Article September 10, 1949 Issue

"A PURELY CHRISTIAN STANDPOINT"

RUTH KENNEDY

Nothing is cherished more devotedly than is Christian Science by those who have, through their study and application of its teachings, proved day by day that it is the restatement of the very truths the Master taught, the truths by which he healed the sick, supplied the needy, raised the dead. So dear is Christian Science to those who have put it to the test of meeting the demands of ordinary and extraordinary daily living that they are zealous that it be accorded the respect they know it deserves. And if it fails to receive it, through either lack of understanding or maliciousness on the part of others, only he who is really living the Christ, Truth, can quell any sense of disturbance which may try to fill his thoughts.

Mary Baker Eddy, who as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science suffered the calumny of those unfamiliar with its teachings and of certain of her own students, was aware of their failure to understand its message and the mischievous interpretation that would be placed upon the revelation which God gave to her. With wisdom prayerfully sought, she made adequate provision to meet such attacks as might be publicly made upon it by setting up the Christian Science Committee on Publication. It is the duty of the Committee to correct misinformation intentionally or unintentionally disseminated, not merely to safeguard Christian Science, but to protect the public from imposition, as is stated in Article XXXIII, Section 2, of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy.

But what of the individual Christian Scientist? Is he to stand supinely by and watch that which he rightly cherishes being made an object of misunderstanding or even of ridicule? It was never our Leader's intention that we follow such a course. Because effective steps whereby the individual Scientist may aid in correcting such attitudes are spiritually mental, they will not be taken if our sensitivities remain bruised. In such a case we may well ask ourselves, "What am I being sensitive to, good or evil?" The earnest student of this teaching can and does replace the suggestion of sensitivity to evil with that which brings not only peace to himself but healing to the consciousness of those who would oppose the Christ, Truth. He replaces it with the demonstrable understanding that man, made in the image of God, divine Love, is susceptible to good and to nothing else. It is only a false concept of man which can in belief become the tool of evil. The alert Scientist places neither himself nor those who would oppose Christian Science in this category. He entertains neither fear nor resentment towards those who express an uninformed or prejudicial opinion of his religion. His only legitimate attitude towards such an individual is compassionate love based on the understanding of Mind's invincible power to reveal itself.

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