Healing in Christian Science

Duncan Sinclair

Whoever has studied Christian Science, gained an understanding of its teachings, and in some degree demonstrated these teachings in the healing of disease and sin, is not in doubt as to the entirely metaphysical nature of Christian Science healing. While it is true that the majority before they became Christian Scientists believed in the efficacy of drugs, they no longer use these as curative agents, being convinced from practical experience that nothing can possibly take the place in healing of the spiritual method used by Christ Jesus and the early Christian church.

The method of healing used in Christian Science is altogether spiritual. It is a thought-process, an enlightened thought-process; and it can be practiced successfully only by those who have an understanding of divine Science, and whose thought has been in a measure purified and spiritualized. Human will-power, so called, enters not at all into the practice; indeed, will-power is a hindrance in Christian Science practice. Knowledge of the physical sciences, so called, is not a factor in the practice either: it too may be a deterrent. What is necessary is that thought should be spiritualized; that one should be conscious of the omnipresence and omnipotence of God and of the unreality of matter or evil, and aware that thought thus informed and inspired can destroy inharmony in whatever form it may seem to present itself. Mrs. Eddy writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 4), "Thought imbued with purity, Truth, and Love, instructed in the Science of metaphysical healing, is the most potent and desirable remedical agent on the earth."

It may not seem easy for some people to give up their belief in the efficacy of drugs, especially if they have reasoned themselves into the belief by means of what they have considered to be reliable data. It may take more than a few demonstrations of healing through Christian Science to cure them of their misplaced faith in drugs; but nothing is more certain than that this faith will decrease as reliance on spiritual understanding is proved to be justified, until faith in the power of spiritualized thought to heal has entirely subjugated belief in matter as curative. Few people, surely, believe that drugs will heal sin. The time is coming when people in general will have as little faith in the use of drugs to heal disease as to heal sin, and will have recourse to an understanding of God, Mind, for release from their woes, whether physical or moral. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 149 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Mind as far outweighs drugs in the cure of disease as in the cure of sin. The more excellent way is divine Science in every case."

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," wrote Paul to the Philippians. And the Mind that was in the Master, the Mind that he expressed, was divine Mind. Jesus' life-work consisted in proving that his real spiritual selfhood, the real spiritual selfhood of every one of us, is the image or reflection of God. This he did by the purity of his life, by his spirituality, by the consciousness he possessed of good, by the thoughts he entertained of love and compassion, by the courage, endurance, faith, and understanding he displayed in such rich measure. These and such like spiritual qualities constituted his thought, which undoubtedly was the most miracle-working agency the world has ever known.

It is the Mind of Christ we need in increasing measure if we would do the healing works of Jesus in greater degree. Christian Science teaches the allness of God, Mind, and the nothingness of matter. The Christian Scientist studies and prays for a fuller understanding of Mind, for greater faith in Mind; and in the ratio that he secures this fuller understanding and faith, he finds himself delivered from the thralldom of materiality. Instead of turning to matter to heal him he looks to God, to Truth; he affirms the truth about God and spiritual man, which Christian Science has revealed to him; he endeavors to realize what that truth makes clear, namely, the continuous and enduring perfection of God and man, and the unreality of all unlike good. And with the realization comes healing.

Sometimes the Christian Scientist is tempted to believe that his healing work can be hindered by the thoughts of those who still believe in the power of matter, and have little or no understanding of the divine Mind. He should be on guard here. Does not Christian Science show that Mind and its manifestation alone are real? Does not this Science make clear the fact that unspiritual thinking, or erroneous believing, is unreal and devoid of power? Then, why be afraid of nothing? It must be remembered that Mind is supreme, and that erroneous or material beliefs are impotent before thought instructed in divine Science and "imbued with purity, Truth, and Love." Healing in Christian Science is accomplished not through drugs, but through spiritual understanding and faith in God, and the genuine Christian Scientist is convinced of this through demonstration.

Duncan Sinclair

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