Editorial January 17, 1953 Issue

WORSHIPING IN SPIRIT

Helen Wood Bauman

It is interesting to note in Scriptural history that the intuitive worship of God in spirit leads to further revelation of God's Word. Abram, for instance, expressed freedom from greed before "the word of the Lord" came to him with its assurance of God's protection and his own exemption from fear (Gen. 15:1). Moses' human sense of justice caused him to slay an Egyptian, and he was forced to flee for his life (Ex. 2:11-15). But later the true quality of justice opened his thought to receive the Ten Commandments, the divinely derived code of justice for human behavior.

Starting with the spirit of good, one is naturally led to gain more of Truth. But any attempt to reach the spirit of true worship through the letter is likely to lead to spiritual frustration. Christ Jesus said (Matt. 7:13), "Enter ye in at the strait gate." The straight and narrow way of progress in Christian Science is the direct way, and the direct way is the way of spiritual worship through love and integrity—companions of intelligence.

Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 451): "Students of Christian Science, who start with its letter and think to succeed without the spirit, will either make shipwreck of their faith or be turned sadly awry. They must not only seek, but strive, to enter the narrow path of Life, for 'wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.' "

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