Article August 29, 1953 Issue

ARE YOU REALLY IN CHURCH?

ELEANOR MC P. MORITZ

A minister of an orthodox church, who was reviewing his first year in a new and rather fashionable community, spoke especially of one quiet, demure, elderly couple who never missed a service of any kind in the church. When he expressed appreciation to them of their faithfulness they evidenced surprise at being noticed and said: "It doesn't make any difference to us whether it's a small service or a large one, or who else comes. In fact, it doesn't matter too much what you say," they added somewhat apologetically. "We come to worship God."

When a Christian Scientist hears of such an incident, he rejoices anew in the inspired concept of Church given to us by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. The definition of Church, as given in the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583), has become dangerously familiar to many of us. The danger lies in the words becoming a formula which we repeat but without understanding their deep underlying meaning. It would bring wonderful blessings if every earnest Christian Scientist would periodically approach this definition as though he had come upon a precious new discovery that must be fully explored for its significance. Perhaps the result would simply be a rediscovery of familiar truths, but surely, just as "creation is ever appearing, and must ever continue to appear from the nature of its inexhaustible source" (ibid., p. 507), so the revelation of the true meaning of Church must ever continue to disclose new and exalting views to the expectant seeker.

"The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Thus Mrs. Eddy defines the spiritual idea of Church. Nothing except this structure could possibly be sure of enduring the onslaught of today's evil forces. Provided one is able to accept this exalted idea of Church, how can it help humanity today? Is it practical? Our Leader furnishes the answers when she says in the second part of her definition, "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."

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ARE YOU REALLY IN CHURCH?

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