Article August 6, 1932 Issue

The Church Builder

NELL FLASH

When God calls a group of workers to go forward in church building, the truth underlying the building program affords protection against every attack of evil; and there is great joy to be found in consecration to the Cause that is destined to revolutionize the world and to bring "on earth peace, good will toward men." Unselfed love, desire to serve, serenity, joy, order, find their place as stones in the temple of God. Through prayer is unfolded the divine will, and God's purpose and plan are seen in proportion to the subjection of self-will. Through dependency on divine Mind from the beginning to the end of the building program one sees every stone, every contract, every check, every operation of whatever name or nature, as primarily mental, a concept spiritually formulated, supported, and sustained in consciousness. As the material concept is relinquished and replaced by spiritual ideas, the real Church is manifested. Therefore, unworthy thoughts must be destroyed through Love, that the foundation of the Church Triumphant may be laid. This work calls for unselfish devotion to a holy purpose, and is expressed in purification of thought. Every day unfolds new views of good, and every moment spent in silent communion with God opens the thought to receive more blessings and surmount any difficulties. Sometimes the way seems beset with overwhelming difficulties and our work to overcome fear of every sort must partake of the serene realization that God, infinite Mind, is All-in-all. Love reflected in individual consciousness dispels the illusions that mortal mind suggests concerning church building.

Mrs. Eddy speaks of unity as the "phoenix fire," "the bond of perfectness" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 164). Unity of thought means successful church building, for when the membership stands in unity in its desire to build a church home, no opposing power can withstand the manifestation of the one Mind. In this unity of purpose, self is forgotten in desire for the good of all. The secret of success lies in having the spiritual goal always in thought, permitting no doubt or fear to find lodgment.

Lack of unity opens the door to conflicting human opinions, delay, obstructions, and blurs the concept of "the structure of Truth and Love" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 583) in the individual consciousness. Inventory in the thought of the individual enables him to ascertain exactly what he is giving to church building. The member who plans to give on a per capita basis may lose some of the joy of giving. Since man is the image and likeness of God, he reflects divine riches; and lack and restriction have no dwelling place in spiritual consciousness. The Christian Scientist learns to measure his supply by his dependence upon his creator. The builder must look upon lack of funds as one of the unreal obstacles which error would place in his pathway to obstruct progress. Only as he marches straight ahead in the face of fears, looking neither to the right nor to the left, claiming his God-given dominion over the dissolving shadows and clouds of limitation, will he gain a full realization that he is the child of a rich Father, who is constantly saying to His children, "All that I have is thine."

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