From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
The work of many minds attempted to stop the building of The Mother Church. Now that plan of M.A.M. was defeated. It is up to the students to protect that demonstration—from the enemy within our gates.
from Collectanea of Items by and About Mary Baker Eddy, Addenda, page 65
Church. The Structure of Truth and Love
September 2015
from the Christian Science Journal (1889), by Mary Baker Eddy
I want to promote the union of the church. I love the church. The Christian church is sacred to me; just as the Jew held all that had the name of God written on it, so all that calls itself by the name of Christ, I love, and hold sacred.
How shall we best promote union with Christ, and draw all the churches that are called by that holy Name nearer to him? I look to Christ for guidance. Jesus did not carry his church — the Jewish — with him. He could not build his on their foundation; neither can we. They are founded on personal sense and credal doctrines about God. How can we proceed on our way without the life of Christianity, the recognition of God, Good, as all? It is only this that severs the old attachments of evil. We cannot afford to remain in the fetters of a personal sense of God. Then we plant ourselves on matter rather than Spirit. But we must plant ourselves on Spirit, and must say as Martin Luther said, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, so help me God, Amen.”
There is no compromise here. We must go forward. I repeat that I love the old church organization that has kept alive the name of Christ, but I want to see it founded on God, and a God who is Spirit, not matter; who is Good, and not evil; a God who is Supreme over all, superior to sickness, sin, and death included; that is a present help in all times of trouble; that just when we want Him most, does not turn us over to matter and an M.D. for our refuge.
Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.
The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.
from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
from Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Precepts, Vol. II,
by Gilbert Carpenter
Mrs. Eddy was determined to found no material organization. She knew that the disciples began their ministry, after the Master left them, with no organization. Yet in Acts we read of tremendous additions to their ranks. At one time three thousand persons were baptized in one day. She knew that a material organization would lead to many sad experiences, and she hoped to avoid them if possible.
Mrs. Eddy healed by the Spirit, and she hoped her followers would heal in the same way. She had to descend to organized healing, however, or healing by argument, in order to help students to attain the spiritual thought from which spiritual healing comes. In like manner she finally permitted students to have organized churches. She had to give up her hope that either spiritual organization or healing was possible in the present age; yet she looked forward to the time when growth would bring that elevated consciousness, that would make possible both spiritual healing and spiritual organization.
What should we learn from Mrs. Eddy’s analysis of her church as materially disorganized — the spiritually organized? Is it possible to define what she meant to convey by the term, “spiritually organized”? Did it mean one without Directors, services, church edifices, in fact, anything tangible? Can we not say that to her it was a church that was organized by the wisdom of Spirit, rather than by the efficient sense of the human mind? Surely such a church would have a form, have officers, services, and the like; but it would be called spiritually organized if Spirit, God, directed it. A spiritually organized church must be one where everyone recognizes that God is the Head of it, and so each one must be obedient to divine Mind — to the demands of God. It is an organization in which the human mind is ruled out — excommunicated — as having no legitimate place.
A spiritually organized church may have a treasurer to take care of its funds, and to represent the members before the law; it may have Directors to transact the business of the church, those elected and authorized by the membership for this purpose. Such a church is not one that has no head; but it is one in which the Head is God, in which each member is striving to know what the demands of God are in conducting that organization.
Contrariwise, a materially organized church would be one in which the human mind has the opportunity to run it, and is supreme in its deliberations. In a spiritually organized church each member recognizes it as the expression of the will of God, and he is, therefore, afraid to take any step unless he is sure that the Spirit of God is directing him. Such a church worships the Father in spirit and in truth, not according to human opinion. In such a church, officers are chosen by demonstration, according to their faithfulness in striving to learn what His wish and will is regarding His organization.
The human activities of our church should be the result of demonstration; then they will be forever settled and, “No man can make it otherwise, any more than evil can destroy Good.” The postscript warns us, however, that we must so protect ourselves from animal magnetism that the voice of God can be heard and obeyed. We must handle this claim so that we will not put forth human opinions, and that we will neither be dominated by mortal mind lawyers nor let the human mind become the guide for the organization in any direction.
The right way to dispose of the materiality connected with organization, is for each member to do his part in growing into an ability and a worthiness to sustain and maintain a spiritual organization. When our church functions under demonstration, it will no longer be a materially organized church.
When we talk about throwing off the material organization in time, whether we are referring to the fleshly body or the material church, we should always remember that in absolute Science there is nothing to throw off. The divine demand is merely a reconstruction of our thinking, in which we eliminate the attempt of any other mind to control us, so that divine Mind alone may become our Mind.
The New Jersey Supreme Court, on February 23, 1987, ruled that the Plainfield Church was legally entitled to use the name “Christian Science.” This historic decision ended a twelve-year legal battle instituted against our church by the Christian Science Board of Directors in Boston. Due to this decision our church has been renamed the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent.
The harassment of the Plainfield Church began in 1975 when the Boston Board of Directors, following a pattern of interference in branch church affairs, demanded that the Plainfield Church replace its highly-respected Trustees with a new Board willing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Boston Directors. In a vigorously worded response to this unwarranted interference in our church’s internal affairs, the members rejected Boston’s demand, pointing out to the Directors that they themselves were in violation of our Leader’s Manual, specifically Article XXIII, Sections 1 and 10, and Article XI, Section 13.
The Plainfield Church’s refusal to comply with the Directors’ demand led to its listing being dropped from the Christian Science Journal on June 16, 1977. At the same time the Directors informed us that we were no longer entitled to use the name “Christian Science” in any way.
