Article September 11, 1948 Issue

I AM A PRACTITIONER

RICHARD P. VERRALL

If a student of Christian Science should be called upon for help, could he honestly excuse himself by saying, "I am not a practitioner," even though he may add, "I will gladly help you find one"? The question which all must face sooner or later is this: "Are there two kinds of Christian Scientists, those who practice their religion and those who just accept its benefits?" As a matter of fact, no one really knows how good a Christian Scientist he is until he is confronted with a problem and his ability to solve it through the application of his knowledge of Christian Science is put to the test.

Under the marginal heading "The armor of divinity" on page 571 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes as follows: "Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil." If a Christian Scientist were to think of himself as unwilling to put Science into practice, this state of mind would preclude his receiving the blessing in this promise.

To have a proper respect for God as the source of all wisdom and healing power and for one's true self as His image and likeness, one should appreciate the fact that God does not bestow His gifts upon a selected few, but manifests Himself to and through all who understand His universal and impartial nature. It would not be modesty, therefore, which would impel one to say. "I am not a practitioner," but might be a lack of self-confidence and faith in God. The following incident illustrates this point.

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