From the Editors September 23, 2013 ISSUE

The leaven is at work

The Editors

When a baker puts yeast in a batch of bread dough, he has full faith that the whole batch will be leavened—once the yeast is properly mixed with the other ingredients, it spreads throughout the dough. It cannot be removed and its leavening effect comes into play. 

When Christ Jesus preached the kingdom of God, he proclaimed it to be “at hand,” “within you,” and “like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (see Luke 21:31 ; 17:21 ; and 13:20, 21 ). Likewise, Mary Baker Eddy spoke of the divine Science of Christ, Truth, as the leaven destined to change “the whole of mortal thought, as yeast changes the chemical properties of meal” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 118 ).

Like the baker, Jesus and Mrs. Eddy each had full faith in the spiritual “yeast,” or leaven, God has placed in the dough of human consciousness—that nothing could remove it, stop its spread, or halt its leavening effect.

This leaven is transforming lives.

So if and when we have any concerns about the future of Christian Science, it’s important to look for signs of the leaven at work in individual and collective human thought—as evidence that God Himself is bringing about changes that ensure eventual salvation for the whole of humanity from sin, disease, and death. As Mrs. Eddy said: “Ages pass, but this leaven of Truth is ever at work. It must destroy the entire mass of error, and so be eternally glorified in man’s spiritual freedom” (Science and Health, p. 118 ).

On a recent broadcast of the public radio program “On being” with Krista Tippett, for example, Krista interviewed poet and essayist Christian Wiman on the subject, “Remembering God.” Wiman was raised in a family and community culture that immersed him in religious faith, but he left that all behind when he went to college. Then, in his late 30s, he felt a “loss” that drew him back to church. He said the “structure” of the church experience gives him solace, but that religion needs to take form in “new language” in order to truly satisfy his hunger for faith. He made this interesting comment: “I think it may be the case that God calls some people to unbelief in order that faith can take new forms.” And he agreed with Krista that his “return to faith was very much connected to finding love.”

The forever-new language of Spirit, which God ministers to every human being through the leaven of divine Love, is what leads individuals to find the Science of Christ. This leaven is also transforming the lives of Christian Scientists and moving them to express in their lives the unconditional love of God that blesses others, as well as themselves. Nothing can stop this forward movement.

Send a comment to the editors
This is the end of the issue. Ready to explore further?
Exclusives Audio
September 23, 2013
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit