Article October 4, 1947 Issue

HOW SUBSTANTIAL IS YOUR FAITH?

HAROLD C. LEWIS

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for," writes Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews (11:1). And Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 23), "Faith, if it be mere belief, is as a pendulum swinging between nothing and something, having no fixity." Certainly mere belief is not "the substance of things hoped for." Blind belief has no foundation, but is like a house built upon the sand, which the storm demolishes.

But Mrs. Eddy continues, "Faith, advanced to spiritual understanding, is the evidence gained from Spirit, which rebukes sin of every kind and establishes the claims of God." Faith "advanced to spiritual understanding" must be the quality of thought which Paul referred to, for this kind of faith reaches beyond the limits of material belief and lays hold on spiritual substance. Such faith is known by its fruits. It heals sickness and sin and overcomes discord and lack.

How spiritual understanding grasps true substance was illustrated in the following experience. During the recent war I moved with my family to a certain city where I became employed in defense work. At first we rented an apartment, but after two years of living in it, I decided that I should like to purchase a house. I expressed this thought to others, but always met with the objection, "This is not a good time to buy a house." However, the desire to have a home of my own persisted. I bought several books of plans, thinking that I might buy a lot and build a house. But whenever I mentioned this possibility to others, I was told that it was impossible to get materials for building.

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