I occasionally talk with individuals who would love to go into the full-time practice of Christian Science healing, but entertain many fears and doubts as to their readiness or capacity to succeed.
Questions and concerns frequently voiced include, “Do I have enough understanding? Are my prayers effective? Will anyone ask me for help?”
When I hear these worries expressed, I point out that going into the practice is all about wanting to help and heal others. Success grows out of genuine desire to see other people cured of their suffering. It’s not a function of how many years one has studied the truth or how well known they are in community circles. It’s a function of love.
For instance, take the comforting instinct of a caring mother. If her child is in physical distress, she does not walk away into a different room and ponder first whether she is qualified to help. She immediately comes to the aid of her child and does whatever she can to relieve the suffering and bring comfort. She does not stand around worrying first about whether she can help. She jumps in and helps, and through prayer, listening, reasoning, thinking and responding, brings comfort to her little one. Her qualifications to help are her unwavering love and absolute care for her chidlren. Her concern for their safety and well being impels her to their aid no matter what. There is no question in her mind about whether she should help or not. She does it because it’s the right thing to do and she always finds an answer that makes a difference.
The Christian Science practice is about loving others, helping others, coming to the aid of those in distress. Success grows out of desire to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.
The real question is not, “Do I have enough understanding?” It’s “Do I have enough love? Do I care enough?”
When we genuinely want to help our neighbor, we find the resources to do it. Our ability to help grows out of our love and yearning to restore hope, promise, health and healing into the lives of our friends, relatives and neighbors.
Like the Good Samaritan Jesus talks about in the Bible, the person who truly loves his or her neighbor cannot walk by someone who is suffering and in pain and ignore them. It’s impossible. The heart of Love goes out to those in need and yearns to see comfort and healing restored.
A person who loves their neighbor cannot idle hours away in the lounge chair of indifference and selfish satisfaction while a neighbor across the street struggles in pain and teeters on the edge of death.
Love for God and neighbor is what impels success in the Christian Science practice. It’s all about taking what one knows about the infinite love of God for man, and demonstrating that love in real life circumstances.
Millions of people suffer today, feeling hopeless, lost, confused and full of fear. They need help. They need comfort. They need healing. They need the Christ-touch of Love that Christian Science is capable of giving them. Those who are ready to respond will be given the understanding, support, confidence and faith they need to make a positive difference. God will ensure that, for God blesses the right unselfish desire and the honest effort.
The big question is: Will you respond? Do you love enough?
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye
have received, freely give.” Jesus Christ
“Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, and never fear the consequences.” Mary Baker Eddy
i love the spirit of encouragement here, but as someone who has worked alone and with (and paid) many practitioners over a 10 year period and still wrestling with alarming symptoms, I wonder whether christian healing is something just anybody can do.
This is great stuff! Thank you Evan! I’ve had many situations of quick healings with my children when I let Divine Love flood my consciousness. It’s easy to do that with your own children but now I have a clearer understanding of what needs to be done for my “neighbors” too.
Just curious, are there any standards imposed by the Mother Church on who gets into the Journal and who stays in the Journal?
I have to agree with first commenter. I have had a longstanding problem and have had many CSP’s working with me. Bo progress was made, however I kept sending them checks. No one ever prayed for mE “out of love”. It seems like they would have kept accepting the checks not really concerned if I made pfogress. It is almost as if it is too business or lucritive.
“we don’t go into the practice, we grow into the practice” Most of us are “just hiding out”, to avoid what we deem it to be. Even so, in the course of traveling, I realize I had to find that God was present everywhere, whether for myself, or by being asked for healing. In Spain, I was asked about CS at dinner, then healing help was requested in the morning as I stood in the hotel lobby waiting to go on an excursion. My first thought was, Oh, no. But I knew better, smiled sweetly and said, of course. Then I said, Dear God, I don’t know this person, but You do, let Truth uncover error in Truth’s own way. I then knew the truth a few minutes and left for the day. In the afternoon, the individual was out of bed, in the lobby waiting excitedly. “I know the exact moment I got sick! It was when I was frustrated and hated the guide”. Yes, we do have to love our neighbor. This person was not a Christian, but declared an intention to go to a Reading Room and buy Science and Health at home. Her friend. who seemed to have an ailment du jour, throughout the trip started to complain to the one just healed. That one said “Don’t talk to me about it, talk to her,she has a straight line to God”I ducked behind a column. I pick up occasional hitchhikers in our rural area Healings have occurred, and I keep copies of the textbook in my car always. Your consciousness is your office..
