Article June 27, 1931 Issue

Church and Church Membership

WILLIAM G. STEWART

The student of Christian Science progresses by putting into practice the understanding he has already attained. This engenders a desire on his part for greater opportunities to serve, and for a closer bond with others treading the same pathway. With this object in view, he will find that church membership provides these greater opportunities, and that uniting both with The Mother Church and a branch church will bring many privileges and benefits.

The responsibilities, however, as well as the privileges and benefits, of church membership should be given due consideration; but the mistake should be avoided of letting the responsibilities outweigh the benefits in our judgment. On page 35 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes: "Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love,—casting out error and healing the sick." On the first reading of this passage the responsibilities may seem to overshadow the benefits; but on closer study the promise that the fruits of Love are forthcoming as we progress in understanding, takes on a wonderful significance. The greatest privilege vouchsafed to mankind is that of doing good to others. What greater joy and satisfaction could be had than that of being the means of bringing health and happiness to the suffering and inharmonious by destroying wrong beliefs about man? This should be the hope and expectation of everyone who unites with The Mother Church and a branch church.

One who had been attending church services for some years, and who had received a number of healings in Christian Science, applied for membership in a branch church. In reply to a question put by a member of the board of directors he told of his repeated attempts to overcome the tobacco habit of over twenty years' standing, stating that he had been endeavoring for the past two years to work out the problem in Science, but without success. He felt much gratitude, when, before the Communion Sunday arrived on which he expected to sign the church register, he found that all desire for tobacco had vanished, never to return. In each case where a progressive step is taken, good should be expected to result. Through identifying one's self more closely with the church, one's power of demonstration is enhanced; and each added member strengthens the whole through the cumulative effects of concerted right thinking.

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The City of God
June 27, 1931
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