“Converting the soul”

The Hebrew poet declared that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” A dictionary gives as one definition of the verb to convert, “To change or turn from one state or condition to another,” and it also gives as a definition of the word conversion, “A change from the service of the world to the service of God;” all of which accords with Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy makes it very clear on page 482 of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” that soul is not some vague, intangible thing imprisoned in the body, only waiting to be set free by death, when it will unfurl its wings and fly away to fields Elysian, for there she declares, “As used in Christian Science, Soul is properly the synonym of Spirit, or God; but out of Science, soul is identical with sense, with material sensation.”

From my earliest remembrance, as the daughter of a clergyman, I heard much about conversion. My conception of that process of mental transmutation, however, was most indefinite. I heard repeatedly that a “change of heart” meant the “conviction” of sin as well as an earnest desire to repent and be forgiven, which was supposed to produce an ecstatic state of spiritual bliss. However, as I was allowed to think for myself and did not attain to that beatified mental condition, neither could believe that a loving God could afflict His children who were patiently and obediently endeavoring to do His will, I drifted along on an uncertain sea of doubt and unrest until at length my bark was forced by physical suffering into the calm, peaceful waters of Christian Science. Here, at last, I learned what “converting the soul” really means.

As one persists in converting the thought from the material to the spiritual, one gains a clearer apprehension of Principle and idea, and consequently of divine government. To know that God and His spiritual idea are never separated for an instant, must result in the understanding that the Father governs His idea with unerring care and love. When some mental or physical discord seems present, it is necessary to turn instantly from the mortal thought which affirms the error to the spiritual truth revealed to us by our revered Leader in the teachings of Christian Science. Through obedience to these we may prove that the seeming discord is unreal, is as untrue as the dream of sleep. Divine Mind being the only power, we have nothing to fear when we are acknowledging this power, trusting all our affairs to the operation of divine law and living in obedience to its demands, knowing that everything will then be correctly adjusted according to God’s own loving wisdom in the way that is best for us.

A complete reversal from the material sense of things to the spiritual sense, a change from wrong thinking to spiritual understanding, from wrong acting to right acting, proves the perfection of God’s law, unfolding the understanding that God made all, and that as He could not make anything unlike good, all must be good; that He is the only cause, and that from a perfect cause no ill effect can come; hence the unreality of all seeming sin, sickness, and sorrow.

The first step in conversion through Christian Science usually comes in the way of physical healing of one’s self or some dear one, or through a longing for a better knowledge of God and a greater peace of mind. Sometimes one is led to its investigation through friendly association with some Christian Scientist who is letting his light shine, and very frequently this leads to conversion. When, at a Wednesday evening meeting, one earnestly and lovingly expresses gratitude for some healing and for the knowledge of the truth that solves all our problems, he never knows how far-reaching the influence of these words may be, however simply or imperfectly expressed, for they may meet the need of some hungry seeker for spiritual truth, and conversion may follow. It is the love thus reflected that reaches and feeds the hungry heart; empty words never find a resting place. How necessary then it is to pray as our dear Leader teaches in the Manual (Art. VIII, Sect. 4), where she says, “It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day: ‘Thy kingdom come;’ let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them;” and as she also writes in “No and Yes” (p. 39), “Prayer can neither change God, nor bring His designs into mortal modes; but it can and does change our modes and our false sense of Life, Love, and Truth, uplifting us to Him.”

The demonstrable understanding of this beautiful truth replaces material sense with spiritual sense, and brings one into obedience to the ever present, ever operative, and perfect “law of the Lord,” dispelling every discordant condition. This is indeed the true conversion.