Editorial January 9, 1984 Issue

The goal of a Christian Scientist

DeWITT JOHN

There are many reasons why people turn to Christian Science—often for healing, for true religion, or for answers to serious difficulties. But whatever the immediate reason may be, one finds as he explores the teachings and makes them his own that his whole life takes on new meaning. He gains a better outlook. He drinks in new inspiration through the understanding of Spirit, God. He revises his views of what's really important and adjusts his way of life accordingly. He adopts a new goal—nothing less than that of working out his full salvation.

All this is hardly surprising, for it is the work of religion to give shape and meaning to one's whole human experience—a sense of direction and purpose, and an answer to one's inmost yearnings. Certainly this is true of the transforming religion Christ Jesus exemplified. He answered our deepest needs when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."^{ John 14:6.}

The Master marked for us the way of salvation both by words and by works. He said that those who believed his teachings—understood them— would repeat those healing works. Christian Science shows the practicality of Christian works today. It lays great stress on the demonstrable possibilities of Truth. For instance, in the textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy affirms that Christ is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life, healing the sick and casting out evils, destroying sin, disease, and death."^{ Science and Health, p. 332.}