In 1983, three years after our church had renamed itself “Independent Christian Science Church,” the Directors sued the church and its trustees and obtained an injunction prohibiting us from using the term “Christian Science” in identifying our church. The church then adopted the name “Plainfield Community Church, An Independent Church Practicing Christian Science” and appealed the lower court’s decision to the New Jersey Appeals Court, which overturned the injunction and ruled that the name “Christian Science” is a generic term and not a trademark owned exclusively by the Board of Directors. This ruling was upheld in a strong majority decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court on February 23, 1987. Our total legal fees of $257,000 were fully paid by members and supporters worldwide.
The Board of Directors had 90 days in which to appeal the case to the United States Supreme Court. More than 90 days have passed and they have, therefore, forever waived their right to appeal this decision to the United States Supreme Court. This legal decision is truly historic. It now frees our church to use the name “Christian Science,” and opens the way for any branch church—without fear of prosecution—to claim the autonomy and right of independent action guaranteed by Mrs. Eddy in her 88th Manual, the last edition authorized by our Leader for the government of all Christian Science churches.
Since becoming independent, the Plainfield Church has experienced exceptional growth, and has a large, expanding membership, including members from all over the world, who actively participate in our services as Readers and in other capacities. In fact, our out-of-state membership is now larger than our local membership! Healing is the heart of the Plainfield Church, and wonderful healing work has been going on here for many years. All our services are available online, live and recorded, for those wishing to hear them. Visitors invariably comment on the atmosphere of love and joy which they feel at our services.
In 1979 our church began writing its own Lesson Sermons, and in 1980 it started publishing its own independent Quarterly, based entirely on the Bible and our textbook, Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy. These simple, healing Lessons are available on-line and go out to a large list of subscribers, many of whom write frequently to express gratitude for them.
In May 1986 we began publishing our own church magazine, “Healing Thoughts.” More recently, we saw fit to rename our church magazine “Love is the Liberator” with an emphasis on clearing up the many misconceptions of Christian Science caused by the centralized organization. We have received the warmest thanks from all over the world from people longing for pure, healing Christian Science literature.
Our church has published many of the fine writings on Christian Science by some of the early workers in the movement. Their preservation and circulation is one of our important activities.
In 2008, the Herbert W. Eustace Trust ceased activities and asked the Plainfield church to carry out its mission of being the sole supplier of Mr. Eustace’s superb book, Christian Science Its “Clear, Correct Teaching” and Complete Writings. This was a tremendous vote of confidence for the integrity and stability of our church. Mr. Eustace was one of the great workers of Christian Science. He was appointed by Mrs. Eddy as a Trustee of the Publishing Society, and taught Christian Science for over 40 years as an independent Christian Scientist.
Our website, PlainfieldCS.com, is a wealth of information on which numerous visitors a day find articles, a lively forum, and recorded music and services. In addition to this we have videos on YouTube, a podcast on iTunes, and an outreach on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.
Today, the Plainfield church humbly accepts the solemn responsibility to demonstrate, to the best of our ability, what Mrs. Eddy intended all of her churches to be, — “The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.” (S&H, p. 583)
from Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps, by Gilbert Carpenter
At one time Mrs. Eddy told me that I was to be her successor. I assumed that she said this same thing to every one of the students who gave any exhibition of spiritual understanding and power. Later, I learned that about a year before I arrived at the home, the point had come up and some student had stated that God would raise up someone who would be faithful as was John at the cross. Mrs. Eddy replied, “How do you know? Look within and see who that one should be. It is opium, ether, etc., that would cause you to suggest it should be someone else.”
I think that Mrs. Eddy hoped that every student who came to Pleasant View would be her successor — notwithstanding, by successor, she did not mean one who would step into her place as Leader.
Who could be Mrs. Eddy’s successor? In order to answer the question, let me ask another: what was Mrs. Eddy’s work? Was it not to keep the mighty influx of spiritual revelation flowing freely to guide the great Cause of Christian Science and to bless humanity? Hence, would not all students who could successfully light the bright lamp of inspiration and keep it burning and shining out to bless all mankind be her successors? This explanation defines Mrs. Eddy’s successor — a position of honor before God rather than before man. The results of such a position, which is open to all at all times, are so infinite and far-reaching that man cannot conceive of them. The footsteps to it require sincere self-immolation, the effort to submerge the human and exalt the divine. And he who attains this God-crowned office of Mrs. Eddy’s successor does so through gaining and retaining inspiration. Mrs. Eddy has no other successorship.
In the spring of 1879, a little band of earnest seekers after truth went into deliberations over forming a church without creeds, called the “Church of Christ, Scientist.” … In the winter of 1878, they had organized the “Christian Scientists’ Association,” and, while walking through deep waters of affliction, went steadily on, increasing in numbers, and finding at every new experience that hitherto the Lord hath helped us.
At a meeting of the “Christian Scientists’ Association,” April 19, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was unanimously voted to organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity, and its lost element of healing.
Mrs. Eddy was appointed to draft the Tenets of the church — whose chief corner-stone is the Divine Science taught and demonstrated by our Master, which casts out error, and heals the sick. “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.”
Documents were filed, and the charter for the church was obtained in June 1879, and the same month the members, twenty-six in number, extended a call to Mary B. G. Eddy to become their pastor. She accepted the call and was ordained in 1881.
Tenets of the church were written, “To be signed by those uniting with the Church of Christ (Scientist).”
First—As adherents of Truth, we take the Scriptures for our guide to Life.
Second—We acknowledge one Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, — one God, the brotherhood of man, and Divine Science. And the forgiveness of sin, which is the destruction of sin. And the atonement of Christ, which is the efficacy of Truth and Life. And the way of salvation marked out by Jesus healing the sick, casting out devils [evils], and raising the dead, — uplifting a dead faith into Life and Love.
