Article August 25, 1928 Issue

"My Patient" and "My Practitioner"

AMOS WESTON

It is a trite saying that men are creatures of habit, easily adopting modes that meet their needs. But such modes sometimes become hindrances. In the conversation of Christian Scientists we often hear the terms "my practitioner" and "my patient." These mistaken expressions have come into use probably because the work in Christian Science is sometimes thought of as a profession in the ordinary sense of the term, rather than as a ministry in a very definite spiritual sense; and from this viewpoint terms like the above have been picked up which are more or less incongruous in the language of the new tongue.

One who is healed in Christian Science gains a new freedom and understanding. He has found that as a child of God he is entitled to eternal peace. But if there be contemplation of the possibility of a lapse in interest, or of a recurrence of the old trouble, or of the appearance of a new one, and the remembrance also that a practitioner is within call, this state of thought may tend to promote doubt and fear, until the suggestions of discord dull the consciousness of harmony, and one concludes that the time has come again to call "my practitioner."

It is a common observation that those who have been healed of sin, who have gained their freedom from former erroneous habits and thinking, stand very firm in their conviction that they are healed permanently. They regard the future with an unqualified conviction of permanent freedom from former errors. This stand is scientific, and a strong fortress. There is no room in such a state of consciousness for a suggestion that help may recurrently be needed. Mrs. Eddy warns against an attitude of uncertainty, saying, on page 406 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "The moral man has no fear that he will commit a murder, and he should be as fearless on the question of disease."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Intelligence is Unlimited