Article September 5, 1983 Issue

"House of prayer" or "den of thieves"?

HELEN WENTWORTH BACON

When Christ Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, he cast out those who bought and sold there, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of people who sold doves. He said, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."^{ Matt. 21:13.} Then he showed how "the house of prayer" should be used, by healing those who came to him for help.

As I read this account I thought of how much I love the church I attend regularly, joining with others in the worship of God. Then I thought of an even deeper sense of Church. It has to do with a state of spiritual, or true, consciousness. I can take it with me wherever I go. At any time, day or night, whatever I am doing, I can enter this Church and commune with God. What a precious privilege this is!

I then recalled once when I was employed in the office of the governor of my native state. After one of the state senators found that I was a student of Christian Science, he frequently engaged me in conversation about my religion. When I realized that his interest was not genuine, I began to avoid him. One day five or six senators, including the one who had been curious about Christian Science, were gathered in an office where I had just arrived on an errand. As I was about to leave, this man said: "Just a moment. We have been discussing your religion. We wonder whether you Christian Scientists believe that heaven is a locality or a state of consciousness." I replied, "Jesus said that 'the kingdom of God is within you,'^{ Luke 17:21.} so from that we Christian Scientists deduce that heaven is a state of consciousness."