Third—We promise to love one another, and to work, watch, and pray; to strive against sin, and to keep the Ten Commandments; to deal justly, love mercy, walk humbly; and inasmuch as we are enabled by Truth, to cast out error, and heal the sick.
Several people have asked how the Plainfield church is different from the Boston-affiliated branch churches. This article is intended to highlight some of the more important differences.
These differences in practicing Christian Science should be taken as a call to action for all who love Mrs. Eddy’s pure Science.
Recording these differences is for the benefit of people at this time, and also for future generations. The “creeping things” crept into the Boston organization because they were not awake and alert to the workings of evil. If we are not alert, evil, error, or the “human mind” will creep in again and attempt to destroy Christian Science.
by Mary Baker Eddy
The added wisdom of age and experience is strength, not weakness, and we should understand this, expect it, and know that it is so — then it would appear.
I ask for you to keep a time for meditation every day. Ponder in thought your infinite harmonious Christ-expressing selfhood, and claim it as you. Drink in its unspeakable safety. All the truth and beauty of God’s creation is yours and you.
Enjoy it in sincere prayer and thanksgiving. Preserve your human sense of yourself rightly by dwelling in definite treatment every day, within the sanctity and integrity of your real selfhood.
In that hour of prayer, discard all your false sense of selfhood, all that is involved in the beliefs of birth, heredity, association, time, decay, death. By the grace and authority of God, close your thoughts firmly against the interference of mortal beliefs. Hold yourself open to the plans of God and closed to the plots of satan. Rise into the spiritual forces of your own destiny. Each day will begin and unfold under the authority of divine Mind, and will be well-ordered, rightly balanced, filled with spiritual good.
This magnificent spiritual exercise of treating yourself in devoted prayer, and praying for yourself, will keep you in the secret place which is unknown to the senses and open to all that heaven holds for you.
In proportion as the law of Truth is understood and accepted, it obtains in the personality as well as character. The deformities and infirmities, said to be inevitable results of age, under the opposite mental impressions, disappear. You change the physical manifestations in proportion to your changed thoughts of the effects of accumulated years; expecting an increase of usefulness and vigor, from advanced years, with as much faith as you look for decrepitude and ugliness, a favorable result would be sure to follow.
Life is eternal and unchangeable, and can never grow old, for time is not, and youth is, immortal — you have always existed, and always will exist a perfect, complete and finished work, a spiritual being created of and by Spirit and subject only to spiritual laws.
You do now and ever must manifest the God-life that is shining in you. It is working always in every part of your being to will and to do.
There can never be any loss of your faculties — for they are of Soul and not of sense. The Life and strength of which you are the constant recipient, are indestructible and infinite, and nothing can prevent their inflow. You are governed and sustained by perfect Love in which there is no fear of helplessness or death. Your faith and trust in the omnipotent power of Truth are perfect, and unclouded, and you know that God is your sufficiency. Never was one of God’s children palsied or helpless, for all His works are good and eternal. There is no mortal mind to say you are old or feeble. There is one infinite Mind, which is the understanding of the truth of your being, and holds you in perfect harmony and health.
Malicious animal magnetism haunts you with a personality all distorted by mortal suggestions; makes it hideous and hateful to you and urges you to adopt “this” as being created by God. It suggests a mental picture of age, failing strength, failing memory, dim sight, dim hearing, withered skin, bent form and every other suggestion to bolster up the lie of age.
Mind is God and seeing or vision must be and is an idea of God, never in nor of matter and never impaired nor lost. This vision is your vision by reflection, and as long as you can see the truth of God, your vision is unimpaired and you can prove it. Free yourself from the thought that you have lost your eyesight and that Christian Science can regain it for you. Instead Christian Science is the truth about your eyesight which was never lost and as this idea appears as your consciousness the belief of material or imperfect eyesight will disappear and the idea of spiritual, perfect, indestructible intelligence will appear as the only sight of Mind, therefore as the only sight of man or woman.
Old age is just as much a claim to be overcome as cancer or any other belief. Overcome the belief in it now. You have to do it sometime.
God has just told me what age is. Age is God’s open door to eternal Truth.
(Said to Mrs. Ewing in July 1906): I am 85 years old today . . . I know that you are thinking: “Never record ages”, and that is true — never record ages in your appearance.
(Said to Calvin Frye as she looked towards Bow, N.H.): Over there are the hills of Bow where they say I was born, but I was not. I was born in Mind.
by Charles C. Butterworth
Where do new ideas come from? When a man gains a new viewpoint or fresh inspiration, or when he thinks of a new way of doing something, where does this newness come from?
Newness of thought comes from God. Mrs. Eddy has written, “New thoughts are constantly obtaining the floor.” (S&H) In our own mental arguments, are we yielding the floor to fresh, unfolding spiritual truths? Ideas which shine with the brightness of recent inspiration are much more welcome than stale and faded repetitions of dusty creeds and dogmas.
The natural and righteous action of divine might is to reveal, renew, revivify, and resurrect. Every new idea that comes from God means a larger sense of freedom. It means redemption and healing, for the shadows of pain and torment belong to “the former things” that pass away before the realization of the omnipresent Christ. Since divine Love makes all things new, nothing decrepit, defunct, worn out, or blighted has ever appeared in the heavenly kingdom, which is ever at hand.