No offense intended, Evan, but what’s going on here?
I’ve noticed a distinct move in your blog to push, push, push the Christian Science way. Is this your enthusiasm or is the church encouraging you to recruit since church membership numbers are down, and the number of practitioners is low?
Its a bit of a turn off actually. I’d prefer some inspirational writing that wasn’t constantly pushing the CS barrow, waving the CS flag, or whatever metaphor applies.
Again, no offense intended, just wanting to avoid unsubscribing as I’ve enjoyed many of the your blogs in the past.
Whew, I’ve been deluged with emails and comments today–mostly positive!–on the above blog and haven’t been able to keep up. So sorry about that. It definitely touched on a hot topic for many readers…
One asked if Christian healing is something anyone can do…yes, of course. It’s all about loving God more, growing in spiritual understanding and letting Christ take over thoughts and actions. We learn in degrees, but can rejoice in whatever proofs we’re able to demonstrate.
It was mentioned about prolonged healings…there are times when this is the case, but as Jesus said, “Through prayer and fasting…” the need is met. What does a medical doctor do when faced with a prolonged illness? They keep doing their best and seeking solutions. We certainly wouldn’t want to do less with prayer.
Someone asked about standards and listings in the Journal. There are some standards, I believe, like one must remain committed to the full-time practice and available as a general rule. But there are not “tests” per say that one has to go through to stay in the Journal.
One above was concerned about me “pushing” Christian Science. I’m grateful for this comment because I like to know what my readers are feeling when they read my posts. I am sensitive to that. The observation that I’ve used the words Christian Science frequently in the last month or two, is probably correct. But I wouldn’t say it’s a new trend, so much as where my thought has been in the last few weeks. I’ve just taught a two week class on Christian Science, so, you can imagine, it’s been much on my mind. You can expect many of the same inspirational articles you’ve enjoyed in the past to still appear.
The commenter wondered if the church influenced content in my posts. The answer is no. There is no communication whatsoever between any church and me per my blog. My posts are mine.
The commenter mentioned temporary enthusiasm for CS. Perhaps that is an accurate assessment of why the subject has arisen recently.
And on the heels of that confession, it’s important to understand that when I use the words “Christian Science” I’m not talking about a church, an institution, or ritual. I’m talking about universal laws of harmony that pertain to everyone. These laws are not owned by anyone, or by a church. They are unconditional blessings of divine Love that I strive to understand better each day. And what I discover, I love to share with you.
It can be a hang-up in people’s minds to hear the words “Christian Science” if they have negative connotations in their mind about it from different ways they’ve seen it practiced in the past or heard it talked about. But I hope you can see past those, let them go, and just focus on the pure laws of Love the words were originally meant to convey.
And thanks to everyone else who has been contributing to the discussion…
Two things. 1) I, too, have felt a “push” for people to go into the public practice of CS…not from this blog but from the church, publishing articles etc….and I guess I truly believe it’s a calling…like any other profession. To “human will” it or force it into being just doesn’t make sense to me. And yet, another way to look at the “push” or suggestion is to see that it is simple encouragement to go into the practice…..making sure we’re aware that Christian healing is for all at any age and we don’t have to be 75 and gray-haired to make that leap. I do get that.
2) I’m not understanding the person’s dislike of your use of the words Christian Science on thsi site. Discussing CS and how it applies to daily life is why I come to this blog and others. So now I have to ask….is there a conscious movement afoot to discuss things in a spiritual realm but not put a name to it? Not sure I worded that right but I hope you get my point.
Thanks!
To above,
Yes, I reasonate with your comment about using the words Christian Science. I am finding more and more comfort all the time with publicly identifying with the words.
Years back, many years back, I would be intimidated into not identifying myself publicly with Christian Science. I was afraid of what other people might think about me if I did. I’ve gotten over that fear a long time ago! But even today, when I speak to hundreds of people around the country about spiritual healing, I find myself occasionally fighting the aggressive suggestion of the carnal mind to withhold publicly proclaiming who I am and what I’m all about.
