Article September 5, 1953 Issue

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND THE NEW BIRTH

LESLIE LELAND

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to question him about his miracles and teachings, he was astounded at Jesus' statement (John 3:3), "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Questioning Jesus further, he elicited the challenging reply: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." But Nicodemus, trained only to think in terms of human affairs, was mystified.

To the Christian Scientist, Jesus' words. "Ye must be born again," are inspiring and demonstrable. He recognizes his true being in Spirit. He is putting off the old man, the false belief of a material man subject to pain and sorrow, want and limitation, and is joyously accepting his real status as the son of God. Regeneration, the new birth, is taking place in his thinking, and the signs following are evident in health and freedom, abundant supply and boundless opportunity, the kingdom of heaven already at hand. Gratitude wells up in his heart— gratitude for healing, gratitude for the new way of life, and, above all, gratitude to the beloved Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, for the revelation which makes possible the new birth. Moments of sacred communion with God multiply, and there comes a precious assurance of man's oneness, or unity, with the Father-Mother God.

The Christian Scientist knows that the gifts of divine Love must be shared. Joyously, then, he prepares himself for church membership as tangible proof of his gratitude and his readiness to serve his fellow men through the Church organized and established by our Leader.

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