God provides the perfect idea for every righteous purpose, and empowers His own pure impartations to accomplish good results. Armed with this assurance, we can face the world with confidence. To displace old false beliefs with new, divine, eternal truths brings freedom, healing, and salvation.
by Edward A. Kimball
There is an important thing that everybody has got to know. I will put it more agreeably — that everybody may know, and that as soon as he does know it he will find himself a happier man. It is this, upon the subject of law, — that all that means primary law, all that means divine law, all that means divine provision for you, means for you life, it means health for you, it means harmony, it means the overcoming of evil. It means dominion over all that would beset you, and torment or molest you or hurt you.
There is no law against you. If you mourn, if you have been cast down because of disease, know this: there positively is no law against you; and moreover, know this still further that you are entitled to enforce the law of your own life; you are entitled to enforce the law of your own health, of your own prosperity. You can do it. It is within the confines, within the divine provision concerning your very life, your daily needs. Be not afraid. You may be a law unto yourself, a law to your recovery from disease, a law to your business, a law of harmony to your welfare and your own household, and all things of your life, because God gave man dominion and you are entitled to it. In this very hour, you are entitled to be a law of recovery to your own self.
by Florence Roberts
I first heard the phrase “Love Out” from the teachings in this church. It means to take thought off oneself and desire to bless others. I learned to ask God after my morning prayers, what His plan and purpose is for me each day.
One morning, I heard “go for a walk” repeated several times. It wasn’t the time for my usual walk, but because I heard it repeatedly, I obeyed.
When I got down our driveway, I saw our “lawn man” bent down pulling some weeds. I felt drawn to go to him. As I approached him I mentally declared, “Hail son of God.” When he stood up I observed that he did not look well; he had a large swelling on his jaw. He told me that he felt the swelling was moving down his throat and it was painful. He also said that if that is what God wanted, then it was alright with him.
I know that he is a very religious man and has strong faith in God. But what he said implying this swelling could be God’s will was NOT right. So, I told him emphatically, that I know God would not allow anything like that. Then he asked me to pray for him.
As I walked away from him, I kept affirming from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, truths about man: The Scientific Statement of Being on page 468; the answer to “What is man?” from page 475, part of which states: “Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas…”; and the definition of man from the Glossary, page 591: “Man. The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind.”
Every time he came to my thought, I prayed with some of these beautiful truths about what we really are.
Two days later, he came by. He was all excited and spent some time talking with me. He said the swelling and pain are all gone, and that he knew he had a prayer friend and expressed his gratitude for my prayerful support.
The way this healing came about shows how important it is to take thought off self each day, to love out by asking God for his direction in how or who we can bless. We must share what we learn, what has changed our lives, in order to bless others, our world, and to glorify God’s name!
by Gary Singleterry
I was feeling quite ill recently, and was practically incapacitated for a little while. I prayed and asked God what it was I needed to know, and for a while I really did not get an answer. I felt very insecure. I mentioned this to my wife, who is a practitioner, and she offered to pray.
As we prayed, a couple of things came to me. One was the story of Paul who had the thorn in his side. He asked God to cure him of whatever that ailment was, and God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (II Cor.) I thought, alright, Father, I’m going to be grateful for Truth, grateful for Life, grateful for Love, and that is sufficient. I don’t care how I feel physically, I’m going to do whatever you want me to do.
I was able to do everything I needed to do for Him, for my church, for my business, for my family. And I loved it. I was grateful to have the work to do, and within a fairly short period of time, I began to feel much better. All I felt was that I needed to grow spiritually closer to Him and just feel His love, and express His love, and to be more obedient to Him. I was healed of that situation shortly after, and it has not returned.
I feel very grateful for this experience. My wife told me recently that she was reading something that Mrs. Eddy told to someone in her household, when Mrs. Eddy was ill—“you see an illness, but I see God chastening me.” And that expressed how I felt during that experience. It was God chastening me. I had drifted away from Him somehow and I needed to draw closer. That was the lesson.
I am grateful for Christian Science, for this healing, for the help of my wife, and to be a member of this church, where there is so much good to be done.
by Jeremy Palmer
I am very grateful because, a few weeks ago, my daughter joined us for a Wednesday meeting, and last weekend she said one testimony stayed with her. That testimony brought up the importance of giving the past to God, and she said that meant a lot to her, enough to even share it with others. I was delighted, because I understand the power that statement has, and also because I know how before coming here I didn’t always set the best example for my kids.
For all of my life, I have been quick to condemn myself for any mistakes or faults. I always felt like I had messed up too much, let too many opportunities go, and failed in too many ways to ever come back. A recent Lesson had Mrs. Eddy’s words, “The basic error is mortal mind.” That got me thinking that when we are immersed in a system that is completely designed to fail, we cannot be surprised when it, indeed, fails.
This is why Christian Science means so much to me: Everything else simply tries to work within mortal mind to take our mind off the inevitable outcome, while Christian Science is a lifeline that ultimately pulls us clear of all that and brings us to God.
I am so grateful to learn here that I can put off those old identities and get new assignments from God. I thank God every day for the opportunity Christian Science brings, for this wonderful church, and for how my children have begun to see its benefits in their lives as well. Thank you!
by Mary Beth Singleterry
In the book of II Timothy in the Bible, we read that God hath given us the spirit of a sound mind. A sound mind means calm, well-balanced, disciplined and under God’s control. Brain is not mind. On page 475 in our textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives us the definition of man, which in part reads, “Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones and other material elements...He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas.” We do not have to be up and down and all around with the whims of material sense. No one has to suffer with depression, bipolar disease, autism, memory loss or any other so-called “brain damaged” problems! It is well to remember the Divine Mind is the one and only Mind! When we feel undisciplined and afraid, we can turn to this Mind, our Father-Mother God — whether you need help to refuse a second piece of pie or, more importantly, help with loving your neighbor as yourself.
