Editorial September 28, 1992 Issue

Healing church discords

The Editors

A number of reports reaching our ears speak of discord among members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, of conflict within branch churches, some of it due to disapproval of the actions of the officers of The Mother Church. It takes only slight familiarity with the Bible to hear these words from the book of James echoing in thought: "My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

Speaking with different people, one hears that the reason is the "Knapp book," the "Board," financial mismanagement, dissidents, disloyal members, vengeance, and so on. You can add to the list whatever you hear.

What would happen if we followed the counsel of Mary Baker Eddy and called the discord animal magnetism? (Mrs. Eddy defines animal magnetism as the name for mortal mind or evil, a term that describes all that results in disunity, ill will, hatred, anger, divisiveness, willfulness.) Would your prayer, your treatment in Christian Science for church health, be any different if you started by labeling the difficulty animal magnetism? Christian Scientists find that this metaphysical step lifts their work free from the misleading influences of personality, differing opinions, human will, fear, self-righteousness. This step uncovers the unholy influence that would turn brother and sister against each other.

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