Supporting Our Church Activities

Duncan Sinclair

At the laying of the cornerstone of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 21, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy used these words (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 144, 145): "To-day I pray that divine Love, the life-giving Principle of Christianity, shall speedily wake the long night of materialism, and the universal dawn shall break upon the spire of this temple." She continued, "The Church, more than any other institution, at present is the cement of society, and it should be the bulwark of civil and religious liberty." What a prayer for the overcoming of all materiality! How clearly did our Leader voice the position of the church in the world today! Through the understanding which its members possess of divine Love, it is, "more than any other institution," the "cement of society," and "the bulwark of civil and religious liberty."

It were well that as church members we pondered our Leader's words, pondered them deeply, that their meaning, their import, might be plain to us. For it is of great importance that we should keep before us the value of our church as a redemptive agent, morally and spiritually, and as the indefatigable upholder of civil and religious freedom. That Christian Scientists are exercising a powerful influence for good today is made evident by the healing work they are accomplishing throughout the world. All manner of sickness and sin is being overcome throughout their understanding of spiritual truth. And it is this healing work, which includes the overcoming of discord of every kind, that is drawing mankind to Christian Science, there to gain a knowledge of "the life-giving Principle of Christianity," and of the rules by which Principle is applied to the overcoming of inharmony, thereby ensuring civil and religious liberty.

All who are familiar with the teachings of Christian Science know that the Church of Christ, Scientist, stands for all that is best in individual and national life. Its standard is perfection, in accordance with the words of Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," a standard founded on the absolute truth relative to God and man. God, as Christian Science teaches, is perfect, and man, God's image and likeness, is also perfect. And since God is infinite, perfection alone is real. Hence, imperfection, since it is without support from God, lacks reality. Christian Science, through its teaching that only that which is perfect is real, is thus revealing to mankind the method of salvation from all evil. Through the understanding it imparts of God's allness and evil's nothingness, it is showing men how to gain their liberty, physically, morally, and spiritually.

Christian Scientists remember these things. They keep in mind that the church with which they are connected exists not merely to bless themselves, but to be a blessing to all who come within the radius of its spiritual influence. Has not Mrs. Eddy written (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 570): "Millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences"? These "unprejudiced minds," these "simple seekers for Truth," these "weary wanderers," are to be found everywhere. How necessary, then, that our churches—all of them—should be ready to meet their need! How necessary that every church member should be doing his utmost to provide, through his understanding, spiritual "rest and drink" to all honest, earnest seekers for the truth which saves and heals!

As the work of redemption and healing goes on, it is highly important that church members support each other, after the manner of those with a knowledge of the life-giving divine Principle, Love. Every church member should esteem it a privilege to do so. This does not mean, however, that members should give treatment to anyone unless they have been asked to do so. But it does mean that they should be constantly knowing the truth about the allness of God, good, and the unreality and powerlessness of evil, in order to protect themselves from the belief that those in official positions in our churches can be touched by the belief of animal magnetism, the aggressive mental suggestions of mortal mind. If this were done by every church member, can we doubt what the result would be? Healings at church services would be more frequent, a greater sense of gratitude would pervade these services, and the congregations would feel, with gladness and joy, that there they were in the very house of God.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:15, 16). These words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples before he left them. The Church of Christ, Scientist, is obeying them today. And this is entailing upon its members great consecration, constant self-abnegation, humility, and unselfed love. In no other way can our church activities be upheld as they should be; in no other way can they scientifically play their part in overcoming the materialism of the world, healing men physically and liberating them morally and spiritually.

Duncan Sinclair

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