On one hand, there is no difference for a treatment is a prayer for healing. But, on the other, there is a distinction to be made because treatment is metaphysically designed to specifically change a person’s thought about something. It’s not just a general affirmation of Truth.
For example, if a person believes they have a cold, a requested CS treatment would focus on dissolving that person’s cold-belief with the truth that they are healthy and well as God’s beloved. The treatment would specifically refute the sufferer’s false beliefs with spiritual truth to the negation of those erroneous beliefs, and the treatment would continue until health was manifest and the cold had disappeared.
As a general rule, treatment is given for oneself or for one who has requested it. It would not be in accord with the Golden Rule to give CS treatment to someone who did not ask for it or did not want it. Treatment is powerful and changes the mental landscape it addresses. Any person feeling the effect of treatment should know why the changes they are experiencing are taking place.
Then the question arises, “If someone is suffering, and they don’t want me to give them CS treatment, how should I think about them? Shouldn’t I treat the belief that they are sufferers? Shouldn’t I pray to know the truth about them anyway?”
And the answer is yes. We should know the truth about them. We should know the spiritual truth about everyone we meet. But knowing the truth about them is not the same thing as giving them treatment.
It’s like the difference between a lantern shining brightly and a spotlight focused on a specific target. Prayer is the lantern approach to solving problems. Treatment is the spotlight approach.
A lantern lets its light shine, and any passerby is welcome to bathe in the light or not. It’s their choice. A spotlight is a powerful concentrated beam that takes over the isolated space it shines on. Standing in a spotlight is a much different kind of experience then passing by a lantern.
So, when someone asks for treatment, turn on the spotlight of truth for their benefit and assiduously work for healing.
If a sufferer does not ask for help and you need to know the spiritual truth about them anyway, hold to the spiritual truth about them as God’s child and let that understanding of Truth glow like a lantern. They may or may not notice. But at the very least, you have taken the morally and spiritually right step.
Shine away!
Very helpful and clear.
Your example was beautiful.
Yes, I like that. I’ve don’t recall having heard that analogy before, but it makes sense. Thank you!
Had an experience not to long ago concerning prayer. My dad informed me that one of my good friends was near death. I immediately felt the lantern of truth. I knew right at that moment that this idividual was well and harmonious. I can’t explain the feeling except to say it was God’s presence in my consciousness that kept me at total peace, no fear but a spiritual understanding way above anything I have ever experienced before. I KNEW this person was an expression of God and nothing could claim him. I went about my day. Didn’t call him, or visit him in the hospital. I found out later his fever broke that day. We have since talked and he has an inkling about what happened but not enough to have a full discussion at this time. I never gave him a specific treatment but knew the truth about him. He said he saw a white light and realized he had to “rouse himself” to do something to fight his way back. To me this is prayer at its’ best. It is that lantern of light and Love that goes out from us when we turn unreservedly to God. God heals, we just need to shine the light around, not obtrusively but “like the house on the hill that cannot be hid”. Your blog really helps define the difference between prayer and treatment. I will add that the prayer I “felt” was not in any words, just spiritual sense, pretty short in duration and I could not stop it if I wanted to. I also could not reveal it anywhere other than this blog because few would believe me so thanks for letting me share.
To anon above,
What a powerful example you have shared of prayer at its best for those whom our thoughts rest upon but haven’t asked for treatment.
Thanks for sharing! Many will benefit from your example.
Hugs,
This is very helpful, Evan – thanks! Maybe you could further comment on the appropriateness of treatment and/or prayer when the individual is under medical care. I faced this challenge a couple of years ago when my dad passed away from cancer. He had attended CS churches most of his life, but was not really a “practicing” Christian Scientist. So, it wasn’t so much that he objected to CS treatment – he just didn’t rely on it when something major came up. My mom and I prayed in a general way throughout this experience. Although our prayers didn’t seem to reach him (i.e., he wasn’t ultimately healed), they definitely helped us in that we were spared of a sense of grief when he passed.
I found your analogy helpful in identifying a distinction between normal petition and/or affirmative types of prayer, and specific CS Treatment. The lamp and the spotlight – this is a good splitting up of similar activities, I think.
