It was gratifying to hear Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson described recently on a major tv network news report as "a devout Christian Scientist who doesn't smoke or drink". One hopes that that description of a Christian Scientist will be consciously or unconsciously filed away by those few "honest seekers" who might be led to investigate Christian Science.
Another, less recent face before the public is that of a soi-disant Christian Scientist, a fairly well-known actor. He was on the cover of a Sentinel, to which he has also made a written contribution or two. We were also informed he has been a Second Reader in his branch church. Boston's poster-boy has reportedly given quite a few million dollars to The Mother Church, which no doubt made any fluffy droplets from his pen uncommonly wonderful.
Yet an article quoted him as being proud of the fact that a couple of margaritas (or some other mixed drink) had been named after him. Now, what idea would the unknowing and probably uncaring and skeptical public form of Christian Science from these two men? An insignificant, have-it-any-way-you-want sect with no meaningful beliefs or standards? Even the "honest seeker" might have second thoughts.
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The woman who discovered and established the Christian Science religion certainly left standards for its adherents, and thank goodness, there are those who still do their best to maintain them. The world notices these things.
Reading your blog, can't help but think of something Mrs. Eddy writes in her Prose Works, (Mis. page 233: "The perfection of the rule of Christian Science is what constitutes its utility: having a true standard, if some fall short, others will approach it; and these are they only who adhere to that standard."
A Journal-listed practitioner
Mrs. Eddy tells us, "the error of the ages is preaching without practice." (S&H 241:17) So it's good to hear of individuals who uphold the standards of Christian Science in their lives. It's also hard to comprehend the damage done by those who "talk the talk, but don't walk the walk" unless you've seen it first hand: A (supposed) Christian Scientist acquaintance was apparently eager to return home from the hospital so she could teach her Christian Science Sunday School class!!!!! Would that she could have seen the self-satisfied "I knew it didn't work!" sneer on the face of a mutual (Non CS, but one whom this woman had eagerly "shared" the wonderful healing practicality of Christian Science with) acquaintance when I bumped into him a few days later who eagerly related the story of the woman's operation. It were well that we all contemplated Mrs. Eddy's admonition (S&H 464:25) "Adulterating Christian Science makes it void."
You may sometimes feel you're a voice in the wilderness, in a way. But what you've been posting is so needed and I thank you! With the self-styled "leaders" in Boston having sold out to the devil where our true Leader and her Cause are concerned, I rejoice in knowing there are those of us out here who respect her and love her Cause enough to stand up for right. Whether it's moral idiocy afflicting the Board in Boston, or knowing wickedness doesn't matter. What they've allowed to happen is a disgrace.
"There can be but one Mind, because there is but one God; and if mortals claimed no other Mind and accepted no other, sin would be unknown. We can have but one Mind, if that one is infinite. We bury the sense of infinitude, when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a place in this infinity, for evil can have no place, where all space is filled with God" (Science and Health 469).
Isn't holding up the supposed transgressions of others a way of admitting that evil has a place in infinity? If we see error, then isn't it our mistaken sense of things that needs to be healed? These blog posts remind me of the Pharisee who said "I thank thee, that I am not as other men are" (Luke 18:11). Doesn't healing come from recognizing that good is ever present and we are all equal in the sight of God?
Let's embrace in our own thoughts those who seem to be falling by the wayside instead of holding them up for public ridicule, and remember the sage advice of Paul to the Galatians (given here as stated in the Message Bible):
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? (Gal. 5: 13-15).
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