Article April 11, 1942 Issue

Serving Tables

JOHN SIDNEY BRAITHWAITE

The extent to which the physical and spiritual needs of mortals are distinguishable the one from the other, and the degree of priority that should be conceded to either, has always been a matter of some perplexity, especially to those who believe that their aspirations are alone concerned with ministering to spiritual needs.

The Christian Scientist knows that healing sickness and sin with Truth is the all-important work of the Christian ministry, and that in the words of Mary Baker Eddy, "Healing the sick and the sinner with Truth demonstrates what we affirm of Christian Science, and nothing can substitute this demonstration" (Church Manual, Art. XXX, Sect. 7). He has learned, however, through experience, that to ignore the physical and insist that spiritual values alone are worthy of attention, may set up conditions of neglect or resentment that will prove most baffling and will, moreover, result in censure on the part of observers, well-intentioned or otherwise.

Experience has shown that much depends on a right adjustment of the ministry to these two phases of human need, and that each in its own way is important in contributing to the establishing of God's kingdom here and now.

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