Article June 11, 1938 Issue

Church Building

GUNNAR A. PANDE

In Christian Science, church building is primarily individual demonstration. Since each church member has the task of strengthening in his own consciousness the concept of the spiritual idea, Church, it is important that the church building program be constantly viewed from a spiritual basis. We should keep the vision of the real Church before us by holding constantly in thought the definition of "Church" as given by Mary Baker Eddy on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This Church eternally exists in Mind. Our work is to let it appear in our individual consciousness. This requires consecration, self-discipline, and self-sacrifice on the part of each builder. But it is a glorious experience to be engaged in the work of true church building. True, it takes moral courage to carry on when the forces of error seem to be having the upper hand, but if we work with Truth, what can interfere with the progress of the building?

Church building, then, begins in the individual consciousness, for the "structure of Truth and Love" must be unfolded to the understanding. As in material building excavation precedes the laying of the foundation, so must erroneous thoughts and false beliefs be eradicated from our consciousness; then we are ready to build in earnest. This means a joyful letting go of the mortal mind beliefs of temper, dishonesty, resentment, false appetites—materiality in every form.

Our revered Leader writes on page 136 of our textbook, "Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing." Since the great Exemplar thus established his church, we cannot look for a better way. The healing work is building work now, as it was centuries ago when, on the shores of Galilee, the master Christian healed the sick and raised the dead. So, if we would build "on a spiritual foundation," each one of us has healing work to do.

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