Truth and Love, the Church, which our Leader defines in part as "the structure of Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 583), is expressed in fact, and is found accomplishing its lofty purpose, elevating mankind by destroying the beliefs of mortal mind, and replacing these falsities with an understanding of God, divine Mind, and of man as made in God's likeness.

As the church expresses the truth as taught in Christian Science, and demonstrates the Christ, growth is found as a fulfillment of the promise Jesus gave, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." By lifting thought from material concepts to the spiritual consciousness of Christ, Truth, it is possible to see a degree of completeness expressed in every department of church work, thus proving that God is an unfailing source of supply, meeting every rightful need as the church progresses.

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