The Word is with Power ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          "And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." Luke thus refers to the fact that Jesus proved the power of the truth he taught by unquestionable evidence. Not only did his word convince his hearers that he was declaring the truth, but they saw the Word still the tempest, heal the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead. All this was in accord with the testimony of the Psalmist as to the power of the Word, when he proclaimed that the Lord "sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, also claims throughout her writings the same power for the same Word today.          All Christian Scientists are most deeply interested in this power of the Word, and all are longing to understand and demonstrate it perfectly. While they know that the Word itself always has the identical power, — that it can never do less than express the perfect authority of God, — they also realize that today they do not always seem able to prove it completely. They still recognize, however, that, if they are to obey Jesus' command to heal even as he did, their declaration of truth should be as powerful to banish the evidences of error, be they of sickness or sin, as was the same Word when spoken by their Master. Their prayers, their study, and their mental work are therefore largely to the end that they may be able to see the promise of Jesus fulfilled in themselves: "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."          In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 271) Mrs. Eddy writes: "Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing. The Scriptures contain it. The spiritual import of the Word imparts this power." Here our Leader opens the door to that understanding of the Word which carries with it the authority to prove the nothingness of evil of every name and nature. Here she stresses a very important point, — the fact that it is "the spiritual import of the Word" which imparts the power. How this "spiritual import" is to be gained is of vital interest to every Christian Scientist.          Although the earnest students of this Science accept the letter of Truth without reservation, and although they endeavor to apply it in their various problems, they frequently seem to lack that spiritual understanding of it which renders healing instantaneous. May not one very pronounced reason for this be that they have not dwelt with Truth with sufficient steadfastness to be themselves thoroughly convinced of its perfect, absolute authority and power? Is not our Leader referring to this constant communion with God when in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 206) she writes: "The real Christian Scientist is constantly accentuating harmony in word and deed, mentally and orally, perpetually repeating this diapason of heaven: 'Good is my God, and my God is good. Love is my God, and my God is Love'"?          Now Mrs. Eddy certainly did not intend us to confine our conversation to those few words, any more than did Jesus expect his followers to use only the words "Yea" and "Nay," when he said: "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Did not they both imply that we should always be affirming Truth and denying error in our thinking, our talking, and our living, — that we should never lend our thoughts, our tongues, or our deeds to anything but that which is lovely and pure and holy and wise and good? Then we shall ever be on guard against the false and wrong with the denial that refuses them place or power. Thus we shall win "the spiritual import of the Word" which "imparts this power." That it is possible to accomplish this here and now both our Master and our Leader proved, since the Word they declared had the power and authority whereby evil was invariably vanquished.          If all Christian Scientists will accept the possibility of conforming to this perfect divine law, — to this "Yea, yea; Nay nay," if they will all meditate continually on the beauties and wonders of God's allness, as He unfolds them to their waiting thought, then they will be prepared to deny evil's supposititious claims with such an understanding of their nullity that their false evidence could not possibly flaunt itself in the presence of God, good, thus understood, acknowledged, and adored. The Word is indeed with power! Now and forever it includes all authority! Then let us dwell perpetually with it, that all evil shall disappear into its native nothingness. Christian Science has opened the way for everyone to this demonstration, and perfect obedience to its perfect teachings will bring perfect results.   "The Word is with Power" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, April 18, 1925

 

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