The Language of Spirit

EDITH DE ROUGEMONT

Human language is the audible expression of thought. Appreciation or understanding of what is said is determined by two factors, the motive or the quality of thought which impels the language, and the spirit in which it is listened to. If, when speaking with people whose language is not ours, we wish to understand them, as they wish to understand us, we usually manage to come to some degree of understanding.

In Christian Science we learn that love is the true incentive underlying thoughts and words, and it should be the controlling motive in the life of every Christian Scientist. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 454): "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action."

No Christian Scientist can doubt that it was love for God and humanity which inspired our Leader to write her textbook and her other works. Therefore we may say it is only through the same love for God and man that her writings can be understood. Those who are ready to receive of the divine Love which she expressed are able to understand Science and Health. The spiritual sense of the Scriptures or the "new tongue," as elucidated in our textbook, is incomprehensible to thought which is not in a measure ready to receive it.

Where English is not their mother tongue, students are apt to think they have a language problem. But when Jesus spoke in parables because, to use his words, "hearing they hear not, neither do they understand," he spoke in a language with which his hearers were familiar, and he reproached them with not understanding his speech because they could not hear his word. On the other hand, when two of his followers met Jesus on the way to Emmaus, after his resurrection, their hearts burned within them whilst he talked with them. Deeply moved by the recent stirring events, their hearts were more prepared to receive the language of Spirit, and in a degree their ears were opened to understand Jesus' words.

It is well known among student of Christian Science that there have been remarkable instances where the spiritual meaning of Christian Science has been understood by those unacquainted with English, the original language of the textbook. The language of Spirit, as revealed in our Leader's writings, is the essence of Love. In seeking to understand this language and imbibe the spirit of Love, it is of advantage to the student to be able to read the textbook in its original language. Many people, therefore, are taking English lessons and are finding inspiration in studying our Leader's works in the original language. Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 179), "We are indeed privileged in having the untranslated revelations of Christian Science."

Spiritual language comes from the one Mind and means unity. In the eleventh chapter of Genesis we read that "the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech," until mankind started to build in Babel a high tower founded upon personal aggrandizement. A human and limited sense of personality meant minds many, separation, confusion; and out of this state of thought grew divers nations and languages, each claiming superiority for itself, bringing about envy, jealousy, false ambition, greed, and war; and the sense of unity was lost.

Centuries later, certain spiritually-minded men were gathered together and were of one accord in one place. They heard the language of Spirit, and were led to speak so that listeners of diverse nationalities who were ready to hear, were able to understand and to receive the language inspired by Love. Does not this prove true the words of our Leader in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), "In Science, divine Love alone governs man"? Every true faculty expresses the Love which meets every human need. Will it not be through understanding the "new tongue," the language of Love, through spirituality, that the nations will finally lose their sense of Babel or confusion and be united in the inspiration of Pentecost?

Christian Science churches are springing up the world over. May their walls ring with that language of Love which spoke through the self-forgetful labors of the early Christian worshipers! Then will come to pass that which our Leader predicted in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 155), "Then will you woo the weary wanderer to your door, win the pilgrim and stranger to your church, and find access to the heart of humanity."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Striking through Appearances to Reality

March 23, 1935

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit