Testimonies—Inspired Communications

Many take advantage of opportunities to express gratitude to God for the good that has come into their lives through Christian Science. But at Wednesday testimony meetings in Churches of Christ, Scientist, there are some who, for various reasons, find themselves either unwilling or unable to speak. They long for sufficient confidence to share the blessings they have received, that others also may be inspired and helped to find the healing Christ, Truth. How should one speak? one may ask. What constitutes a helpful testimony?

There is, of course, no formula for speaking at a Wednesday meeting. But in the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy has provided Christian Scientists with a guiding rule, or framework, on which to base their public utterances on these occasions. Under the heading "Testimonials" she writes: "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3). This testimony, however, shall not include a description of symptoms or of suffering, though the generic name of the disease may be indicated." Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 24;

There is, then, more to a testimony than one's choice of words. A testimony is one way through which Truth can be communicated. And when one knows that God, the one Mind, is the source of all truth, his words become vehicles for the communication of Truth. Thus a testimony is helpful in the degree that it inspires others to receive Mind-directed communications of Truth and Love. In this respect a testimony may be likened to the seed planted in consciousness, of which Paul wrote, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." I Cor. 3:6;

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A Natural Step of Progress
November 28, 1970
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