The Healing Truth

Duncan Sinclair

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 145) Mrs. Eddy writes, "If there is any mystery in Christian healing, it is the mystery which godliness always presents to the ungodly,—the mystery always arising from ignorance of the laws of eternal and unerring Mind." In 1866 Mrs. Eddy discovered Christian Science with "the laws of eternal and unerring Mind," and after proving repeatedly that the application of these laws heals disease and sin, she was convinced of the scientific nature of Christian healing. No longer was spiritual healing a mystery to her; and she was persuaded that others might learn its Science and become as confident as she of its efficacy.

Christian Science leads the student to the center of true being, revealing God Himself. It shows that God and His manifestation constitute the sum total of reality; that God is perfect Mind; and that His manifestation is His creation of perfect spiritual ideas. It teaches, further, the fallacy of believing in the reality of aught but God and His creation. To put it somewhat differently, Christian Science teaches that since God and His spiritual ideas alone are real, what mortals call matter is unreal; and that therefore all that seems to be material in origin is unreal also.

Now mankind believes itself to be living in a material universe. It believes itself to be under the domination of matter and material law, and that under this domination it is constantly being victimized, suffering in consequence from disease, sorrow, pain, lack, and sin. If the situation be analyzed, belief in a power other than Spirit—materiality—will be found to underlie every pang that rends the human heart. Mortals are continually revolting against materiality, the mortal falsity which in belief so often causes them bitterly to suffer. And how often they have revolted in vain because of their ignorance of the profound spiritual truths which have just been referred to!

What, then, is the way in Christian Science whereby mortal beliefs are destroyed; what the way in which Christian Science enables one to meet and overcome the sorrow and suffering and sin incidental to human existence? Christian Science instructs its students in the fundamental truths of Being; it shows them the unreal nature of all unlike God, good; it teaches them how to displace erroneous beliefs with real spiritual ideas: thus is healing brought about. Christian Science reveals Christ, the ideal Truth, to the humble in heart, reveals to "the poor in spirit" that all power belongs to God; and with the realization of the truth healing results. Our Leader writes (Science and Health, p. 473), "Christ is the ideal Truth, that comes to heal sickness and sin through Christian Science, and attributes all power to God."

No one can read the words of Mrs. Eddy, quoted at the beginning, without noting that a mere intellectual acquiescence in the truths which Christian Science reveals is insufficient of itself to bring about spiritual healing; for godliness must be present if Godlike works are to be performed. The spirit of Truth must accompany the knowledge of the letter of Truth for the works of God to be made manifest. "It is the spirit that quickeneth," said Jesus; "the flesh profiteth nothing." The spiritual sense of being must therefore be cultivated; and with its growth will come increased ability to utilize the Christ, Truth, in the healing of all manner of inharmony.

In her writings our Leader has repeatedly stressed the necessity of Christian Scientists' striving after godliness. How often has she pointed to Christ Jesus as the great example to be followed! And what were the characteristics of the Master? Were not humility, compassion, loving-kindness, sincerity, uprightness, honesty, patience, wisdom, purity, love, spiritual understanding his constant compansions? How high these lifted him above mortal meanness! How Godlike they made him! Too often we fail to demonstrate the healing truth because we do not possess in sufficient measure the spiritual qualities with which the great Exemplar was so richly endowed—because we are lacking in Christliness.

When we have attained to an adequate measure of spiritual understanding, when our lives have in a degree become Godlike, Christlike, we shall find ourselves endowed proportionately with the power to heal. "The laws of eternal and unerring Mind" shall then operate through our purified and enlightened understanding, bringing to naught the erroneous beliefs of so-called material sense. Are we aiming at this achievement? Every Christian Scientist should be animated by the desire to be of service to his fellow-men. And this service he will be able increasingly to render as he studies Christian Science assiduously, prays understandingly, and through affirmation of the truth and denial of error raises the spiritual level of his life. The healing Christ, Truth, is omnipresent for all to understand and to use; and Christian Science reveals it. Duncan Sinclair

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