I had a super lecture experience in Oakland last Saturday. The lecture was held in a modern conference center downtown at noontime.
Very few attendees showed up at quarter ‘til the hour, and I began to wonder if I was going to have much of an audience. By the time it started, though, the place was jammed, with a need for more chairs and with a very receptive group of listeners.
The subject for the afternoon was “Living in Abundance.”
What struck me most was the hunger of newcomers to Christian Science for more understanding of how to apply the principles of this Science to their everyday lives.
A long line of questioners wanted to talk with me afterward, and it took over an hour to answer their questions, one on one.
Each individual had a different story to tell. But as one after another started their conversation with, “I found CS a month ago,” or “I found CS two years ago,” or “I grew up in Science, left it and came back three years ago,” and on and on, I was briefly overwhelmed with a feeling of “There are so many people hungry for real CS. How can we reach them more effectively?”
I felt like my efforts were so dinky and so puny, talking to only fifty or a hundred people at a time when there had to be thousands and thousands in our communities wanting to hear the same message, but not realizing it exists.
These people were sincere, committed seekers for Truth: active thinkers. And there were many. They had caught a glimpse of the light CS brings, and they wanted more.
The most touching comment was made by a part-time Presbyterian minister who took me tenderly by the hand, and in the most heartfelt way said, “Your talk cut right to the heart of true Christianity.” And he thanked me from the bottom of his heart. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
His comment made me so grateful, because I felt like he had caught a glimpse of true Christian Science. It’s not a parochial religion, a belief-system of a small minority, a woman’s discovery. It’s what Jesus lived and taught—the real thing—Christianity at its best. It doesn’t always come across that way by students of its teachings, but this minister caught a glimpse of it at the lecture, and I thanked God for getting me out of the way and allowing the message to get through.
So grateful for this message and so grateful for you and the work you do. Loved the Presbyterian minister’s comments.
Thank you for this and for the concise definition of CS. ‘Its what Jesus lived and taught’. Explaining CS to others can get so complicated. This cut to the chase!I just have to make sure its what I am doing!
How can we get a copy of your Lecture “Living in Abundance”?
Bless that Presbyterian minister, and bless you, Evan, for allowing God to get “personal sense” out of the way and let the Christ light shine through.
I’m grateful that in tough economic times people are seeking true, lasting substance, the kind found only in a spiritual understanding of God. As Maria Louise Baum’s poem reads, “Oh, in that light, all earthly loss is gain.”
To anonymous above: This lecture can be found on the Christian Science website, under online lectures archives.
So appreciate what you share and knowing that there are people out there who really do want this Science of Christianity. Sometimes we forget when we see churches closing and congregations declining
that there reallly is a hunger for this. Thank you for letting us know. Vicki
This is excellent, Evan! Thanks 🙂
This ought to be required reading for any branch church lecture committee.
Thanks Evan, This is so encouraging, I am sure the same is happening over here. Edmund, London, UK.
You are so right, Evan. Christian Science is the way to live and think and love and heal like Jesus did.
It is the science of Christianity.
It is the roadmap of Christianity.
Much else of what parades as Christianity today–partisan, hateful, bigoted and bitter–is a hoax.
Your efforts are far from puny! You reach thousands of people. You are a shining light and I am so grateful for your blog.
Elaine in Virginia
Here’s the URL to Evan’s video lecture, Living in Abundance:
http://members.christianscience.com/lectures/lecture-video/living-in-abundance/
I can only say “Amen”to:
“It’s not a parochial religion, a belief-system of a small minority, a woman’s discovery. It’s what Jesus lived and taught—the real thing—Christianity at its best.”
God bless,
Sancy