Anyone who acknowledges the existence of a Supreme Being must admit that God is omnipotent— that His might is irresistible. Christian Science demonstrates this divine power and proves that it supports every creation of God, divine Mind, as well as every human concept which temporarily represents an idea of Mind. No spiritual idea ever began but coexists with its creator. And this is true of the spiritual concept of Church, which has existed forever, but which, from the human standpoint, had to be discovered.

Mary Baker Eddy made this discovery when Christian Science was revealed to her, and she describes the idea, church, in these words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."

In order to develop this true idea for the world, Mrs. Eddy founded The First Church of Christ, Scientist. She designed it to represent "the structure of Truth and Love" by rousing the world to discern man and all creation as they exist in Mind, not as matter, but as spiritual ideas.

Spiritual ideas heal. They correct the false beliefs of the carnal mind, and they restore God's kingdom to human apprehension. So this Mind-healing Church, which Mrs. Eddy founded, must be seen as supported by the omnipotent Principle that impelled its founding. Whatever may claim to resist this institution or obstruct its development of healing power must fail, because nothing can interfere with the ability of God to protect what represents Him.

An important event in the founding of Christian Science was the building of the original edifice of The Mother Church, which was dedicated in 1895. Speaking of this building project as it was about to start, our Leader said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 141): "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, our prayer in stone, will be the prophecy fulfilled, the monument upreared, of Christian Science. It will speak to you of the Mother, and of your hearts' offering to her through whom was revealed to you God's all-power, all-presence, and all-science. This building begun, will go up, and no one can suffer from it, for no one can resist the power that is behind it; and against this church temple 'the gates of hell' cannot prevail."

In order to demonstrate the power of God in His relation to the institution, the Christian Scientist needs to realize three things: (I) that Church begins with God; (2) that nothing can obstruct its appearing; (3) that as the idea is understood, the institution which forwards its appearing cannot be injured or prevailed against by "the gates of hell," as Christ Jesus designated evil modes (Matt.16:18). These modes might include envy, malice, destruction, or indifference, which claim power.

If we mistakenly think of Church as beginning with people and blame the community for not recognizing the great Science which our institution expresses and promotes, we do not demonstrate the power which is behind that institution. When we believe that we are the power that rouses the community, we limit power to our own meager expression of it. But when we see that Church begins with God and that He is urging this divine idea upon the community with irresistible might, we help to open the way for the community to recognize the presence of God's structure and to value the institution which represents it.

Christian Science shows that divinity embraces humanity—all humanity—and that God is acting upon everyone, influencing him to acknowledge God's presence and structure. Divine Mind's self-revelation can be likened to the sun shining upon a bank of clouds and breaking through them first wherever they are thinnest. The presence of God as omnipotent Spirit is first recognized by those people who have lost materialism in some degree and who long for a spiritual knowledge of life. These people yield to the power that brings depth of peace to their hearts and directs them into avenues of healing service to God and mankind.

In a way, the church member stands aside and discerns God asserting His idea, exercising His control, manifesting His might. The member rejects the physical senses, which seem to be his own but which produce a false, material view of existence and a community of indifferent mortals. In the measure that he has awakened from the mesmeric dream of a materialistic community and is able to glimpse Mind's spiritual community, or brotherhood of divine ideas, the member will demonstrate the truth of universal love of and attraction to Church. He will help to bring to light the family of man, held in unity by the one Principle of being—Love. The same method in Christian Science that causes sickness to disappear is applicable to cause indifference to Church to disappear. We must realize that the perfect idea, Church, is in the hands of God and that the present and future development of this idea to human society is backed by omnipotent Principle. When we recognize that Church begins with God and appears to the world through His resistless self-assertion, we demonstrate the power behind the institution we are serving. We can be certain that the full revelation of "the structure of Truth and Love" will come in due time. With the Scriptures we can declare of God (Dan. 4:35), "He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him. What doest thou?"

Helen Wood Bauman