Article June 21, 1982 Issue

Proper caring

ARNO PRELLER

Imagine for a moment that you were a member of Jairus's household when his daughter had died. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he found mourners bewailing the girl's death in the traditional manner. The people resorted to ridicule when they could not understand the Master's conviction of the unreality of sickness and death, and Jesus found it necessary to remove them from the premises. See Mark 5:22-24, 35-42 .

Would you have been allowed to stay and witness the victory over death as were the girl's parents and Peter, James, and John? Or would the Master have had to put you out along with the others? Would you have supported healing by contributing to an atmosphere of peace and confidence, or would your fear, materiality, or sensuality have needed to be removed as obstacles to healing?

Even though he did not always have optimum conditions for his healing work in terms of a supportive mental environment, Christ Jesus knew that God was good and supreme. No matter what the physical senses were claiming, the condition to be dealt with was a belief in something God never made. The difference between medical science and true Christian healing as practiced by Jesus is not only a question of method but one of what is to be treated. The Christian Scientist does not manipulate matter; he replaces beliefs of discord with a correct understanding of the perfection of God and man. Since both problem and solution are mental, the patient's state of consciousness and the thoughts of those around him are very important. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, refers to this favorable mental climate in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which is the Christian Science textbook: "In medical practice objections would be raised if one doctor should administer a drug to counteract the working of a remedy prescribed by another doctor. It is equally important in metaphysical practice that the minds which surround your patient should not act against your influence by continually expressing such opinions as may alarm or discourage,—either by giving antagonistic advice or through unspoken thoughts resting on your patient." Science and Health, p. 424.

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