On Walking by Faith ALBERT F. GILMORE, CSB          Students who find in the Scriptures the inspired Word of God endeavor to conform their lives to its mandate. Thus they develop faith in God, who becomes their constant refuge and support. The spiritual truth revealed through inspiration, faith, and intuition becomes to them reality, even though it be not supported by the testimony of material sense. This truth pertains wholly to things which are not seen. It deals with the divine law, or will of God, which harmoniously and eternally governs His universe of spiritual and perfect ideas.          Christian Scientists, as Christian metaphysicians accustomed to think in terms of revealed truth, recognize this spiritual truth as dealing only with reality, with God as Spirit, and with spiritual creation. As these spiritual concepts grow in consciousness, the seeming reality of material beliefs proportionably lessens, until they cease to occupy thought. In setting forth to the church in Corinth his hope of immortal glory, Paul thus asserted his confidence in the actuality of spiritual things: “We are always confident,” he declared, “knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight).”          In these brief words the apostle touched upon a fact which is of paramount importance to mankind, the necessity of walking by our assured faith in God and in the immortality of man, the child of God. With those to whom the Christ, Truth, has in some degree been revealed, who have laid hold of the facts of being in their substance and import, proof of the actuality of spiritual existence is complete — nothing is lacking. To them the reality of Spirit and its manifestations is even more assured than are the claims of the physical senses. As one becomes accustomed to think in terms of spiritual truth, faith grows apace, and the facts of being become permanent in consciousness.          The precious import of such experience Mrs. Eddy states in a familiar passage on page 14 of the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”: “Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual, — neither in nor of matter, — and the body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well.” Our Leader here sets forth the sure results of holding to spiritual truth, the facts of Life and intelligence; and the outcome of such experience is never less than the healing of the belief of sickness. The Christ, Truth, supplants erroneous beliefs about body, and the result is a normal condition of bodily harmony. Proof, supporting our faith in spiritual truth, is adduced in terms of healing.          The great majority of earth’s inhabitants today follow the lead of the material scientist, who proclaims matter as reality, material law as the only law, and truth as relating only to materiality or its subjective state, the so-called mortal mind. These materialists utterly refuse to accept as true any proposition which does not come within the compass of physical sense. With them, truth ends where science leaves off — nothing is accepted on faith. Hence they contend that material phenomena alone are worthy of consideration.          Another school, lifting the problem into the mental — that is, into the realm of so-called mortal mind — asserts that reality is encompassed in the concepts of the human mind, holding such mental phenomena to be actual and real. Neither group, however, takes cognizance of the divine Mind, which, being infinite, is the only Mind. They fail to accept Mrs. Eddy’s marvelous summary of the problem, found on page 468 of Science and Health, “All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all.” No more significant statement has ever been penned, none more important; for it reveals the spiritual truth, the truth about God and the universe. It completely answers Pilate’s historic question.          Now Christian Scientists, having imbibed something of the spirit of Truth and learned its letter, prove to their satisfaction that Spirit is actual; that God’s divine law is immanent and potent to meet human need; that as we walk by faith, holding to and applying revealed truth, proof is abundantly demonstrated of the facts of being, of the actuality of the spiritual creation. Moreover, since a part is proved, they are justified through the logic of inductive reasoning in assuming the whole. As progress is made in the gaining of spiritual understanding, additional proof is had through demonstration until, in the fullness of their revelation, doubt has no abiding place.          The argument presented sometimes with all the skill of intellectual sophistry, that there can be nothing actual beyond the scope of one’s own experience, is unsound. Faith leads into ever larger revelations of Truth which, with the trustful, become reconciled with religion. Reason and revelation are not antagonists; rather do they cooperate in leading “into all truth.” We look forward with assurance to the coming of the full day, the glory of which the morning light promises so much.          Our Leader tells us on page 429 of Science and Health: “When walking, we are guided by the eye. We look before our feet, and if we are wise, we look beyond a single step in the line of spiritual advancement.” In faith we go forward with eye fixed upon the distant heights, heartened and strengthened by the blessings which befall every upward step. Walking in full faith we never falter, never hesitate, for God is our guide.   "On Walking by Faith" by Albert F. Gilmore, CSB Christian Science Sentinel, February 12, 1927

 

| Home | Library |

Copyright © 1996-2005 CSEC