Article May 23, 1983 Issue

Healing: opportunity for all

JOHN ROOKER

To a person who is actively studying and practicing the teachings of Christian Science, the concept of spiritual healing grows wonderfully into a completely practical way of life. And as he progresses, a student of this Science begins to recognize the wider opportunity for serving mankind in a way that truly uplifts and regenerates lives. Membership in The Mother Church provides many opportunities for such rewarding service.

As a student in the Christian Science Nurse's Training Program, I am seeing that healing is far more than a physical change in the body or in outward conditions. Whether the need for healing appears to be an individual case of disease or an epidemic, tense relations between two people or nations, moral weakness in oneself or in society, it is necessary for the Christian Scientist to heal in his own thought the belief that discord is real before he can effectively help others. Christ Jesus said, "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Matt. 7:5. Also, in keeping with the ethics of Christian Science, one does not give treatment through prayer to an individual unless requested, or in an emergency. See Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 282 .

The word "heal" is related in origin to the word "whole," and one of its meanings is "to make sound or whole." This is important to the Christian metaphysician. In reversing the specific error that comes into our experience, and in arguing for Truth, we are affirming the essential wholeness and perfection of God's creation, including man, as described in the first chapter of Genesis. It is neither Spirit nor a spiritual idea that is diseased or sinful, but only Spirit's supposititious opposite, matter-based thinking. By our seeing the lie behind a material perversion of reality, and by establishing in our thought the purity and integrity of Truth, the outward condition, which is really only a symptom, is adjusted to a more harmonious expression.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
From a distant village
May 23, 1983
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit