A friend of our family was quizzing my wife, Kathy, one day, about what I did in my profession. She told her that I was a Christian Science practitioner, which generated her next question. “What does a Christian Science practitioner do?”
Kathy told her that I prayed for people that called for help with the different problems they face in life. And our friend asked, “How does he make a living doing that?” And Kathy replied, “He charges for his services.” And then she was puzzled, “How could anyone charge for prayer?” She wondered out loud. Kathy explained that I was dedicating my life full-time to providing this service, and that it was the only means I had of supporting my family. So, like any professional counselor or advisor who charges for their time, I charged for my time too, for I had bills to pay as anyone else did.
After Kathy retold me the conversation, I thought a little deeper about this friend’s query concerning prayer and charging, and realized there was something more going on in thought there than I had appreciated in times past when similar conversations had occurred.
I decided, that in this case, she was puzzled about charging because prayer for her was asking God to give her something. “God, please give me better health. God, please give me money to pay my bills. God please give me some more grace,” and so on. I could see why she was puzzled as to how anyone would charge for doing that, because from her point of view, there wasn’t anything special about prayer. It was so simple, easy and straightforward. Why would you pay for someone to ask God for something you can ask them for?
I quickly appreciated hearing about this conversation because it highlighted to me the importance of explaining prayer from a Christian Science point of view. It’s often much different than the average person on the street realizes.
In Christian Science, prayer is understood to be much more than putting together right words and asking God for something. Prayer is consecrated, dedicated, devoted, focused, and earnest seeking out spiritual truth that meets a particular need of the moment. It is not just asking God for help. It’s an active seeking out God’s help. It often requires some major heavy-duty mental weight lifting to get the job done.
For success, thought needs to be honestly examined. Fears acknowledged. False beliefs exposed. Sin needs to be recognized and error conquered. For improvement in a person’s experience, there needs to be improvement in their state of mind, and to get there, it can require some mighty wrestling with false beliefs that stubbornly hold their position and get in the way of progress. A professional Christian Science practitioner has experience doing this, and has made themselves available to help others successfully do this as well.
Now, in as much as I just described what might sound like a lot of human effort to find healing, a practitioner understands clearly that God is always the healer. It’s not the “wrestling with error,” that affects the healing, but it does clear up the patient’s mind from belief in error so that God’s healing power can be felt and experienced.
So, when a Christian Science practitioner prays for a patient, they really are doing something. They are not just petitioning God’s help. They are taking on a mental state that a patient has put before them, and metaphysically working to take that mental state to a better place, closer to God, feeling more of God’s presence, and experiencing the healing power of Christ within.
This kind of prayer has tremendous value and worth. And people who benefit from it, are typically happy to compensate the professionals who are ready and able to give it.
After thinking this all through, I was very grateful for our friend’s questions.
Thank you Evan, for this clear explanation what a real good Christian Science practitioner does and truly thats a lot! I always cherished this profession as one of the highest Truth and Love and Healing giving professions in the world – and somewhere in our books I read that this is the best and most blessing profession!
Very well explained Evan, as to what a Christian Science Practitioner has to do, to bring about a healing. Its so enlightening and all my friends who do not know much about Christian Science will gain a lot of good by going through todays inspiration.
Of course as Uta mentions, its a most blessed profession ever. Many a times Christian Science Practitioners bring healing answers not only to severe health conditions, but also to relationship problems, lack of resources like finance, depression, relief from grief on the passing of a relative, addiction issues, and even raising of the dead.
Christian Science works on the Laws of God, on a Divine and demonstrable Principle. Its teachings are so easy to follow and grasped readily by the simple at heart. It does not necessarily ask for an educated thought to grasp the simple but profound truths of Christian Science. Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, initially wanted to give the name “Divine Science” to her discovery. But later on she was divinely inspired to give the name “Christian Science”. Christ was the title given to Jesus – ” Jesus the Christ. ” Meaning of Christ being Truth. Christian Science healings are based on TRUTH. The healings of Jesus Christ were based on the same Principles of Truth. So the name CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
This could be a great article for one of the Christian Science periodicals, or perhaps a blog. Please think about doing that!
I agree with Marilyn !
Many people that ask for the help of a CS practitioner don’t have this clear idea about the real work going on.
Actually it’s the first time I read such a good explanation about the value of Christian Science prayer.
I agree with Marilyn, part of a lecture, a religious discussion panel or a periodical would be great. Thanks Evan for the thorough explanation. This the best blog, love it!
I am so grateful for your succinct explanation and clarification of what a Christian Science Practitioner ‘does’ in his/her profession. And I would add that this profession provides for sacred opportunities to behold mankind as Christ Jesus beheld it—uplifting and healing it.
Thanks Evan for the clear explanation. It’s worthwhile considering too, that clergy of other denominations receive a salary from their churches which includes praying for members of the congregation. Practitioners are not employees of the church, as is sometimes thought. They are self-employed.
Thank you so much for this, Evan! As a Christian Scientist who has a lot of non-Scientist, but spiritually-seeking friends, this is so helpful for me in explaining what C.S. Prayer is and does! It’s purpose is to Heal physical problems……along with other problems. When we call C.S. Practitioners, we are asking for Healing, for a practical demonstration of the Truth that sets us free from false beliefs or error. Wonderful! Blessings to All!
Yes! This really needs to be understood, for it subtly undermines the value of Christian Science itself.
Everybody knows, deep down, that all their troubles come from troubled thought, whether our own or others’: something not understood, something baffling, something beyond our ability, something that we feel we don’t have the education, expertise or experience to deal with.
What is going to a doctor, lawyer, psychologist, psychiatrist, agent or expert of any kind but to get the benefit of their THOUGHT — their understanding of a problem one is troubled by beyond one’s ken — even, in the case of the last two — if it’s in our own thinking! And we expect to pay dearly for that expertise, no questions asked.
What better help could I possibly get than from someone trained and experienced in discerning the truth from the error in my own thought from his/her deep understanding of powerful Bible truths? Truths which Mary Baker Eddy clearly explains in her writings and which millions have proved to be effective?
What better physician can I have than one trained in the method of Jesus’ healing?
What better lawyer than one convinced of and conversant with the laws of God?
What better marriage counselor than one who turns me to the counsel of the divine Love of the entire universe?
What better business, talent, real estate agent, what better consultant than one bringing to light my ability to trust the Governor of the universe to guide my career?
What better trainer or teacher than one who can help me realize the all-knowing of God’s Mind as my own?
Etcetera!
All, all of which results in troubles resolved with joy, dominion, health, amazing grace.
The highest profession indeed!
Evan, a wonderful sharing of a topic that I been working on and really hadn’t been able to come to any complete personal satisfaction. All the pieces for me were there, but your post help me to put the pieces into a whole understanding for myself. Thank you!
Thanks for this! I agree, it would be good for a periodical article. It’s a wonderful summary,
I had a misunderstanding with a CS friend about prayerful work. She asked me to pray about some things in her life, and I took that to mean as a practitioner. I put focused time and energy into addressing the issues she asked me about. When she did not get back with me regularly, I tried to delicately ask her if she’d worked with a practitioner before. I discovered that wasn’t what she meant; she just wanted me to keep her in thought in general.
I bring this up because it’s important to be clear when working for someone. Not only had I been working diligently, but I certainly did not want to be treating her if that wasn’t what she wanted! That wouldn’t be right.
We are clear on things now, which is fine. So it was a learning experience.
This presentation today is so informative and needs to be exponded upon. It is not a ceremony of human will, but devine understanding. Take it out of mystery and show the divinely fare. This subject, when understood blesses.
Thank you Evan for this superb post. It is essential to submit it for publication in one of the Christian Science periodicals for the benefit of a wider readership. Grateful thanks also to ALL above for their input.
Evan, thank you so much for this wonderful explanation of what a Practitioner of Christian Science does and why there is a charge for this service. As a life long Student of Christian Science, I understood, but I must admit it was difficult to try and explain to someone not familiar to Christian Science. I was wondering if you could expand on this by explaining why some Practitioners will NOT work for you if you are seeking medical help for a problem, while other Practitioners are more willing to help. I think I have an understanding, but I would like your explanation since it is always so clear and succinct. Thank You
Hi Debbie,
I think all practitioners want to help a patient if they feel they can.
If a patient is receiving medical help, but genuinely wants to be healed spiritually, then most practitioners I know will be happy to help them cross that bridge and find their way to Spirit where real healing happens.
I understand there are some practitioners who accept only patients that are entirely free of the medical model. And that’s okay. That’s their professional choice and what they are comfortable with. But there are many who will work with patients and help them make the transition from the medical to the spiritual. Seek out a practitioner that speaks to you!
I hope that helps.
It does Evan, Thank You!!
Debbie
Some practitioners reside in places where medical treatment is required, ie Canada and England, and those places have laws, where the citizens are governed humanly, to abide first by medical treatment. In my experience, practitioners who attend patients, where this is the law of the land, are free to treat a person, say one who is in hospital, while they are seeking spiritual healing, and as Evan has clearly stated,”who will work with patients and help them make the transition from the medical to the spiritual.”
Love guides and leads the way.
Great explanation Evan. I agree, this needs to be in Sentinel, etc. Evan thank you for your response to Debbie’s query. I assume you are one practitioner who will work to help those who need to “cross the bridge.”
Thank you so much Evan for this very clear explanation, and I would also love to see it as an article in the Journal or Sentinel, including the bit you have added to explain about those trying to leave the medical model behind. So very helpful thank you.
With reference to a Christian Science practitioner’s fees, one also comes across the argument that Jesus did not charge for his healing works. An article SpiritView-ers may find interesting, is in the November 21, 1908 issue of the Sentinel. It is titled
For Value Received by Annie M. Knott.
Evan, you gave me the best explanation of how a C/S Practitioner heals by prayer and not by using material medicine. But one thing he left out is that the listener and reader must have a receptive attitude to appreciate the explanation.