Accepting Demonstration

From the February 1947 issue of The Christian Science Journal by


The basis of all demonstration in Christian Science is the great fact that God is Spirit and His entire creation is spiritual, the complete and perfect reflection of His complete and perfect being. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, makes this clear in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, where on page 259 she writes, “The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, — perfect God and perfect man, — as the basis of thought and demonstration.” Accepting ever-present perfection as the basis of “thought and demonstration,” one readily sees that his work is not to improve what is called matter, change matter, perfect matter, or accumulate matter. His work is to turn away from the illusions of material sense and through spiritual understanding bring to light the uninterrupted perfection and harmonious activity of Spirit.

Christ Jesus gave the true basis of demonstration when he said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” May we not interpret this as meaning, “Accept as your true selfhood the perfect expression of the perfect Principle, which is the source of your being”? Accepting this truth as the divine premise of thought and declaration, one comes “boldly unto the throne of grace” and finds “grace to help in time of need.” If one has fully accepted the true basis of demonstration, there will be no timidity in one’s declaration of truth, no reservation, no duality of thought. Mrs. Eddy says on page 264 of Miscellaneous Writings: “Unity is the essential nature of Christian Science. Its Principle is One, and to demonstrate the divine One, demands oneness of thought and action.”

Sometimes we meet what might be called a “yes, but —” student of Christian Science, one who makes perfectly good, clear statements of truth and then shuts the door on what he calls demonstration with a “but.” Does not one sometimes hear a statement like this: “Yes, I know that Love is my supply, that it is ever present and abundant — but this fact is not demonstrated”? Does this not mean a belief in two kinds of substance or supply, one material and one spiritual, and that an effort is being made to use one to manipulate the other? To keep one eye on Spirit and one eye on matter, watching for effects, is to be double-minded and is far from demonstrating the “divine One.”

Love is the substance of man’s being, the source and supply of all good. When one understands this, and in his daily living consistently reflects Love in thought and deed, accepting it as true substance, he is demonstrating substance. To be wholly satisfied with and to rejoice fearlessly in divine Love, knowing that ideas alone are substance, and that as the reflection of Love he expresses the ideas of Love and is fully supplied — this is the ultimate of demonstration. The things are added and all human needs are met with the intelligent activity of reflected Love. Never shut the door with a “but” on the things that are added. The denial of true spiritual apprehension as ultimate demonstration forfeits its added beauty and harmony in daily experience.

Sometimes the “but” comes in the way of place and environment, and we hear something like this: “Yes, I know God is everywhere, all presence, and all power — but it certainly isn’t demonstrated in this place.” Here again “but” seems to shut the door on true demonstration and to enclose one in the belief of an unpleasant material place or of uncongenial or hateful people, perhaps both. In such a case let one make his declaration of spiritual truth boldly, without reservation. Let him fulfill the demand of “oneness of thought and action,” and accept as ultimate demonstration his spiritual understanding of perfect God and perfect man. If he will do this and be wholly satisfied with and rejoice in this true demonstration of the presence of Mind, keeping a single eye, most surely will the mist of materiality roll away and the accepted and reflected presence and power of the “divine One” be revealed in that place.

Another “but” that seems to shut the door is, “I must prove it.” How often a practitioner makes a definite, strong, healing declaration of truth, only to meet with the reply, “Yes, that is all true — but I must prove it.” There are those who shut themselves out of a realization of the kingdom of heaven with this “but.” Let it be remembered that we prove the truth because it is true. It is not true just because we think we have proved it. Let one accept willingly and wholeheartedly; let him declare boldly and with conviction the spiritual counterfact of any material counterfeit, with no mental reservation of “but” — and he will find the truth proving itself and making him free. Jesus did not say, “Ye shall know the truth — but you must prove it.” It is the truth that does the freeing, or proving. It is its own activity.

The condition for knowing the truth was continuance in Jesus’ word, faithful obedience to his teaching. The ultimate was knowledge of the truth. Dwelling in this knowledge of the truth, rejoicing in it, being satisfied with it, reflecting it in daily thought and deed, is, once again, demonstration. The things that are added will be forthcoming, but they are not in themselves demonstration. Christian Science demonstrates first and always the Mind of Christ in its perfection and oneness. In that Mind there is no need, no incompletion, no unfulfilled desire.

As one knows the truth, rejoicing with joy unspeakable in the spiritual reality of his true being; as he knows himself spiritually fed and sheltered, maintained in holiness and harmony; as one is fully satisfied with Love’s likeness, expressing it in intelligent thought and deed, faithful to Spirit, the so-called human necessities and harmonies are added to him in full, inevitable, overflowing measure. These take their proper place as secondary in one’s interest and affections. Indeed, they often come unnoticed and one finds he has outgrown the erstwhile deep desires and supposedly urgent needs. He has been “instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.“ He has learned to obey that injunction of our Leader’s found on page 203 of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany: “Pray aright and demonstrate your prayer; sing in faith.“ Let us learn to “pray aright.“ Let us “sing in faith.“




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