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and preach the gospel" IVA B. LINEBARGER
In order to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," we must in some measure first prove, or demonstrate, the power of Truth in overcoming the world in ourselves. We must so live the truth we have seen that those in our homes, in our community, and in the world at large may see our "good works," the manifestation of Truth in us, and may thereby also be led to glorify God, thus finding salvation for themselves. At the time when one discovers Christian Science, he believes man to be mortal, with human work to do, human life to sustain, and human society to mingle with. These beliefs have brought him more of inharmony than of pleasure. Perhaps he has long suffered from sickness or sin; or his home has been torn with sorrow, strife, inharmony; or his business has been a failure, and dishonesty has robbed him of his livelihood. Is it to be wondered at that upon glimpsing a selfhood that is spiritual and perfect, and a universe that is ever harmonious, he has a great desire to quit human work, drop out of society, where the conversation is of little else than the many forms of evil, and isolate himself with his Christian Science books and the Bible, that he may learn more of this wonderful revelation and remain on the mount of vision? Much time for quiet study is indeed very essential for the spiritual development of the student; but when the truth is unfolded to his consciousness, be it ever so little, it must be demonstrated in the overcoming of its opposite in human experience. If it be not thus used, the student has only the letter of the law, and not the spirit; for the truth must be lived, not merely believed. This does not mean that he should at once become a recognized practitioner. Jesus spent many years growing in understanding before he performed his healing works. We are expected to demonstrate only what we understand, and that may at first be but a fuller sense of good, of love, of harmony. We realize that declaring the truth is not the same as demonstrating it. One may believe, for instance, that God is Love, and that being the image and likeness of God man is therefore the constant reflection of Love. He may glimpse this great fact in the quiet of his own room; but unless he goes out and expresses love to others, he is not demonstrating Christian Science, however many hours a day he spends in study, or however frequently he declares the truth about Love. The first effect of the unfolding discernment of Truth is upon our own sense of a human selfhood. It brings out the good, heals sickness, and overcomes sin; indeed, it purifies and elevates our entire outlook. Mrs. Eddy has said of the effect of the Christ upon human consciousness (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 166): "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiae of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified." So, however much we may desire to forsake human affairs, our first work is to manifest harmony in them. It is only by so doing that we are demonstrating the unreality of matter and evil; and thus are we emerging gently into a fuller realization of spirituality. Although we may believe that we do not desire to become a "good carpenter," a good businessman, or a good housekeeper, much preferring to dwell in Spirit, yet, since we cannot at once become spiritually-minded enough to prove that man is entirely spiritual, we must be patient in demonstrating the good we have discerned. While we know that sometime we shall demonstrate completely that the life-giving bread which comes down from heaven is truth, yet, if we must still eat bread with the rest of the family, we shall prove ourselves to be better Christian Scientists if we will demonstrate the harmony that the truth has brought us by baking a good loaf of bread rather than a poor one. We should go joyfully about the tasks we have to perform, rather than rush through them, half doing them, irritated because we must spend time that way when we would much rather be studying. More consideration for the family, expressed in better prepared food and a better kept home, — if such be our present duty, — may demonstrate Love to us and to them more clearly than many scientific statements of Love declared to ourselves or to them. The writer well remembers, when she was young in the study of Christian Science, of going through a period of great mental depression. She had spent hours each day in study, neglecting her every household duty, much to the disturbance of another member of the family upon whom the duties then fell. One day absolute necessity compelled her to make some garments for one of the family. To her utter surprise she had scarcely begun, when suddenly the depression lifted, and a sweet, happy peace and calm settled down upon her. She was demonstrating love and some of the harmony she had spiritually discerned. In speaking of Jesus' human work, Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 54): "Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love." Let us, therefore, not be afraid to express an abundance of human love and kindness, lest we be thought unscientific in our demonstration of divine Love! How can that which is divine be "defined" or made perceptible to those who do not understand Spirit or the language of Spirit, except through human contact and by the evidence of a "pure affection" expressing good? Christian Scientists must show themselves to be good neighbors. It is very easy to love our neighbor as ourself when in the quiet of our own room we see him and ourself as spiritual and perfect; but it is often very difficult to demonstrate this humanly. Yet this must be our demonstration if we are to prove the truth of Christian Science. We sometimes seem to see so many faults, or such a disagreeable personality, or such distasteful manners, or any one of the numerous claims of evil in another, that we do not seem to be able to love that other humanly. Or, again, we sometimes lose interest in our neighbors because they are not interested in Christian Science, or because they may have expressed some antipathy for it. We may then think it is best just to "let them alone," lest we be casting our pearls before swine. To "let them alone" should mean only to allow them the privilege of doing their own thinking, and should never prevent our loving them and bestowing upon them all the consideration and kindness that we manifest toward our Science friends. In his illustration of what it means to be a neighbor, given in the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus states that when the good Samaritan saw the man whom thieves had robbed and wounded and left by the wayside to die, he had