Article March 3, 1928 Issue

Gaining Understanding

BENJAMIN PALMER LEWIS

In the third chapter of Proverbs we read: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. ... She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." To the student of Christian Science who, through the study and application of this great revelation, is just emerging from the shackling beliefs of scholasticism and the fetters of material sense, many puzzling questions may present themselves. It is likely that one question uppermost in his thought is, How am I to gain understanding? Through careful study of the Bible and the inspired writings of our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, perhaps at first slowly, yet surely, the light will dawn in his consciousness, and one by one the problems presenting themselves will be solved and the pathway to the kingdom of heaven grow less obscure.

From infancy mortals have been taught to pay homage to the testimony of the material senses. This false education causes them to believe that in all probability the only universe they can be aware of is that which they seem to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell through the medium of nonintelligent matter. Christian Science, with its revelation of God and the truth of creation, shatters this false teaching, freeing those held in illusory bondage to matter by showing them that God is divine Mind, the one infinite cause, and that His creation is spiritual. God having made all, and matter being no part of His creation, in reality there can be no material sense or matter.

Possibly the student thinks, if this be true, that when the sense of a material universe of which he seems to be cognizant is relinquished, nothing will be left in its place. If he will but persevere in the study and practical application of Christian Science, he will find that only the sweeping away of falsity has taken place; for through this Science he discovers that every error of sense is to be replaced with the true idea of Spirit; and by seeking spirituality the student also discovers that instead of living in a transitory, unreal universe he has a durable habitation, "an house not made with hands," one which is truly substantial and, therefore, eternal. As he begins to understand God as infinite Spirit and man and the universe as spiritual, as well as their relationship to each other, there unfold to his consciousness the answers to the questions: What is existence? What is its purpose? What is individuality? Through what avenues is the truth of being conveyed to man?

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