Editorial October 9, 1926 Issue

Progress in the Understanding of Christian Science

Duncan Sinclair

Many a time one has heard the question, "I wonder why I am not making better progress in the understanding of Christian Science?" It is a question which has come from the lips of every earnest student of Christian Science at some time or other, even from those who apparently have demonstrated its teachings a great deal. And why is this? Because Christian Science has set its followers the ideal of perfection, even as did Jesus when he said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect;" and they cannot be satisfied unless they feel themselves progressing in the understanding of Christian Science, the Science of perfect Being.

On page 495 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy asks, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" and answers her question on pages 495 and 496 in a manner which cannot but be helpful to every earnest student. Repeatedly her answer has served to renew hope in the breast of those who have been allowing despondency to get the better of them, enlightening them once more on essentials. In short, it has brought them back to the true way of thinking and acting, whereby progress is ensured. Immediately after putting the question Mrs. Eddy replies: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love." How admirably in these words does our Leader lay her finger on the necessities of the case!

Are we really living as closely as possible to divine Principle, good? Are we trying, are we earnestly striving, to do so? If not, then we cannot expect to find ourselves progressing as we would like in the understanding of Christian Science. The Bible and Science and Health—our textbooks—contain the letter of this Science in its fullness; and as students of these books, we may be well up in the letter, the purely intellectual part as it may be called. But that is not nearly enough; we must also have entered, and that with zeal, into its spirit—have, indeed, imbibed its spirit. This is absolutely necessary for the demonstration of the great spiritual truths which Christian Science teaches. The "letter" may satisfy the reason, and one may accept the truths of Christian Science on this basis; but one must determine to live these truths—make them his very own—if he would demonstrate them and so progress in his understanding of Christian Science.

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