Article July 12, 1941 Issue

"Every human need"

ARCHIBALD CAREY

"Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need," writes Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 494). This is a broad statement, but as we put it to the test we find that it is true.

Thousands of Christian Scientists, in published testimonies in the Christian Science periodicals, in the testimonies given each Wednesday evening in the Christian Science churches, and in their daily contacts with their fellow men, are bearing witness that they individually have found their needs met by Christian Science. This applies not only to their desires for spiritual inspiration and mental satisfaction, but to their everyday human needs. The Bible tells of many instances where such needs were supplied in the experience of those who were turning to God as the source of all good. But the test of truth to be complete should go beyond even a large number of experiences to the point where the fact becomes logically unescapable. So let us see how this statement applies to each of us individually.

Do we need health? Yes. If it seems to be lacking we need to have it restored. When we have good health we need to have it maintained. Then what is health? It is not physical. Health manifests itself humanly in wholeness and soundness, governing intelligently every decision of daily life, and thus maintains bodily health. A physician once remarked to a Christian Scientist: "No wonder you're healthy! Anyone who lives as sanely as you do would be healthy." However, that same individual had been restored to health by Christian Science when medical practice could offer no hope. The right thought of health came first; the wise habits of living were an expression of health, not its cause. The selection of proper food and right bodily activity under ordinary conditions are among the natural effects of healthy thought, but appropriate food and exercise no more cause health than a cock crowing produces the sunrise. Therefore, Christian Scientists find that when, for some sufficient reason, the usually accepted standards of food or bodily activity or clothing may not be maintained at some time, no undesirable results need follow.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Millions of unprejudiced minds"