Peter B. Biggins, C.S.B., of Seattle, Washington
Member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother
Church,
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
For many centuries a large number of thoughtful people have accepted the spiritual fact that there is one God. The inspired Word of God has reached those who have been receptive to its message, bringing comfort, warmth, strength, tenderness, and healing.
In the seventeenth chapter of Genesis we read that God said, to Abram, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." To the student of Christian Science, accustomed to communing with God in silent prayer, there is a modern ring in this divine message. This is a graphic record showing how the omnipotence of God dawned on the thought of Abram about four thousand years ago.
This revelation of the omnipotence of God brought to him a glimpse of the present, unchanging perfection of true being. This was the appearing of the Christ, who, as Jesus said, was "before Abraham." As a result of this vision of the Christ which Abraham gained, he was willing to leave his home, his family, and other possessions. But this willingness to give up material things opened the way for many blessings of a very practical nature.
This truth concerning perfect God and perfect man, glimpsed by Abraham and others in those by-gone days, came in its fullness to humanity through Jesus of Nazareth. He is our Exemplar, revealing to us the Christ, Truth, the Word of God, as applicable to our human needs. Of his appearing on earth John has written, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Early Bible training gave profitable direction to the thoughts of Mary Baker. Her devotion to Bible study, her innate love of good, led her step by step in the fullness of time to discern the truth of being, the perfection and omnipotence of the divine Mind, God.
Members of her household have spoken of her intimate and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. She would often call them together, and opening the Bible, apparently at random, would read a passage and explain it from the standpoint of her spiritual inspiration.
Mrs. Eddy had a deep appreciation of the need that children be taught early the spiritual truths of being contained in the Bible. This need is met effectively today by the instruction given in Christian Science Sunday Schools.
Many a time individuals attending Christian Science services are healed of physical ailments, even those of long standing. They are awakened to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Bible, which is often spoken of as the Word of God. It records messages which came from God to those who were sufficiently awake spiritually to receive them.
Throughout Science and Health and in her other writings, Mrs. Eddy teaches very thoroughly and systematically how to affirm truth and to deny error in healing disease and in solving other human problems. She thus presents a practical model applicable to every human situation. The Word of God is thus rendered practical in meeting every need.
Christian Science healing is not accomplished merely by repeating, parrotlike, the words of this Science, but by striving to live, Christlike, the ideals which this Science reveals.
[1950-1954.]