Article April 18, 1953 Issue

THE POWER AND SKILL OF METAPHYSICAL SURGERY

PAUL J. LICHTENFELS

IN Middle Ages it was the custom to combine the professions of barber and surgeon. Today surgery is a highly specialized operative technique, utilizing many mechanical devices to aid in physical reconstruction. But metaphysical surgery, or the reconstructive process of God, divine Mind, acting upon human thought to correct all discordant conditions, is an art that derives from eternally existent Mind.

Christ Jesus was the most perfect practitioner of this surgery of Mind that the world has ever known. The restoration of the ear of the servant of the high priest (Luke 22:50, 51) and the healing of the lame, blind, dumb, and maimed (Matt. 15:30, 31) are examples of his work in this direction. Following his crucifixion his injured hands, feet, and side were restored to usefulness solely through the operation of the power of God. "It was a method of surgery beyond material art, but it was not a supernatural act. On the contrary, it was a divinely natural act, whereby divinity brought to humanity the understanding of the Christ-healing and revealed a method infinitely above that of human invention." Thus, on page 44 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy describes the metaphysical surgery that took place within the tomb.

It is our understanding of the perfection and power of God that produces real healing. It does this by showing us that in reality there is no matter, and that what appears to be matter is but a belief of mortal mind. This spiritual understanding reveals the fact that God is the only Mind, and this realization wipes out the delusive belief in a mortal mind with its fictitious ills. This understanding of the omnipotence of God, when scientifically and specifically applied, heals every erroneous condition, even in cases where surgery might have seemed necessary to human sense. However, to apply the understanding of the perfection of God and man with power and skill calls for the consecration and love that animated Christ Jesus, as well as a thorough mastery of the modus operandi of Christian Science as set forth in Science and Health. There Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 402): "Christian Science is always the most skilful surgeon, but surgery is the branch of its healing which will be last acknowledged. However, it is but just to say that the author has already in her possession well-authenticated records of the cure, by herself and her students through mental surgery alone, of broken bones, dislocated joints, and spinal vertebrae."

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