Rejoicing and Healing

W. Stuart Booth

Although he was imprisoned in Rome when his epistle to the Christians at Philippi was written, Paul was led to counsel them to "rejoice in the Lord alway." Then, as if to explain the justifying reason for his advice, this brave and clear-visioned apostle added, "The Lord is at hand." Many times during his career as an ambassador for Christ, Paul had proclaimed and proved that God, good, is ever present to heal and to save men. Through prayer and songs of praise unto God, deliverance from prison had come to Paul and Silas. Again, when the apostle and those in the ship with him en route to Rome were faced with what seemed to be certain destruction, as the boat was buffeted by a terrific storm, Paul encouraged first himself and then his companions with assurances of God's protecting power and presence; and as a result all were saved.

While he was not a personal disciple of Christ Jesus, Paul probably received from Peter and other disciples much firsthand information about the Master's experiences, words, and works, all of which helped to guide and inspire him in his great missionary activity. More than once Jesus voiced such encouraging words as, "Be of good cheer;" and when to these wondering and incredulous disciples he foretold his crucifixion and resurrection, the Master said, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Truly he who so marvelously overcame evil and so decisively proved God's power and presence by healing sickness and mastering sin and death, had ample reason for rejoicing always in the Lord and counseling his followers to do likewise.

The world's unhappiness, sadness, strife, envy, and fears are occasioned by the beliefs that sin is real, attractive, and influential, that matter is intelligent, causative, and selfacting, and that men are subject to evil and dependent upon matter. That these beliefs are false and powerless was stated implicitly and proved conclusively in his works by Christ Jesus. Through spiritual power and means alone he healed sickness, rebuked sin and forgave the sinner, annulled so-called laws of limitation, and overcame death. He brought glad tidings and great joy to sad but expectant humanity by declaring and demonstrating in his impressive works that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." From his words it appears that happiness and gratitude were regarded by Christ Jesus as important factors in his healing work.

A well-known American physician in a public address is reported to have given the recipe, "Smile and be well;" he advised people to "cultivate pleasant thoughts and associations, and maintain a hopeful, melioristic feeling;" also, he said that men should nip in the bud such growths as "envy, greed, jealousy, hatred, and abnormal fears." It is an encouraging sign of the times that this physician, like many other honest and observant doctors of medicine, recognizes the deleterious effect of selfish and fearful thoughts, and advises the cultivation of happiness and hope, confidence and serenity. Human experience shows, however, that such counsel and methods are inadequate to meet the needs of men. The reason for this is obvious: the spiritually unillumined human mind is incapable of self-correction and self-regeneration. One who believes that evil is real and that life is in and of matter finds it difficult to rule fear and evil out of his consciousness.

Here Christian Science meets the need. It may well be known as the Science of Christian hope and happiness, because it reveals God, good, as the sole creator and governor of man and the universe; it shows man to be the spiritual, perfect, pure, immortal, and unfallen expression of divine Mind. From this premise of perfect creator and perfect creation Christian Science reasonably deduces the fact that evil is unreal and powerless, whether the belief in it be seen as sin or sorrow, discord or disease, poverty or pain. The fact that these declarations are subject to demonstration by every honest seeker for Truth furnishes a sure basis for rejoicing. As Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 15), "Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to God." And then she tells how God's harmony and bounty may be realized: "Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers. Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and they assuredly call down infinite blessings."

Many times it has been proved by students of Christian Science that the practice of being grateful to God has served to break a mesmerism of fear and discord. Because God, good, is omnipotent and ever present, a persistent and grateful acknowledgment of this great truth confers an unshaken sense of dominion, power, and freedom. And such joyous Christian avowal brings human consciousness into immediate touch with God, divine Mind. Since rejoicing in the Lord has a direct and intimate relationship to Christian healing, it should be made our daily and hourly habit.

W. Stuart Booth

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