Article May 21, 1927 Issue

An Understanding Faith

ANNA G. HERRING

Christian Science is the greatest factor for good in the world to-day, though, as in Jesus' time, there are those who have eyes and see not. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has defined "eyes," on page 586 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "spiritual discernment,—not material but mental." It was this "spiritual discernment" that revealed to her waiting thought the truth about God which underlay all that Jesus taught and demonstrated. It also enabled her to give her discovery to a needy world and to safeguard it from the destructive element in mortal thought; and for this we owe her endless thanks. Christ Jesus had sublime faith in the eternality of his life and Mrs. Eddy, realizing the practical import of his life and works, knew it would meet the needs of humanity to-day as then.

When at the tomb of Lazarus Jesus gave thanks for ever present Life, in the face of what seemed to be death, with the result that Lazarus was restored; he demonstrated his spiritual discernment of and understanding faith in the perfect man, instead of what appeared to the material senses. In Hebrews it is said: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 407): "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite. This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness."

Paul, also, with the eye of faith, restored the young man Eutychus, who fell from the third loft where Paul was preaching. Paul's reassuring words, "Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him," turned thought to God as the only Life, and thereby overcame the belief of death. It is this practical and logical process of applying an understanding faith to our daily needs that distinguishes Christian Scientists from those who merely believe in God; for God is a real and vital factor in their lives, and cannot be left out of their thought.

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