To many life-long Christian Scientists it is unthinkable, but some churches are indeed permitting members who are having medical care or treatment to remain active members in good standing, even to hold elective or appointed offices or positions. To allow this or be one who indulges in this apostasy is a disrespectful repudiation of Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy, and Christian Science.
Not so many decades ago a church member who decided to seek medical attention would voluntarily withdraw from active membership, i.e., he or she would not serve in any position or attend meetings and vote. This was done by the member out of respect for fellow church members and Christian Science. When such a person was again relying solely on Christian Science, he was restored to full membership.
Surely it is clear that to accept anything less is to befoul Christian Science and the very quality that has attracted so many people to it over the years: Christianly scientific healing. Without this quality, what does Christian Science offer that would unquestionably be an improvement on what a new-comer might already have? And a church without meaningful standards is little more than a social club.
The argument has been made that to take any action against those choosing medicine over Mind is unloving. That argument is arrant nonsense. To permit apostates the rights and privileges of loyal and true Christian Scientists is being unloving to the latter, not the former. The argument against taking an unloving action is quite probably being made because those who make it would like to keep this convenient fig leaf available to themselves should the need arise.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Really enjoying what you are posting! So well thought out, and things that need saying.
Thanks so much...
Yes, down with those medical seeking CSers!
If the branch churchs kicked out the members who sought medical treatment, the Christian Science church would cease to exist. Its numbers are too slim now anyway. Geeez let them keep the few that are left. Ms. Eddy said to "Emerge Gently" didn't she? The real question is: why arn't there more healings such that people don't have to resort to medicine? If Christian Science is true, this shouldn't have to be a concern at all.
While there is no question that CS offers a wonderful alternative to medical care, one, in fact, that has proven to be far more reliable and efficacious, I think your ideas, which expose a "holier than thou" attitude, are very far from the practice of Christian Science that Mrs. Eddy taught and demonstrated. Remember that the chapter in Science and Health called "Christian Science Practice" begins with the story from Luke of Jesus expressing compassion toward the unnamed, "immoral" woman who was willing to accept the harsh censure and judgment of her peers to find the Christ, Truth, and rebuking the self-righteous indignation of the Pharisee at her presence. Each of us must work out our own salvation, and each of us has work to do, or we would not be here. If you are seeing church members who are struggling to demonstrate Christian Science, then you are not seeing them correctly and YOU have more work to do. Remember, "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals" (S&H 476). If you, like Jesus, work to see God's own likeness in every church member, then the healing work being done in your church will inevitably increase and fewer individuals will feel the need to turn to medical means. Rather than judging and condemning your fellow church members (something that the Rule for Motives and Acts tells us we should pray to be delivered from), I suggest you concentrate on learning to express more of the "true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness" ("A Rule for Motives and Acts," Church Manual, page 40), which are the true hallmarks of Christian Science practice.
Just curious...do you wear glasses? Where do we draw the line? Are all readers, sunday school teachers, and practitioners to be required to remove their "medical aides" of glasses?
Can't help replying to this discussion on keeping the standard of CS healing the way our Leader has given it, by heaven! I think what the writer of this blog is saying is that there cannot be Christ-healing as God has revealed it to our age through Mary Baker Eddy (can one ever thank Him enough?!) unless he demonstrates Truth on the basis of matter's unreality. To start off viewing the problem, whatever it may be, whether sickness, deformity, lack, whatever, as real does not lead to Christian Science healing Let me share just one experience from a lifetime of experiencing divine healing a la CS: I injured my foot badly one day, prayed fervently with the truths found in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Eddy, and saw much improvement over night. The next morning , needing to do errands, was walking along a sidewalk when the thought came so clearly: God' spiritual man was not hurt, so there is no need to go through a long recuperation in getting back to normal well-being. Well sir, hard to describe but I actually felt the healing taking place. Something adjusted in my foot, and I walked on normally, free as a bird! Could this have happened had I been watering down Truth or have compromised with materia medica? I leave the answer to you.
It is wonderful that you had a healing. However, many demonstrations are long, painful, and prevent people from going about their daily activities including working to support a family. If a healing is quick, that is wonderful but it borders on pure insanity to continue in a painful, debilitaing state when it is obvious that one is not getting a healing in the manner they would most desire. To live with the threat of excommunication or having to publically step down from church positions because you arn't the perfect Christian Scientist and sought medical treatment is NOT LOVING or Christ-like at all and fosters a subtle cult-like mindset to sacrifice common sense for a religion. However, I think that if one is a practitioner, to whom others depend on for healing, that practitioner should be able to demonstrate it with quick, 100 percent effectiveness for themselves before others can trust their lives to the practitioner's prayers. Ethically, the practitioner should not work for ill patients if their own house isn't in order!
Oh...then that "colossal character" Paul, to use that God-inspired woman, Mary Baker Eddy's description, shouldn't have been in the healing work since he had a thorn in the flesh? Your reasoning is wide of the mark, my friend!
Speaking of Christian Science practitioners, I for one (among hundreds of thousands of people all over the world) can never be grateful enough for these workers, present and past, who have helped so many with their problems. They obviously had problems to work out, else they would have been ascended and not around to pray for others at all!
eI didn't say practitioners had to be perfect people, but if one is going to forego medical means for a physical problem, the practitioner should at least be steadfast in their faith and rely on Christian Science themselves if they are going to take on a patient with possibly life threatening diseases. Also, the Paul analogy is flawed. Paul never charged money to pray for someone and never sought to convince someone that they did not need possibly life saving medical care or that if they sought medical help, they could not pray for them or if they do, they have to pray for them in a "different way".
If you're sick and you get medical treatment, stay out of our church.
'If you're sick and you get medical treatment, stay out of our church.'
????
How is that at all Christian?
The only people Jesus threw out of the temple were the money changers. He never refused to help someone in need.
Even MBE says to seek the help of a surgeon in helping to set broken bones.
Isn't a dentist in the medical profession? How about if you need glasses?
Are you going to kick out everyone with fillings and contacts?
Everyone has to work out THEIR own salvation, it's not up to church members to judge another persons' progress or success.
Post a Comment