Editorial December 14, 1940 Issue

"Through radical reliance"

Alfred Pittman

In the opening sentence of the first chapter of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy indicates the method of Christian Science healing. She writes, "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."

Since it is scientific trust in the omnipotence of God, infinite Love, which heals, it is plain that any reservation from such trust, any faith in something other than Spirit, is a hindrance rather than a help in true healing; and this is our Leader's clear teaching. She writes (Science and Health, p. 234): "Spiritual draughts heal, while material lotions interfere with truth, even as ritualism and creed hamperspirituality. If we trust matter, we distrust Spirit." And on page 167 of the same work she says, "Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized."

Mrs. Eddy recognized that under some conditions the confidence of the student might not yet be equal to complete reliance on Spirit for help with bodily troubles; and she gives explicit instructions for dealing with such conditions. But she also indicates, as indeed experience shows, that instances of this kind are exceedingly rare. She emphasizes continually that Christian Science is the divinely ordained and supremely effective means of healing all the ills of mankind; that it is never inadequate for meeting any need; and that it is every student's high privilege, always, to rise in faith and understanding and prove that this is so.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Through radical reliance"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access