Independent Christian Science articles

Substance

From the June 28, 1919 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel by

Two instances in the experience of the writer have strengthened his faith in the practicability of Scriptural admonition and counsel and have tended to lessen the fear of lack through a clearer understanding of substance. On page 170 of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany” Mrs. Eddy, in an address to Christian Scientists congregating at her home on a memorable occasion, said: “I would present a gift to you to-day, only that this gift is already yours. God hath given it to all mankind. It is His coin, His currency; it has His image and superscription. This gift is a passage of Scripture; it is my sacred motto, and it reads thus:—Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.'”

One Sunday I was attending service in a Christian Science church at a shore resort. When the time came for the contribution I realized that I had too little change in my pocket to give, and as I reached for my wallet to take out a bill the suggestion came to me that I could not afford to give the amount that would be necessary under the circumstances, that after all the bit of change would suffice as I was giving liberally to the church of which I was a member. My training in Christian Science, however, came to the rescue quickly. At once the sense of limitation was detected, and in the few minutes I had before the contribution plate would come to me I set to work to heal this false sense of substance.

I reasoned thus: Since money is a medium of exchange, a symbol of supply to the human sense that can see no farther, if I were to put the bill in believing that in so doing I was depriving myself, the effect would be that in my own thought I would be limiting the church as much as myself. In other words, I would be declaring for the church as well as for myself that supply was material and therefore limited. Such a theory would be inadmissible. The truth of the matter must be just the reverse of this false argument. In this new aspect what I would be putting into the contribution plate would be a representative of values and would express a sense of God’s infinite supply.

Soon after the United States declared war and the enlistment in Army and Navy started, a regiment was formed and stationed in barracks near my home. Among the men were several interested in Christian Science. I saw the opportunity for good work there. Our literature, and especially the Monitor, could be used to give the men an understanding of what they were going forth to do. Naturally this would make them more intelligent warriors in a righteous cause, and so more valuable to the Government. It might be said here, as incidental to the story, that this regiment was among the first to be brought into conflict with the enemy, and it acquitted itself with honor. The work developed surprisingly, and soon led me to the Navy Yard where still larger possibilities opened up to me. Not only was there a growing demand for the literature, but there were other needs, seemingly more material, but essential to the morale of the men.

This work had been entered into joyously, but soon the suggestion came that it was taking time that was needed for other work from which I believed my supply was coming, and it was taking money that was coming in to me none too abundantly. I began to fret in confusion. At this point Truth again started me to reasoning rightly. The work had been undertaken to meet a spiritual need and had developed logically. Already there was abundant proof of its value. The occasion was righteous and the work was God’s. It was, then, not only God-inspired but must be God-sustained. I was not the source of supply, but rather at that moment the expression of supply. It was for me to obey the call to “preach the gospel” and “heal the sick.” This understanding relieved me of the fear, knowing that man’s only business is to do the will of God. From then on the sense of limitation left me, and it was not until sometime later that I realized not only that my regular work was increasing and still I had more time to devote to the welfare of my brothers who were giving their all, but also that there were abundant resources to meet the money demands for literature and creature comforts. At this point, when the proof of God’s allness and His abundant resources had been demonstrated, our War Relief committee, which had been organized in the meantime, took charge of the work and I was engaged to continue the activities.

These two experiences, along much the same line, have meant a great deal to me, and have in a large measure served to release me from the bondage of fear and limitation. They have enabled me to endure through still larger testing times. Surely we cannot afford to obstruct the action of divine Love in human experience because of personal responsibilities, but may confidently heed the closing words of our revered Leader in the address above referred to. Her own experience was a demonstration of God’s infinite goodness, and her emphatic admonition to her followers was summed up in these words on page 171 of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany”: “Trust in Truth, and have no other trusts.”

Power of the Right Idea

From the Christian Science Sentinel, February 3, 1923 by

On page 22 of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” the textbook of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy writes: “Wait for your reward, and ‘be not weary in well doing.’ If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race. When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving.” It is the impulsion of the right idea working in human affairs that brings success to one’s efforts. When the motive is pure, divine Love provides the means to put it into action. Mere human planning cannot carry a good purpose to fulfillment. Forever perfect in divine Mind, the right idea unfolds in a divinely natural way, correcting, uplifting, and protecting. As mankind learns to abide by this understanding, the ill effects of impatience, fear, and discouragement will disappear. Numbers of instances are to be found in the Scriptures of those God-fearing men who persisted in holding their thought above the seemingly reasonable arguments of discouragement and fear, patiently and faithfully following the right idea to success.

Moses, reared amid the luxury of the Egyptian court, never lost his identity as an Israelite, as one of God’s chosen people. In the midst of gross materialism and oppression he manifested the divine idea. From birth he was preserved from the human hatred of good, for a divine purpose to be revealed in due time. As he grew and observed the condition of his people in slavery, his divine mission began to dawn upon his thought. He was to free from bondage this people, who alone worshiped the one God. But the wisdom and patience needful to balance his zeal and ambition were as yet undeveloped and untried; for at one time, seeing one of his race mistreated by an Egyptian taskmaster, he slew the Egyptian. It seemed to Moses necessary to flee into the wilderness to save himself from the wrath of Pharaoh. Here, in the obscurity and solitude of the mountains, he tended sheep for his father-in-law for forty years—a humble position for one reared as he had been. Meantime his thought was being prepared for the great work before him. Never, during these years of trial and purification, was he allowed to lose sight of the right idea it was his mission to demonstrate. He learned the value and power of humility and patience; for he who understands somewhat of the nature of God is humble in the consciousness of His omniscience, and patient in the realization of His omnipresence and omnipotence. Yet, when at last the call came for him to go forward, the human thought quailed before the stupendous nature of the task, momentarily forgetful that “the battle is the Lord’s.” Evil suggested many excuses, among them: “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” “I am not eloquent, . . . but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” These suggestion, however, were in turn met and mastered by that right idea which from the first had saved Moses for the purpose of freeing God’s people from pagan domination.

Moses’ experiences in Egypt on his return, the numerous apparently unsuccessful efforts to obtain favor from Pharaoh,—each effort, however, weakening the seeming strength of evil, his many struggles with his people in order to convince them that their leaving Egypt was right, the forty years of struggle in the wilderness with perverseness, disloyalty, ingratitude, ignorance,—all this is too familiar to need a more detailed description. But through it all, the divine idea—the reflection of God—persisted in the understanding of Moses, to guide the people to prosperity and peace. There were times, it is true, when this idea was obscured by the smoke of battle; times when fear and discouragement temporarily so blinded Moses to the permanence of divine Love’s presence and protection, that he became impatient at the waywardness of the people,—but never was there a lack of divine support.

Think what it was Moses was doing! Has any general before or since accomplished such a task? Without human aid he faced and defied the autocrat of Egypt, and led out of slavery a horde of untrained men, women, and children, numbering a possible million, with no more preparation than could be made overnight by them! On page 200 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy sums up the mighty achievements of this humble, patient, God-inspired patriarch in these words: “Moses advanced a nation to the worship of God in Spirit instead of matter, and illustrated the grand human capacities of being bestowed by immortal Mind.”

Surely we to-day may take heart and rise above the subtle suggestions of error, which argue fear and discouragement and the futility of our battle with evil suggestions, constantly assuming, to mortal belief, new forms. God and His idea, man,—His image and likeness,—are all that is real, never touched or affected in the least by the seeming mortal strife and struggle. Holding thought steadfastly to the true likeness, we abide in the harmony of divine Love. As Isaiah sang, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Love is the liberator.