compassion on him, went to him, bound up his wounds, set him upon his own beast, took him to an inn, cared for him, and even left provision for further assistance. Jesus did not say that the good Samaritan audibly mentioned the truth to this man, although his kindness most assuredly was demonstrating and defining Love to him, the self-righteous, priestly thought having "passed by on the other side." How often do we fail to do some kindly human thing, to supply some present need, to give a smile or a word of encouragement to one who has a lonesome or heavy heart, simply because we believe that one is not yet ready for the truth — waiting, instead, to bestow our attention upon him when he appeals to us in what we are pleased to call the right way. We little dream that through the simplest expression of "pure affection," or some kindly human act, we may so define Love to the needy one that he will come into the light of Truth which we have so longed to give him in what we have denominated a more scientific way. This is well illustrated in the following experience. A small group of Christian Scientists were earnestly striving to be loyal students of this wonderful revelation. They knew the letter of Science very well; they knew that God is Love, and that man, therefore, is the expression of Love; and they often declared this in dealing with the opposition they seemed to have to meet. They, however, had lived in a clannish, selfish way. A little later an epidemic spread through the community. Many suffered from lack of proper care because those escaping were, in most instances, afraid to offer assistance. Now, thought one Scientist, is the time to demonstrate to those outside of Science a little loving-kindness, at least; she would offer to go into the home of a neighbor, where the need seemed greatest. She went, not offering to give them Christian Science, but to help them in their own human way, as a human friend in a time of great need; and her offer was gratefully accepted. Keeping her own thought clear, but without a direct reference to Christian Science, she spent several days in helping in every way possible to bring encouragement and comfort to this sick and grief-stricken family. Her affection so "defined Love" to this family that a few weeks later the mother appealed to this Scientist for Christian Science help. In a short time three members of the family were earnest students of Christian Science, and today the mother and a daughter are the First and Second Readers in that little society. Many such seekers, weary of the world, are waiting for a loving touch that will lead them into the pathway of Truth. The harvest truly is great, and the laborers few. Opportunities lie all about us, not only in our homes, in our immediate communities, but in the world at large. Sometimes when Christian Scientists show any activity in community interests, in civic affairs of local and national import, it is said to them that Mrs. Eddy has written in the Manual of The Mother Church (pp. 44, 45): "Members of this Church shall not unite with organizations which impede their progress in Christian Science. God requires our whole heart, and He supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members." Mrs. Eddy surely never intended that this By-law should prevent Christian Scientists from demonstrating Christian Science in the civic affairs of their communities. She herself evidenced a keen and helpful interest in the civic and welfare movements of her city; helped financially in the material improvement of the city; took an interest in the improvement of the fairs given there — even attending some special programs given at the fair grounds; sent flowers to the sick; and at Christmas time supplied the poor children of the city with shoes. She expected Christian Scientists to be good citizens and to promote any activity that is for the good of their community or country. She never intended that they should so isolate themselves from human activities as to appear uninterested in the common affairs of life. It is safe to say that some interest in civic activities of the city or community in which they live should be evidenced by every Scientist; and when rightly manifested this will not "impede" one's progress in Science, but rather enhance his opportunities for demonstration. Many opportunities for expressing truth and a higher sense of good are lost because Christian Scientists too often isolate themselves from contact with those in their communities who are trying to better conditions, and who, in their desire for good, often are open to the influence that reveals the good which the Scientists have to offer. Seeing the material need of those who are seeking Truth but have not yet reached the understanding to make their own demonstration, if we are Christian, should we not have compassion on them and meet, temporarily and with wisdom, their immediate need, as did Jesus in feeding the five thousand? We must always strive to be fully as "Christian" as we are "scientific"; for if our demonstrations lack love, they fall short of being divine. The time will come when the world will have been overcome, when every mortal belief of materiality, sin, sickness, and death will have disappeared through obedience to spiritual law. Until that time comes, each one must diligently strive to grow in the understanding of spiritual reality, and strive to demonstrate it in his own humanity, not only for the sake of his own salvation, but for the salvation of all. It makes no difference if the work we have to do should still appear to be material, or the persons with whom we have to associate have not yet seen the truth as revealed in Christian Science; all the more do we need to reflect the truth and love we know, that we may carry the healing light into a darkened world. All mortals are, in the final analysis, reaching out for good, and it is the duty and privilege of Christian Scientists to give them whatever they are ready to receive. Until Christian Scientists ascend, they will find it necessary, as did Jesus, often to withdraw from the multitudes and to spend time in systematic study; for we cannot go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," and at the same time keep ourselves from the evil, unless we have a consciousness of Truth clear enough to lift our thoughts above the world. When we find we are being swayed by its glamour, or are fearful of its sickness or sin, then should we withdraw into the mountain, "the secret place of the most High," where we may become more conscious of spiritual reality, but only to go down again among men, to demonstrate the truth we have discerned.
by Iva B. Linebarger The Christian Science Journal, September, 1926 |
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