The entire verse reads, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” A practitioner gave me this verse years ago when I suffered from chronic fear — an “unclean spirit” that needed to be cast out. She said to work with this statement not just once or twice but many times throughout the day. I had always thought Bible verses were helpful but needed to really understand that they are the very Word of God! I needed to love this verse, to live this verse, and to make it practical in my daily walk. And so — when I would feel fear, I would replace it with knowing God loves me and as His child I have the ability to forget self and to love others. I would think about God being power — the one and only power. There is no other so-called power to be afraid of and I could prove this! And finally to know that I have a sound mind — I can discipline myself to “stand porter at the door of thought” (S&H) and not accept all kinds of unfiltered negative suggestions as my thinking, but to destroy them as imposters and to know I have the mind of Christ!
A helpful reminder from Mrs. Eddy (Unity of Good, page 24) is this: “My Mind is divine good, and cannot drift into evil. To believe in minds many is to depart from the supreme sense of harmony. Your assumptions insist that there is more than the one Mind, more than the one God; but verily I say unto you, God is All-in-all; and you can never be outside of His oneness.”
This consistent process is the “renewing of your mind” the Bible speaks about. It is living God’s Word. It is something wonderful to work at and to strive for every single day — for the results will amaze you!
by Parthens
“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,” “the perfect law of liberty” — and, thus, Joseph set the mighty wheels of the metaphysical law of liberty in motion, through his refusal to complain about his seemingly limiting, imprisoning physical circumstances, and his refusal to bear a grudge against anyone.
Apparently Joseph knew that “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord,” centuries before that scripture was written, and yet his story demonstrates that he was not focused in the least on the subject of visiting vengeance, human or divine, against anyone personally. His words to his astonished brothers after revealing himself to them demonstrate how effortless it was for Joseph to offer a statement of simple kindness, knowing intuitively that “a soft answer breaketh the bone,” centuries before Solomon wrote it: words without a trace of vindictiveness, which can be a greater rebuke than paragraphs shouted in righteous indignation. And it’s pretty obvious that Joseph wasn’t even thinking about rebuking them while speaking those words.
It is noteworthy and fun to read how Joseph was not your typical jailbird, but in fact experienced liberation, even while serving his unjust sentence in an earthly dungeon. The Bible tells us that within a very short time, the warden trusted and respected him so much that he was appointed assistant to the warden(!), who was so convinced of the integrity of his appointee that he didn’t even bother checking on any of Joseph’s activities in that arena. Genesis 39:21-23: “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”
To love God with all one’s heart, mind, and strength is to maintain steadfast consciousness of God, not man, in every minute detail of one’s life. Thus, Joseph was focused on God only, not his brothers, and not Potiphar’s wife. It appears that he knew that spending even the least amount of time thinking about the evils and injustices done to him personally was a moment of breaking the First Great Commandment, centuries before it was written. In Genesis 50:20, when replying to his brothers about any supposed evil done to him, he is quick to change the subject — “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” What good? — “this present result, to preserve many people alive.” So Joseph’s great love for God gave him the instinctive understanding to follow the second great commandment, also, centuries before it was written: “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Thus, in the end, God made the wrath of man — the wrath of Joseph’s brothers and the wrath of Potiphar’s wife — to praise Him!
If you haven’t discovered the Lesson Forum on our church website yet, log on to plainfieldcs.com and click on Lesson Forum. You will find lively and inspiring discussions centered around our weekly Lesson.Gilbert Carpenter has much to say about the Judas thought in Precepts and his ideas are well worth thinking about.
“Judas, the disciple, was selected because he showed possibilities of being an influence for good but evidently he allowed his satisfaction in being selected to take the place of demonstration. Actually the demand of God upon him was to clean house which he neglected to do. There were some old errors which he did not touch; the result was that they tripped him up and, eventually destroyed him.” (Precepts 1 page 218)
I have seen those who have desired positions in church but have not progressed enough to be able to handle the animal magnetism that comes after them once in that position. This is why it is always important to let God do the promoting and not seek a position you have not fully earned by demonstration.
Once again we learn from Judas’ actions how important it is to always question our motives, to never think we have arrived and are right in all our decisions … the Lesson clearly points this out:
Science and Health, page 47: “He knew that the world generally loves a lie better than Truth; and so he plotted the betrayal of Jesus in order to raise himself in popular estimation. His dark plot fell to the ground, and the traitor fell with it.”
Error always nipping at the heel!
Mrs. Eddy was once asked why Jesus did not heal Judas and her reply was Judas was not healable. That may seem harsh to some, but in the malicious and gross state of mortal mind Judas was in, he was not at all receptive to God’s healing Truth.
This goes back to what we discussed at our roundtable on Sunday, “A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error.” (S&H) There is no way in which to “heal” error. All error can do is destroy itself – which is a good thing! God’s child, of course, can never be destroyed – only all the false beliefs about God’s child will ever be destroyed. I can only trust in some way and at some time Judas woke up to his real self.
Mrs. Eddy says in Collectanea (page 19) “A ‘Judas’ is necessary (as a type) to uncover evil. Evil must be uncovered in order to bring out, or prove Truth.”
Judas’s betrayal aided in bringing forth the resurrection!
“He (Jesus) was to prove that the Christ is not subject to material conditions, but is above the reach of human wrath, and is able, through Truth, Life, and Love, to triumph over sin, sickness, death, and the grave.” (S&H)
“And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, ...came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” (Matt.)
