During his three years' ministry among men Christ Jesus repeatedly stressed the importance of supporting Christian precepts with Christian practice. For instance, he said, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and, "Believe me for the very works' sake." When commissioning his disciples, he gave them definite instruction that healing of the sick should accompany their preaching of the gospel. A parrot might be taught to repeat portions of the multiplication table, but because the bird could not apply the rules in solving problems it would not be regarded as a mathematician. The master Christian knew that lip service was not sufficient proof of Christian discipleship, and so he commanded that the word be verified by works in accordance with his example.

That Christ Jesus' instruction was heeded is evidenced by the statement in Mark's Gospel that after the Master's ascension the disciples "went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Likewise, although the teachings of Christian Science appeal to mankind's sense of justice and reason, the unanswerable logic of verifying healing works furnishes the greatest appeal to most men. As Mrs. Eddy states in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 488) : "The result of our teachings is their sufficient confirmation. When, on the strength of these instructions, you are able to banish a severe malady, the cure shows that you understand this teaching, and therefore youreceive the blessing of Truth." Nevertheless, as our Leader has stated, the prime aim and purpose of Christian Science in its healing activities is the overcoming of sin and the spiritualization of human consciousness. Because Christ Jesus plainly indicated the association of sin with sickness, it is obvious that healing by spiritual power and means has an important part in Christian service and true worship.

In response to the natural inquiry regarding the word which is confirmed by healing works, Christian Science answers with a simple but satisfying statement about God and His creation, including man. It declares that, since divine Love, the Father-Mother of man and the universe, is good, harmonious, and perfect in expression as in nature, it follows that evil, discord, and imperfection lack divine sanction and support, and hence are unreal. Without doubt, however, if Christian Science offered to mankind nothing more tangible than this idealistic argument, it would not fulfill Christ Jesus' commands, and certainly it would not have attracted such a host of sincere and grateful adherents as now testify to the confirming healing they have experienced.

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science startled and antagonized the world by her declarations as to the allness of God, good, infinite Spirit and Love, and the consequent nothingness of matter, evil, and all discord. Her declarations were supported, however, and her opponents were confounded by the healing works accomplished by her and her faithful followers. During the years since Science and Health was first published the leaven of Spirit has permeated human thought so that certain theological teachings advanced by Christian Science which formerly were opposed are generally accepted today among Christians. Also some eminent physicists now state that matter is insubstantial, that it is a form of force or electrical energy, or that it is "a thing of thought." These admissions are recognized as signs of the times, which are welcome because they indicate that the thought of men is being touched and influenced by regenerating divine law.

As Christian Scientists we rightly appraise and appreciate these changes in human thought, but we do not elevate them by regarding them as confirmations of the truth. We know that verification of the Word of God is not be found in partial acquiescence in or tacit approval of spiritual teachings by anyone, but rather in works which bespeak divine Love and law. Therefore, we know that the Cause of Christian Science will continue to progress and prosper because of the healing works which attest its divine origin and its spiritual support. The real strength of our movement is to be measured not by the number of church members and attendants at the services, but by the increasingly spiritual quality of thought and life evidenced by them.

Great joy, encouragement, and confidence are ours as we realize that God is working in us as we endeavor to gain confirmation of His Word by applying the rules of divine Principle in solving the problems which confront us. Divine Mind works in us by means of Mind's true ideas, which deny and displace fear, selfishness, envy, resentment, ignorance of the truth, and other errors, and thus bring about healing of sickness and improved conditions in our business and in our human relations. Thus we see that "confirming the word with signs following" is an evidence of Immanuel, "God with us." And with these assurances of God's everpresence we can meet each day's demands and duties with quiet confidence, gratitude, and joy.

W. Stuart Booth