"That publisheth salvation"

MAUDE M. GREENE

Many centuries ago a prophet having great spiritual vision declared to the troubled people of his time, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, ... that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" If ever there was a time when suffering humanity cried out for a present and practical salvation from the discordant conditions of human affairs, it is right now. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 593), Mrs. Eddy defines "salvation" as "Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed." Onpage 465 of this same book Life, Truth, and Love are named as among seven synonymous terms which "refer to one absolute God." Therefore, from the standpoint of Christian Science, true salvation is the necessary resultant of true understanding of God, or to say it another way, a demonstrable understanding of the one true God. It is sometimes mistakenly assumed that the application of Christian Science is only for the betterment and healing of the physical body. In a wider sense the word "sickness" has to do with all discordant human conditions, whether expressed in a physical, a national, or an international body.

"Never have there been such difficult times as these," is what one often is hearing today. Perhaps not, but at the same time never has there been so widespread and clear an understanding of God as really and truly supreme over all, as there is today. Never has there been so wide a recognition and vision of the reality and supremacy of things spiritual; consequently, never has there been so great a readiness and willingness to seek salvation through spiritual means. Christian Science is holding aloft the true concept of God as demonstrably supreme, even in all human affairs. In the Christian Science textbook (p. 427) is this very significant statement: "Immortal Mind, governing all, must be acknowledged as supreme in the physical realm, so-called, as well as in the spiritual." This is a new message only in that it declares that true spiritual vision is always cognizant of the spiritual law which, when obeyed, brings progress in human conditions. A joyous message indeed to suffering human sense; and blessed indeed is the giving of this message, this newer emancipation proclamation, to the whole world.

One of the dictionary definitions of "publish" is "to make known to people in general." There are many ways and channels of making known this gospel of "good tidings" to "people in general." One of the efficient and effectual ways is through the medium of Christian Science literature, a channel which can reach many nations, peoples, languages. It is the evangel which is carrying to receptive conditions of human mentality the glad tidings of God, whose omnipotent power is available in all human problems. It goes alike to the seats of the so-called mighty and the so-called lowly places of earth, alike to the so-called rich and poor. It is reaching those who are in places of confinement and restraint. It is bearing that ever recurring message of the prophet Isaiah, "Thy God reigneth," now and forever.

The issuing of the literature of Christian Science necessitates a place where it may be published and distributed. Our Publishing House affords the means whereby each individual Christian Scientist plays his part in publishing to the world this gospel of present salvation. The earnest Christian Scientist learns that it is impossible to find and experience the truth of salvation, "Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all," and keep this understanding for himself exclusively. He learns that the activities of Life, Truth, and Love must be expressed in order to bring salvation to himself; he learns that in the true sense the publishing of salvation is a condition necessary to experiencing it. It may be that Isaiah discerned this fact when he spoke of the footsteps of "him that bringeth good tidings, ... that publisheth salvation."

Granted that there is now an increasingly great need for the publishing of the salvation which Christian Science offers, it follows that now is the time for Christian Scientists to have adequately provided a place for the publishing of the literature which is accomplishing this result. Building the new Publishing House has given Christian Scientists a great opportunity to prove many of the things they have been pleased to assert concerning the demonstrability of spiritual understanding in all human conditions. Christian Scientists may well rejoice that the spiritual vision of The Christian Science Board of Directors was clear enough to perceive that as expression is necessary to reflection, so giving is necessary to having. Let us be grateful for the courage of their vision which summoned Christian Scientists to prove their faith. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Building the Publishing House in the face of belief in financial depression may have been the compelling rod of the Shepherd under which we advance into a fuller experience in the fold of salvation, and find a more spiritual concept of both supply and building.

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