Upon reading how Jesus said “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” to Judas, I was reminded of “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9) In both cases, it seems they were saying “Where have your beliefs brought you?”
Before coming to the church, I was so lost, not even I knew where I was. There was no comfort there — no relief in mortal mind. I did a lot of stupid, cruel, thoughtless things in that state. I can’t say I was less of an expression of error than Judas: We either express Truth or error. I was definitely not expressing Truth or Love before, but God found me and brought me here to learn Christian Science. What a blessing! To be given the opportunity to learn and to be useful is wonderful, and to be part of this mission to bring God’s message to all mankind is something I am grateful for every day.
I love that thought — “Where have your beliefs brought you?!” Good question to ask ourselves when we seem to be dictated by beliefs. Where am I going with these aggressive suggestions and is it a place I want to be?!!
I was also taken by this passage because even though Jesus well knew what Judas was up to, even though he knew him to be part of the most treacherous and malicious plot and betrayal to have taken place in the history of mankind, Jesus called him,— Friend. This totally exemplifies the compassion of Christ, the Love of God flowing forth even during the worst human situation ever.
by Luanne Tucker
Granite is the rock,
upon which She stands,
unabraded by waves
or wind driven sand.
Her lamp shines on
through the darkest of night,
guiding us onward
with unwavering might.
Seasons have passed
of rain, heat and snow.
Enriched is our life
because of Her glow.
To the sailor tossed
about on the sea,
here stands a beacon
calling to thee.
The watches are a powerful communing to address the world issues which we become more awake to, so thank all of you for being my family and my teachers. Much gratitude to the practitioners of Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent as well as the workers and students who enrich the world with love. I am grateful that I can read this work and apply it.
GermanyI love all the resources we have at Plainfield. My sister joined her first Roundtable and is looking forward to the next one. Thank you so much, Plainfield, for all you have made available. It is meeting all of mankind’s needs.
GeorgiaThe Sunday Roundtable is highly significant for spiritual development, and special gratitude for the Roundtable today, July 26, 2015, for truly important explanations of demonstration, recognition of present perfection — perfect God, perfect man, and recognition of God as my mind. I will listen to it again on the recording, which, blessedly, Plainfield makes available to us.
MarylandHeartfelt thanks for the July issue of Love is the Liberator. Every word is a healing uplift! One article, “The Structure of Truth and Love,” really exemplifies what this independent church and its members embrace and put forth — love and positive action to help and heal. Many thanks to all!
VirginiaThank you so much for a wonderful Sunday Service and great Roundtable — very helpful. I remember the day when my children and I found Christian Science for the first time. We didn’t know the language at all, but I felt peaceful and my children were so happy. At that moment, I knew that we had found the religion we needed. I am very grateful to Christian Science, to the Plainfield Christian Science Church for truly helping me to understand it. And to my practitioner. Thank you to the weekly Bible Lesson’s writers for this week’s Bible Lesson.
New YorkAfter finishing reading the Forum for this week’s Lesson, I realized it is like going on a retreat where you are refreshed by the understanding and insights of others. Thank you!
Thank you for the beautiful Wednesday service tonight! The readings were outstanding, and the testimonies were like treatments. I felt tired before the service, and now I am totally refreshed.
PennsylvaniaMany thanks for all the treasures that are shared in the Bible Studies and Roundtables! At a recent Roundtable we were alerted to work with Mrs. Eddy’s chapter “The Apocalypse” in Science and Health — thank you so much. We’ve been given quotes from Albert Einstein, which totally back up what Mrs. Eddy has given in regard to matter. And in a recent Bible Study, we were told of the book, The Spiritual Journey of George Washington, by Janice T. Connell, a book which should be required reading, as it tells of George Washington’s love of the Bible and his total confidence in “Kind Providence,” knowing all was in God’s hands. This was what our country was founded upon, the real freedom of God’s Allness!
VirginiaI am so grateful for the example that the AME Church and the city of Charleston, S.C., is expressing to the world. One of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God. Exactly what our world needs! “God’s law is the law which controls the universe.” (Mary Baker Eddy)
GeorgiaI’d like to give gratitude for what I am learning at Plainfield.
I have been a Christian Scientist for several decades, and for years I wondered why I had chronic problems that weren’t being healed. Since finding Plainfield, I have discovered the answer to that question. Unless we are consciously striving to be Christlike in our conversation, listening for God’s direction, living in obedience to God by purifying our thoughts and actions, and remembering to be grateful for all His blessings, we are Christian Scientists in name only.
Thank you, Plainfield, for waking me up to this. I am so grateful for the spiritual rebirth I am experiencing.
A ListenerI heard on the news that at least ten terror attcks planned for over the Fourth of July weekend were foiled by the FBI, and arrests were made. Thanks to all the watchers! This is why this work must be kept up, and I am very grateful for the faithful who call in for the Unity Watches, and for those who are watching at individual times as well.
New JerseyThank you Plainfield Church for all you are doing. We have been greatly blessed by all the wonderful resources you provide, including the weekly Bible Study and Roundtables. We have gained great inspiration from them, as well as your Wednesday services. We have enclosed a contribution to assist in the great work that you are doing to lift mankind.
IllinoisI would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the writers of our Lesson Sermons. Every Lesson is a spiritual treatment and given to the world for healing, awakening thought, understanding, and regeneration. You are demonstrating the First Commandment and I thank you.
GeorgiaThank you for the e-mail of the daily Calendar statements. They are definitely an inspirational tidbit for a brighter day.
