Editorial August 20, 1932 Issue

"God's gracious means"

W. Stuart Booth

Christian Science is a wonderful boon and blessing to mankind because, through its inspired and demonstrable teachings, men become intelligently acquainted with God. This acquaintance reveals God, not only as divine Love bestowing all good impartially and universally, but also as divine Principle governing and guarding all reality with the perfect law of harmony and justice. Christ Jesus demonstrated the practical application of divine Love and the operation of the law of perfect Principle in the affairs of humanity, for by means of spiritual power our Master healed all manner of disease, denied and destroyed sin, and overcame death. His statements to those who doubted and persecuted him indicate that his purpose was not only to meet human needs, but principally to verify his teaching about God. Repeatedly he said that his marvelous works were due solely to the power and presence of God.

Since God is unchanging and impartial Love, or Principle, then the spiritual means whereby our Exemplar proved God's goodness are available to all, even as Christ Jesus promised definitely and repeatedly. Mary Baker Eddy discerned, declared, and demonstrated this fact. Her declaration of the truth in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is so logical, simple, and practical that the divine means used by the Master are being employed widely today in meeting human needs. And what are these means? Mrs. Eddy answers this question on the first page of Science and Health in the words, "Prayer, watch ing, and working, combined with self-immolation, are God's gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind." Undeniably these were the spiritual means employed by Christ Jesus.

Mankind has been wrongly educated to believe that God is afar off, and that, separated in belief from Deity, men are supposed to reach out to Him through prayer and blind faith. Because of this error mankind has seemed to be deprived of the spiritual means employed by Christ Jesus in his practical ministry. Until the light of spiritual understanding gained in Christian Science dispelled these false concepts of God and man, prayer may have been regarded by many as a mere human yearning or desire, and the "watching, and working" likewise deemed to be but human efforts. But Christian Science, being based upon the infinitude, the allness, of God and His omnipotence, points out the assuring, yes, the inspiring, fact that God not only gives all of good—of health, harmony, peace, and life—but that the infinite love of God provides the means whereby His gracious gifts are to be gained. Hence "prayer, watching, and working" are to be identified with divine Mind, Love; for then they are found to be effectual indeed.

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