Article September 25, 1937 Issue

Demonstration

CARL WALTER GEHRING

The word "demonstration" occurs often in conversation among Christian Scientists in connection with their activities. One of the dictionary definitions of this word is "proof." To demonstrate means to prove. A demonstration to a Christian Scientist is a proof of his religion. When he tells a friend or testifies publicly at a Wednesday evening meeting that he has had a demonstration in Christian Science and wishes to go on record in regard to it, he means that the healing efficacy of Christian Science has been proved to him, and that he is making acknowledgment of the fact. Such proof is naturally a healing of some sort, the eradication of some kind of discord, and thus demonstration and healing become practically synonymous in Christian Science. The demonstration is a healing, and the healing is a demonstration. Demonstration is a proof that, when God is correctly understood, this understanding brings harmony to men today as it did in the time of Jesus.

Twenty centuries ago, when Christianity was having its birth and Christ Jesus was preaching a new concept of God, demonstrations of the healing power of God were proofs that Jesus indeed expressed the Christ. There is a memorable and dramatic passage in the Bible where Jesus makes reply to the men whom John the Baptist had sent to find out whether the Christ had come, and whether Jesus really had the right to be known as the Messiah. He did not show them credentials. He did not argue with them or enter into persuasive talk. All he did was to say, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." In other words, Jesus had demonstrated his understanding of God, to whom all things are possible. Later, in the course of his teachings, he spoke of "signs following" when referring to the healing of sickness and other discords. This makes it clear that he regarded healing of all kinds as proofs, demonstrations, which follow spiritual understanding.

Demonstrations of physical healing in Christian Science are sought after and are desirable, but they are not the sole end and purpose of Christian Science. Jesus and his immediate followers proved them to be the "signs following" the understanding of the Holy Ghost or Comforter. Christ, Truth, is what Christian Scientists throughout the world are seeking in their study of the Scriptures and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, who, when she discovered and founded Christian Science, presented the same simple teachings of Christ Jesus, free from doctrinal beliefs. In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," on page 583, Mrs. Eddy has given the definition of "Christ" as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." Here is explained why the errors of the flesh—all the discordant conditions which Jesus healed during his ministry—must give way in this day of the world's history as a result of the coming of the Christ to the human consciousness. Through prayerful study, this coming of the Christ is daily occurring to some degree in the lives of Christian Science students, and attendant on this event are the "signs following" or, in modern terms, Christian Science demonstrations.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Gratitude the Magnifier of Good