I believe this feeling has a lot to do with erroneous ways Christian Science has been identified with in the public mind. Many writers that are antagonistic toward CS, (and other religions too) have planted false concepts, some grossly false, about Christian Science in the public mind, and it can be challenging for the student to reply to those errors. But the student must learn to overcome that fear and come back with an honest reply that straightens out the public record.
Shrink back no more… But one does not want to be pushy either. The most effective way is to let one’s own light shine and lighten up the dark places of human thought that would hide the truth.
Gee…. and I thought I was the only one who used to feel intimidated about identifying myself as a CS.
That’s what I love about this blog!
I too have found more and more comfort in identifying myself as a CS and it has actually separated me less from others… not more.
Being more outward has allowed my “inner practice” to become an “outward practice”. It doesn’t mean I have an office or a Journal listing (and perhaps never will). But, it does mean I’ve begun to throw the bushel off my candle and allowed my light to shine before men in a much more productive way than before.
Quick example.
I had a friend show up at my door at work one morning sobbing as it was the anniversary of some truly horrible event in her life. After giving some human comfort she left and I had the itchy feeling I hadn’t done for her what I should. The thought ragged on me to the point I went flying out the door, found her, wrapped my arms around her and said something like “you do know there a a spiritual core in you that has never ever been hurt or touched by anything evil and has no evil anniversaries don’t you?” (It was a bit better than that actually).
She calmed down some but I really had to fight feeling like I should have stayed under my bushel.
Nothing more was ever said… until a year and a half later when one day she said “can we talk about what you said to me that day?” I have thought about it every day since and I think I’m ready to talk to you about what that means. It has completely changed how i look at myself and my life.
That’s a public practice!
It doesn’t always mean an office and a listing, but it does mean letting my light shine. In this case I could no longer tolerate the suffering my friend was experiencing and had to address the error openly and honestly without being afraid of the consequences. The tricky part was the year and a half it took to see the results. There were a lot of times error tempted me to think I should have never done it but all that time the truth was working good in her thought.
Keep it up Evan. This is the bright spot in my day.
Excellent example! Terrific actually! Thanks for sharing…
Before David slew Goliath he faced down bears and lions threatening his father’s flocks. And perhaps based on that previous success David didn’t hesitate to take up the greater challenge, unlike the professional soldiers in Saul’s army.
Run that by any part-timer who next consults you about going full-time Evan. It seems the only way part-time (or full-time) Christian Science practitioners can ‘wonder’ if their prayers are effective is if confirming results are not speedy and forthcoming.
I empathize with others who similarly have had long and unfufilling experience with Christian Science practitioners. But instead of complaining or throwing in the towel, I’ve concluded that healing comes from God, not the practitioner, and well, I’ve got the same copy of S & H they do.
Nice example. Thanks!
God gives each of us the well placed rock of Truth we need to topple any Goliath marching our way!
I am learning from the blogs as well as from commentators. I am not from this country and was brought here by God’s gentle persuasiveness. Everything turned out to be a blessing for me and my family and the easiest way as I listened to God’s directions. As a CS student I rarely worked with a CS practitioner because I found my listening and prayers worked out good. And after so so years I believed and feared about some relatives who went home disabled and passed and although they were CS they resulted to medical care. My fear haunted me until I could no longer work. I called a CS practitioner and it took months and months with an up and down beat. Then I was doubting my healing because I wasn’t doing correctly the rules of Metaphysical healing or Christian Science. I knew I was not just getting how to do it. Another thing is since I wasn’t used to have someone support me in prayer I didn’t already know what to do. It was so funny that I thought I could just go on fearing and the practitioner will just turn everything harmoniously like Naaman in the Bible. I couldn’t heed the rule not to observe the problem because it concerns my feet. Anyway though months passed I realized and agreed with the practitioner that I am benefitting “seeing the little or pity flowers along the way.” He mentioned to me that he is the guide but I needed to walk myself. I understood it as when one aims to reach the top of the mountain [healing] the guide will show the way but the hiker needs to walk himself, not to be carried uphill by the guide on his back. This is a very good reminder when it seems no good thing is going on with the practitioner’s support. And I found it became easier for me to see my healing and understand how to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” To dwell means to stay right there always, not walking up and down the hill or be conscious of my true being the first minute then try to observe or see the problem the next minute. To do so, for sure I would never reach the top. Today it reminds me to remain a consciousness of Love every single moment.