CAREFUL STATEMENT

AIMEE VIOLET EVELYN WILLIAMS

On page 293 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy avers, "Truth talked and not lived, rolls on the human heart a stone." In this statement our great Leader warns us of the dangers of preaching without practice.

Claiming spiritual understanding and convictions which one is making no effort to prove is a danger against which the Christian Scientist should be very much on his guard. The average Christian professes to demonstrate God's nature only in the realm of morals. Although he learns about the power of God, he fails to use it scientifically in healing. The Christian Scientist, on the other hand, is taught to study the power of God with a view to practicing it. He is taught that only as he demonstrates it does he prove that he has understood it.

Inasmuch as it has put forward great claims of God's power, Christian Science is expected even by the outside world to show results. So the student of Christian Science must be very careful not to speak as though he had already demonstrated far more than he has. In conversation with non-Scientists, it is most useful to speak of the points we have proved in some degree ourselves. However, if challenged to prove points in advance of our demonstration, we can always state with confidence that we are learning through our minor proofs to go forward to higher demonstrations of divine Science, and that through God's power we shall succeed.

Though in demonstrating a sense of Science we always proceed from absolute Truth, insincerity is sometimes produced by overstating our present understanding of Science. This irritates the non-Scientist, who may really be searching for truth, but who is watching Scientists to see if they trip up. Unwisely talking scientific truths that we have not demonstrated can cause misunderstanding and give a wrong impression of Christian Science which with a little care we can avoid.

A flagrant example of making a claim which was not being substantiated by proof was that of a child taught in the Christian Science Sunday School who came to a practitioner bringing with her a very bad report from school. Seeing this extremely discouraging report, the practitioner asked the child, "Do you earnestly desire God to help you to reflect His order, His intelligence, and His ability each time you study your lessons?" The child replied instantly: "I don't have to ask God to help me. I am perfect already." The practitioner had a very hard time convincing her that although perfection is the eternal fact, it has to be not only claimed, but worked for, and each step proved.

Many have relatives who are not Christian Scientists, but who know what Christian Science professes to be able to do. These relatives are rather like thermometers. Their questions and comments are useful in showing us the degree of our spiritual progress. If we are not doing well and they notice it and ask, "Is this Christian Science?" it is wise to say honestly, "No, it is not; but I am trying to demonstrate it and shall in time succeed." This frank admission silences criticism and arouses far more respect than any attempted defense of our incomplete demonstration. Mrs. Eddy says in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 448), "When needed tell the truth concerning the lie."

For example, a student of Christian Science failed to hide a severe fit of jealousy by which she was attacked. When the person who had provoked it exclaimed in surprise, "Why! You are jealous!" the student admitted that she did seem to be, but affirmed that with the help of Christian Science she would overcome this error. Very soon afterwards she overcame jealousy, a painful and ridiculous enemy, through the understanding that her real selfhood, God's image, is invariably loving and generous and without a rival. After setting forth his qualifications and purpose, Paul was very wise to add (Phil. 3:12), "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

Mrs. Eddy says, "Truth is always the victor" (Science and Health, p. 380). In the first chapter of Jeremiah the prophet, feeling unworthy to be the mouthpiece of God, exclaimed, "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." But God touched the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, "I have put my words in thy mouth." Then He told Jeremiah what to say. To us, also His messengers, God says, "Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."

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