WisconsinThe Spot Where God Shines Through, by Peter and Faith, which was shared on the daily e-mail today makes me grateful for all the teaching in this independent church of our oneness with God. Holding our thought to good, refuting every evil belief as it tries to come, trusting in our unending relationship to God—all make a big difference in my life.
Virginiaby Gilbert C. Carpenter
In the midst of my darkness my sore heart cried out,
Oh, Father, make haste; put the devil to rout;
Come down as I travail, and ease my dread pain,
So that I may go forth and be useful again!
My child, hear My words which thy Master hath given,
“All ye that do labor, come up unto heaven.”
Ask not for My greatness to come down to thee.
Arise from thy littleness, up unto Me!
I would like to express my gratitude for everything I received on my recent visit to the Plainfield Church. I came away with a rich sense of family and witnessed true examples of brotherly love, a sense of being in the presence of Christ, which strengthened me to rise higher in my own application of Truth. I am grateful for all the work that the members are doing every day, to shine forth the light of God. Christian Science has changed my view of the world. I am truly grateful for this wonderful way of life.
Growing up in a very dysfunctional family, I never got a real sense of what family means. Although we looked out for each other in our childhood, when we get together now, it seems the conversation never rises any higher than rehashing events of the past or who has accomplished the most in life.
Christian Science has given me a new family, a family of Love and understanding, of compassionate individuals, who pray and watch and work tirelessly, demonstrating Christ/Truth — brothers and sisters, who lift me up and guide me forward, as I strive to know and understand my relationship with God. This is Substance, “that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay.” S&H pg. 468
I thank God every day for His grace and mercy. I am truly grateful for all the members of this Church. Thank God for Mrs. Eddy who courageously gave us Divine Science.
from L. T. in New YorkMany years ago I was asked by friends to care for their four-year-old son, Eric, while they went to the hospital to have their second child. They called me on a Saturday evening. I told them I had to be at church on Sunday and asked them if it would be alright for Eric to attend Sunday School. They said yes it would. I asked Eric if he enjoyed the Sunday School class. He said he did.
That evening when I put Eric to bed he was having trouble falling asleep. After being called several times to his room I asked Eric what he learned about God in Sunday School. He said, “God was good and that He would help you.” I said to him, “Maybe you should ask God what to do about your sleeping problem.” He said that he would. I left the room. I didn’t get far before Eric called me. He was very excited, and said, “I asked God what to do about not being able to sleep. I said, ‘God, I can’t sleep, what can I do!’ He answered me and said, ‘Close your eyes and you will sleep!’” He was so excited that God answered him. Then Eric said, “You know, me thinking is God talking!”
This was so wonderful to me. This little four-year-old had never attended a Sunday School before but he turned to God without hesitation, he listened, had a revelation, “me thinking is God talking,” he obeyed, and he fell asleep.
No wonder Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.”
I am so grateful for this experience and I am grateful to God for bringing me to the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent.
from J. M. in GeorgiaI would like to give gratitude for a healing that happened many years ago, and just recently.
While living abroad in London over 20 years ago, I was healed of period pain and discomfort. For many years I had suffered extreme pain during menstruation. One day I had to leave work early, as I was in so much discomfort. My husband called a practitioner, and five minutes later, all pain had disappeared, and I never again had pain or discomfort during menstruation.
This year I began to go through menopause. Earlier this year I received my period, and it would not stop, and I bled for three months. After a while, I started to become fearful because the symptoms that I was experiencing could lead to needing to be under the care of a doctor.
I called a practitioner from Plainfield, and overnight the bleeding stopped. I was so grateful for the love and care that the practitioner expressed. Three weeks later, I received my period again and was experiencing the same symptoms and discomfort. Again, I became fearful and contacted the Plainfield practitioner.
In her kind words, she gently reminded me of who I really am as a perfect child of God, and that Truth cannot be reversed; there can be no relapse, for Truth is unchangeable. The period returned to normal.
I am so grateful that we have such dedicated practitioners, and for the Plainfield website, to which I have so enjoyed listening and reading.
from J. G. in AustraliaRecently I had a physical healing, and learned a big lesson.
A friend of mine was in terrific pain concerning her back. I was feeling pity for her, and my back started to hurt too! This went on for several hours, and then I realized that I was absorbing and not showing real love.
I called a practitioner from Plainfield for help. The pain subsided and was quickly gone. I am learning that absorbing someone’s anguish isn’t helpful at all, but instead I must radiate God’s love, which is perfect. When I saw my friend the next day she was perfectly fine!
from C. H. in PennsylvaniaTwelve years ago, I let pride, willfulness, and the glamour of materialism take me away from Plainfield Church. I foolishly thought I could live Christian Science in my own way, according to my rules. I moved to a faraway state, thinking the climate and life would be better there, and also with the hope of rekindling relationships with family, who I soon realized were opposed to my beliefs. They ultimately condemned and deserted me. I tried to seek companionship and happiness in social acquaintances and activities. But that left me lonely and depressed. I reached the very bottom when I found myself trying to combat boredom, deep dissatisfaction, and emptiness with gambling, which soon became an addiction I could not control with human will.
In deep despair I turned to God and begged for help. That was almost two months ago, when I was led to call a practitioner here in Plainfield Church. Through the practitioner’s help, I am starting a long overdue journey back to God and true Christian Science. It is hard work, but it’s glorious. For the first time in 12 years I feel joyful and hopeful again, with a purpose to my life.
I thank God for this church. It is satisfying a deep emptiness in my life. I thank God for the practitioner help I receive here, for the priceless teaching I received here so very long ago, and for Mrs. Eddy for this blessed Christian Science.
from J. F. in FloridaWhen I woke up last Sunday morning, I immediately heard a loud pop in my ear and afterward, it was painful for me to swallow. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to participate in the roundtable service, but I went anyway and was able to speak and read during it.
