I am a Christian Scientist because Christian Science enables...

C. Shelton Agar, Committee on Publication for Natal, South Africa,—Durban

Daily News

I am a Christian Scientist because Christian Science enables me to solve human problems in a scientific. Christlike way. It has revealed to me the availability of God's power on earth to heal the sick and the sinning. And it has given me a correct understanding of the nature of God and of man, created by Him in His own image and likeness. Briefly, it is a wonderful revelation of the true facts of being. Finally, it teaches one how to put on the "new man"; that is, how to entertain only good thoughts which purify consciousness. The last tenet of Christian Science, on page 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, reads, "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

Having regard to the spiritual nature and quality of God's creation. Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." We see, then, that every honest undertaking which is inspired by wisdom, receives its inspiration and fruitage from God, who is the source and Giver of all good. This understanding made all the difference to my outlook on life and work. God prospers every right effort to serve. Therefore there is common ground for appreciating the good that is being accomplished through organized denominations and institutions, and Christian Scientists are grateful for the opportunity of sharing with others the good which Christian Science reveals.

Some years ago, when I was seeking a satisfactory explanation of the meaning and purpose of life, I was prompted to read the literature found in a Christian Science Reading Room. The desire for some better foundation to work on than blind belief in a supreme power was uppermost in my thought, and when I opened the first page of the Christian Science textbook my eyes rested on these inspired lines: "Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds."

As I pondered the significance of these words, doubt and incredulity gave place to assurance that there was a solution to human problems, for I became conscious that my desire for a better understanding of things was known to God.

Studying with an open mind the textbook, together with the Bible, enables one to gain spiritual understanding. Christian Science heals physical ills, and elevates human thinking, and, as the true facts of being are apprehended, opportunities occur for putting into practice the spiritual understanding of God and man gained through this study.

I remember with joy my first healing in Christian Science, which was an instantaneous healing of influenza. As I had been studying this Science for only a few months, I thought that all it was necessary for me to do was to ignore the feeling of sickness. However, as I felt very much worse towards evening, I decided to go to bed. It was only then that I turned to the textbook for help. I had been reading for a short time when a paragraph so illuminated my thought regarding God's presence that I found myself suddenly well.

This experience taught me three valuable lessons. First, that Christian Science does not teach one to ignore evil, but shows the paramount necessity for immediately protesting its validity and turning to God, Truth, the strong deliverer, in order to gain the realization of His presence and power, which destroys evil's seeming reality. Secondly, I learned that evil only asks to be left alone so that it can become established in one's thought or consciousness. And, thirdly, that reading the textbook itself heals, because the truth of its statements imparts the understanding of God's presence and power.

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