In the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to Luke we read that Christ Jesus once asked his disciples, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?" He followed his question by likening the one who heard and did his sayings to the man who built his house upon a rock, and it could not be shaken. And the one who heard his teachings and did them not, Jesus likened to the man who built his house without a foundation, and it immediately fell when the flood came. Through Christian Science the Way-shower's words are becoming more fully understood and demonstrated.

The consistent Christian Scientist is endeavoring to adhere strictly to the demands of his chosen religion, which are presented in his textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, as well as our Leader's other writings. Joy and freedom are the inevitable rewards of him who with consistency and consecration complies with the instructions set forth to guide him in his demonstration of the truth.

One most important precept in the scientific statement of Christian metaphysics, and one which is perhaps least comprehended and demonstrated, is that there is no disease. In all his healing of disease this instruction was demonstrated by Jesus, the Founder of the Christian religion. The discovery of the divine Principle basing this teaching and work led to the founding of Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy, who emphasizes in various ways that there is no disease.

Why do we not wholeheartedly believe this? Why read Science and Health and not accept as truth all its statements? Why claim adherence to Christian Science and not accept one of its most vital teachings? "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" No student of Science and Health would intentionally disobey its demands. But perhaps some have not studied sufficiently to ascertain that they must think, act, and live in obedience to them. Such consistency would preclude any belief in disease or claim of it.

If disease is real, who made it? Certainly not God, who, as Habakkuk says, is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" and cannot "look on iniquity" (1:13). Then if the belief in its reality persists, the conclusion must be that there is a creator other than God, a fallacy clearly recognizable by any student of Christian Science. The fact is that there is no disease because it never was made.

Material, personal sense argues that disease seems very real. But material sense cannot be relied upon to report truth. In fact, there is no material sense to argue, since it has no creator. A study of Science and Health will show that matter and mortal mind are synonymous, error, the opposite of all that is good and true. Disease then is seen to be an illusion of belief, which belief must be seen to be as unreal as disease.

Both the fear of disease and the belief in disease must be destroyed in the human consciousness, that their effects may not be expressed upon the physical body. One strong argument in favor of not believing in disease is that if disease were true, a fact, it could not be destroyed. Since it is not a fact, but exists in belief only, the belief in it can be disposed of by Truth. Since disease exists only in belief, its false claim of cause is mental, not physical. It is some inharmony in individual consciousness, such as fear, hate, worry, impatience, rebellion, resentment, human will, ignorance of God and His laws, irritation, jealousy, or sin, which appears to cause pain and physical discomfort. Consequently the healing is mental.

In the light of these scientific facts, how could physical diagnosis, X ray, material operations, and material medicine aid one in discerning the cause of disease and its cure? Of course, these remedies are no aid in scientific mental healing, which is accomplished only through strict adherence to Truth. The healing efficacy of such adherence is seen in the following account.

A woman who had undergone an operation for cancer later found that she was suffering from it again. This time she determined to rely steadfastly upon Christian Science for healing and sought help from a Christian Science practitioner. The practitioner, recognizing cause to be mental, prayed that Truth would uncover whatever error of thought claimed to be the cause, in order that its nothingness and powerlessness might be demonstrated. The patient was grateful for the opportunity of replacing fear with love and of overcoming a sense of rebellion through trust in God, good. Her healing was completely realized within five months, and there has been no recurrence of the difficulty in the sixteen years since its accomplishment.

It is obvious that the Christian Scientist must hold firmly to the absolute truths or facts of being in order to prove that there is no disease. In the words of our Leader found on page 146 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany": "Christian Scientists hold as a vital point that the beliefs of mortals tip the scale of being, morally and physically, either in the right or in the wrong direction. Therefore a Christian Scientist never mentally or audibly takes the side of sin, disease, or death. Others who take the side of error do it ignorantly or maliciously. The Christian Scientist voices the harmonious and eternal, and nothing else. He lays his whole weight of thought, tongue, and pen in the divine scale of being—for health and holiness."

Holding to the harmonious and real in consciousness, all can demonstrate the truths that God is Spirit, that man is His spiritual likeness, perfect and harmonious, that there is only one creator and one creation, and that in the universe of Spirit there is no disease. Thus will each one demonstrate that he has built upon the Rock, Truth, and earned the right to call our Master Lord.