When I was attending a local CS church part-time (before they folded for lack of members, and sold the building), one of the things that disturbed me was the lack of communication between the members when someone was experiencing a problem, be it healthwise or otherwise. The collective spiritual power available in the congregation that could have been of great help to anyone needing prayer – this power, seemingly, was never activated.
Why? Because, I surmise, no one in CS is supposed to admit they have problems in expressing Truth, except when talking confidentially to a practitioner they have hired to assist them with spiritual treatments. Members don’t appear to know they can “freely” pray for one another’s well-being without giving a treatment. I think if the distinction you have made between regular prayer (letting your light shine on situations) and treatment prayer (specific mental intercession) were better known in CS, then members would know they can pray for one another, and should – without giving a specific treatment which would require advance permission.
The earlier anonymous commenter who said, “I never gave him a specific treatment but knew the truth about him,” shares my own thought. What a powerful testimony/experience in prayer he/she had, especially when it was added: “the prayer I “felt” was not in any words, just spiritual sense.”
To anon about treating someone under medical care…
If someone has chosen medical care, then that is the form of treatment they have chosen, and one form of treatment should be pursued at a time to avoid conflict.
Sometimes, patients want spiritual support while undergoing an operation, and there is always a way to support that individual with love, compassion and other Christly qualities that don’t overstep the line of giving spiritual treatment for the same problem they are receiving medical treatment for.
Oftentimes, prayer that builds faith in Spirit leads a patient to realize they don’t need medical treatment anymore and can turn wholeheartedly to Truth for healing. That is when it is safe and constructive to give spiritual treatment if they so desire.
To anon above on talking about our problems amongst church members…
I’ve also seen reluctance and self-conscious fears amongst church members in letting others know about the trials they are facing. Sometimes this is wisdom, for it can be helpful to not have everyone building up in public thought the very error we’re striving to conquer. But, othertimes, when we need a helping hand, we should not fear asking for and receiving help from others who would probably want to help if they only knew it was needed…
Love is reflected in love…
I too have been confused about not being able to give a treatment for someone under medical care. I know the explanation given in Science and Health, and can certainly understand the reasoning. (Can’t mix matter with Spirit because they are complete opposites, etc)
On the other hand, if God is all, and matter doesn’t exist anyway, why can’t the patient have the comfort of getting all the “help” he can get? God would not punish someone for relying on medicine, would he? I know many church members that have not been able to make a demosntration and have relied on medical treatment, though they have also sought prayerful help. They have been devastated when turned down by practitioners. If a practitioner is truly good, I would think they could see through the error of it all and still heal, allowing the patient the comfort, or allaying the fear by holding onto material means also. After all, didn’t Jesus make the spittle and put it in the blind man’s eye? Whether than be medicine or not, I think it helped to allay the man’s fear and give him tangible support while he healed him.
This has always been a tricky issue to understand. It seems cold and cruel to turn away someone who has asked for prayerful work, just because they have yet to relinquish their faith in matter. Also, we wouldn’t have the bad reputation we sometimes get that someone has died under Christian Science treatment. It seems like if our goal is to heal, then we should be able to do that under all circumstances.
To anon above,
I agree that there is always a way to help anyone in any circumstance. Love is everywhere and all-inclusive, and that is the ideal Christian Science teaches us to live out and demonstrate.
I understand there are some practitioners who do not work with patients under medical care. I figure that that is there decision, and I judge not. They have their reasons. But for myself, I always look for a way to reach anyone who is reaching out for spiritual help. The helping hand of Love is always present!
If a patient has consciously chosen medical care, they need to understand the consequences of their choice and how faith in material means counter-acts faith in the healing power of Spirit. But nonetheless, there is always a way for Love to intervene and show a way out for those who sincerely desire spiritual healing.
What a lovely Christ-like answer! For me, it certainly puts material means in its place; by not making it a big power that interferes with God’s work. For those desperate and in need, what a comfort to take no heed to material means, letting the tares and the wheat grow side by side if that is what comforts the patient, and then let Truth’s power so shine and heal that faith in material means naturally falls away.
But to turn away on someone’s darkest hour, how can that be the Christly response?