Article January 27, 1934 Issue

Simplicity

ADELAIDE ROGERS CALKINS

To those who know little or nothing of this teaching, the natural, beautiful simplicity of Christian Science may seem difficult to grasp; yet Science is as simple as claiming something that is one's own or accepting a beautiful gift, and is as easy to practice as it is to love someone altogether lovable. What makes it seem hard to understand is that mortals usually take the mistaken way in argument. In expecting certain results, a person may build up around himself higher and higher walls of mortal beliefs. Such a one confines himself in an unreal prison and thinks that necessarily it must take much time, strenuous efforts, or material means to set him free. The nothingness of error or the unreality of the prison walls seems beyond his grasp; for it cannot be conceived by material sense how an appeal to God can bring any benefit, when the creator is regarded as being far away, or at all times ready to punish His children.

"The Christian Science God is universal, eternal, divine Love, which changeth not and causeth no evil, disease, nor death," writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 140 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Could anything be more simple? Universal Love, everywhere present; eternal Love, forever loving; divine Love, unchanging—never variable, never partial! Such a Father could not cause or know aught but good. This was the one God and Father whom Jesus knew, and a study of his marvelously successful practice reveals the utmost simplicity and divine naturalness in the operation of the truth he taught and demonstrated. In "Retrospection and Introspection" our Leader writes (p. 91), "In this simplicity, and with such fidelity, we see Jesus ministering to the spiritual needs of all who placed themselves under his care, always leading them into the divine order, under the sway of his own perfect understanding."

Some who oppose what they believe Christian Science to be may think that nothing is being done for the one under treatment, or that this teaching is tremendously complicated and quite beyond the ordinary comprehension. The story in II Kings of Naaman's healing illustrates the former attitude. It will be remembered that this mighty warrior was an honorable man, but was afflicted with leprosy; also that a little captive maid of Israel, who had learned something of the real nature of the loving God, and who knew of Naaman's condition, told his wife of Elisha's healing power. So the warrior, taking with him gifts and much gold, came with great pomp to the prophet's door. How wise Elisha was in refusing to gratify Naaman's desire for special attention and in sending to him a simple message: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, . . . and thou shalt be clean"! That was not the spectacular performance expected. Dipping seven times in the river Jordan—nothing more or less—was required; and when the warrior's pride was changed to humility, and he was willing to give up his preconceived ideas of what must be done, "his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." Like "a little child"!

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