Article April 16, 1949 Issue

One's success as a Christian Scientist determined by humility, receptivity, and willingness to heal

OUR APPROACH TO CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

LESLIE BURN ANDREAE

Agenuine love of God and an earnest desire to understand Him spiritually are the best introduction to Christian Science. Then thought will be humble and receptive, anxious to learn and slow to criticize. An argumentative frame of mind is not helpful in approaching Christian Science, and to argue against some of its statements while accepting others tends to becloud thought and induce unreceptivity. We can quickly learn to argue for Christian Science when we accept God as Spirit and man, His image and likeness, as spiritual. Logical conclusions drawn from this premise are fruitful and productive, and they obey the simple rules which are laid down in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.

Questions are legitimate; it is, however, the character of the questions and the way in which they are worded that often reveal whether the questioner is sincerely searching for Truth or is asking questions with the ulterior motive of proving Christian Science wrong or contradictory on some point. If he engages in the unprofitable pursuit of human argumentation and persists in it, this may hinder his spiritual progress. But if he approaches Christian Science in sincerity and without bias, he will be enabled to advance rapidly in the understanding of Truth and find health, happiness, and success.

Humble, receptive thinkers are described by Mrs. Eddy in her textbook in these words (p. 450): "They are sincere, generous, noble, and are therefore open to the approach and recognition of Truth. To teach Christian Science to such as these is no task. They do not incline longingly to error, whine over the demands of Truth, nor play the traitor for place and power." And she adds immediately: "Some people yield slowly to the touch of Truth. Few yield without a struggle, and many are reluctant to acknowledge that they have yielded; but unless this admission is made, evil will boast itself above good."

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