Article March 28, 1925 Issue

Church Membership

DAISY BEDFORD

On page 583 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy gives us a sublime definition of the word "Church" Her metaphysical interpretation constitutes a wondrous ideal, which must bring, to those who are endeavoring to live up to it and to be a unit in an organization in which they can indeed be "kings and priests unto God," the greatest possible joy and satisfaction. As with everything else, this privilege carries with it high behests, from which we cannot be absolved; for Christian Science, more than any other religion in the world, makes immediate and insistent demands. From the moment we hear the declaration that God, good, is all-power, and that evil, therefore, is not power, we realize that every time we admit power in evil we are believing a lie. The individual knows that sooner or later he must prove this truth. He has seen the light, and from henceforth the darkness of false belief can never be quite so opaque as it has seemed.

As we study the description given in Exodus of the tabernacle and the preparation for the work of the ministry, several points stand out which typify the necessity of mental preparedness in those who desire to become members of a Christian Science church. One is that the hangings of the tabernacle should be of fine linen. We learn in Revelation that to the Lamb's wife "was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." This surely images forth purification of thought, motive, and desire. Then comes the demand that the lamp before the tabernacle shall be filled with pure oil, in order that it may burn always. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 341, 342) our Leader writes: "Neither the cares of this world nor the so-called pleasures or pains of material sense are adequate to plead for the neglect of spiritual light, that must be tended to keep aglow the flame of devotion whereby to enter into the joy of divine Science demonstrated." Then we, as Christian Scientists, must see that "the flame of devotion" is ever brightly burning, never lacking in the oil of consecration, in order that we may fulfill Jesus' words, "Ye are the light of the world."

We learn further of the ministry,—and as Christian Scientists we must never lose sight of our high calling to minister to others as we have been ministered to,—that "the Urim and the Thummim ... shall be upon Aaron's heart." Applicants for church membership would do well to study carefully the meaning of these two words as given in the Glossary of Science and Health. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 595: "The Urim and Thummim, which were to be on Aaron's breast when he went before Jehovah, were holiness and purification of thought and deed, which alone can fit us for the office of spiritual teaching." We need to pray daily and hourly for this holiness and purification, as well as for the inspiration which comes from Truth and Love, if we would carry out the demands incumbent on each church member. "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord," we read in Isaiah. When John tenderly counseled his students, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth," he surely meant that it is not the outward form which satisfies, but that it is the inward and spiritual grace of at-one-ment with God which enables us to demonstrate the teachings of Christian Science, and thus to be, in the words of James, "doers of the word, and not hearers only."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Church Membership

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access