Appreciation through Appropriation

ANNE CLEVELAND CHENEY

True appreciation can come only as we appropriate whatever is good, that is, make it our own through experience rather than by mere theoretical acceptance. Any but the most superficial student in any branch of endeavor soon learns this truth; and every sincere student of Christian Science soon becomes aware that one of the outstanding qualities of its Discoverer and Founder, Mary Baker Eddy, was rugged honesty, incapable of temporizing or compromising with evil. To her, doctrine was an empty code, save as it could be proved in actual living. Doctrine was demonstration and demonstration was doctrine, with her whose mission it was to restore in our day the appreciation, through appropriation, of the practical healing, saving works of Christ Jesus.

In a Christmas sermon included in "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy makes this clear statement (p. 165): "The truth uttered and lived by Jesus, who passed on and left to mortals the rich legacy of what he said and did, makes his followers the heirs to his example; but they can neither appreciate nor appropriate his treasures of Truth and Love, until lifted to these by their own growth and experiences."

How long this has been deemed impossible of attainment by those who have felt that they accepted the teachings of Christ Jesus, but have regarded his mighty works as supernatural manifestations, marvels, or miracles, vouchsafed only to him and to those who came within the radius of his own personal contact or era! By their own growth and experience in Christian Science, faithful students are finding that the only way to appreciate the mission of the great Way-shower is to accept him, without reservation, as the supreme Exemplar, by appropriating his method of work, as well as by subscribing to his profound doctrine. An inestimable service which Christian Science is constantly rendering is its proof that there was nothing mystical, supernatural, or occult in the method of the Nazarene's work.

On page 138 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," under the marginal heading "Healthful theology," Mrs. Eddy declares: "Our Master said to every follower: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature! ... Heal the sick! ... Love thy neighbor as thyself!' It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning."

Is there not manifest on every hand to-day an effort to reach a practical Christianity? On the surface there seems to be a great disturbance; but is this not because a pure movement, a mighty inflowing tide of truth,—of healthful theology,—is stirring up and eliminating the stagnation of superstition, unfruitful dogma, and static tradition? The age is finding that true theology must be healthful—a religion of works. The century has demanded science, and ever more science. It is finding that it cannot live without religion; and it has been holding these two imperative needs as irreconcilable—believing that neither could be met without a wrenching away from the other, at whatever cost.

Christian Science, as its name implies and its works prove, reconciles these two great needs of mankind. By honestly and unreservedly going back to the healthful theology of the Nazarene, it proves its Principle to be God, divine Mind, the only creator. This brings to human apprehension the true creation—man in God's image and likeness, Mind's true idea—as the only reality. Of her textbook elucidating this Christ Science, our Leader states, in the paragraph cited above, "It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to 'forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.'" The "old man" of false thinking is being put off and the "new man," the true man, and the true universe are coming to light.

It is this practical, beneficent theology, healthful because effective and applicable to every human need, which is drawing Jew and Gentile, brothers of differing creed, nationality, and even race, into the one fold, the church founded by the humble Nazarene on the rock of the spiritual idea, namely, man created in the divine Mind's likeness, and forever at-one with his divine Principle, Love.

When Peter gave his momentous answer to the insistent question of his Master, "Whom say ye that I am?" in one gleam of light he revealed the eternal, impregnable, invincible Church, the temple not made by hands, standing changeless and intact in the harmony of man's spiritual understanding of the Christ, the Son of the living God. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Peter declared; and Christ Jesus fully proved the real man to be the son of God. He said, "Upon this rock I will build my church."

A beautiful hymn visions this Church:

"One holy Church of God appears
Through every age and race,
Unwasted by the lapse of years,
Unchanged by changing place.

"From oldest time, on farthest shores,
Beneath the pine or palm,
One Unseen Presence she adores,
With silence or with psalm.

"Her priests are all God's faithful sons,
To serve the world raised up;
The pure in heart her baptized ones;
Love, her communion cup."

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