That afternoon, the pain became worse, but I kept thinking NO, and working with the Scientific Statement of Being. After several hours I started feeling better and the next day the pain was gone.
A practitioner in this church once said in a testimony “If God didn’t say it, then I don’t have to accept it!” and since then, this has been so helpful to me. Knowing this helps me to turn away from the temptation to analyze and accept a bad feeling in order to realize the complete healing.
I’m so grateful to God for Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, our practitioners, and this church for giving me a new way to think, and for the freedom that comes with it.
from D. R. in GeorgiaI’m grateful for a wonderful healing of a rash on my face, which began to spread. I asked a practitioner for help on this, and the practitioner gave me many wonderful truths to hold in thought: “This is not from God, and I don’t have to have it”; “there is no law operating but God and His goodness”; and from Science and Health, “When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea.” And a Bible quotation from Job 22:21: “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Keeping my thought stayed on these, I was quickly healed.
I thank God for His healing power and the practitioner for prayerful support. I’m grateful for Mrs. Eddy for giving us Christian Science.
from L. L. in New JerseyMy granddaughter was having trouble with her schoolwork, and also seemed to be easily distracted. So every day as I drove past her school on my way to work, I prayed for her. I would first tell her, mentally, that God loves her. Then I would pray with truths that I have learned in Christian Science like, “God is your Mind. You have the Mind of Christ — and you know it.”
As the days and weeks went by, a variety of things would come to my thought, like: “You already know everything you need to know, and you recall it the instant you need it. Your focus is strong and steady on God, and God alone—nothing to distract or be distracted. God, Mind, knows everything, and you can call on that Mind and know exactly the right thing to say and do at exactly the right time—and do it! You are obedient to the Mind that made you. You instantly understand and retain everything you need to know. No one can see you as anything other than the perfect child of God, including yourself. You are about your Father’s business today and every day.”
I would occasionally ask her mom and dad how she was doing in school, and they said she was improving. I told them I had been praying for her, and they asked me to keep it up. By the end of the school year, her report card showed grades of all A’s, and one B!
In addition to my great gratitude for this healing, I was also grateful for the example of praying consistently and never giving up. Thanks to God, we all grew!
from C. C. in New JerseyTwo or three weeks ago I called a Plainfield practitioner from this church for help because I had gained some weight recently, which I found discouraging.
She gave me lots of things to work with, including “Liquidation of Poundage” by Peter V. Ross and the article, “Burdened Thought” by Doris White Evans in Healing Thoughts #41. The practitioner spoke about being active and keeping God in active thought. She also spoke about eating simply prepared fresh foods, as well as being and feeling satisfied. Mrs. Evans in her article would ask herself, is this hunger or is this appetite?
Anyway, this morning when I stepped on the scale, I’d lost 5 pounds! Very encouraging to say the least. I am most grateful for practitioner help, and for this church’s practical teaching of Christian Science.
from B. S. in CaliforniaA short time ago I had several unpleasant experiences and found myself in a depression, which resulted in my coming down with bronchitis. I called a practitioner from the Plainfield Church and was met with a lot of love, and was asked to read and study pages 390 to 393 in Science and Health. The first statement that caught my attention was, “When the first symptoms of disease appear, dispute the testimony of the material senses.” Was I doing this? No, I was believing I was sick. Then the statement, “Mentally contradict every complaint from the body” stood out. Am I contradicting every complaint from the body? No. The statement, “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good” got me to start dismissing these lies.
The following day I called the practitioner and reported I was feeling better. She gave me from page 447 of Science and Health, “The recuperative action of the system, when mentally sustained by Truth, goes on naturally.” The recuperative action is my mental attitude. Was I going to accept what mortal mind was telling me, or was I going to stand for Truth? I was going to stand with God! Did I believe that God made these experiences? No way! I knew I had strength from God to say no to these lies. God has only good for His children, and I need to stand on this Truth.
Very shortly, I was completely healed. This experience was a blessing in disguise. It made my commitment to God stronger and restored my vigor to kick out wrong thoughts.
I thank God for this healing, Mary Baker Eddy for giving us Science and Health, and the practitioner for the love, prayers, and disbelief in error. I am blessed to be a member of the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent.
from S. W. in New JerseyI am so grateful for God showing me that I am worthy of Love. Before coming to Plainfield I always had the thought that, if I wasn’t fulfilling some role or purpose for people, they had no reason to like or love me. Because of this, I always felt a moment away from being discarded, since I never knew how long my usefulness might last. I feel it was this constant worry that brought me close to suicide so many times in my life.
I actually even entertained the idea, when I first arrived in Plainfield, that I would do whatever work I could for this church, and maybe then I would be allowed to end my life. However, the teaching here is too practical and too real and too loving for that thought to have remained for long. Christian Science, as I am learning at this church, helped me to answer a question I had since I was young: “Am I an accident?” The wonderful answer is, not one of us is an accident — we are all God’s ideas!
I am so grateful for Christian Science being made available so that we can realize that worth, and live up to the potential that is inherent in God’s original idea of us. I don’t know the half of what that means for me in the long run, but I do know it allows me to put to rest those beliefs I had about myself that only held me back and held me down, so that I may serve God.
Thank you so much!
from J. P. in New Jerseyby Peter Kidd
I spent all my life
Trying to make something of myself.
I’ve caused some folks to suffer, me included.
Wasn’t satisfied unless
I was seen as a success;
My unhappiness was earned —
Thank the Lord I’ve finally learned that
I belong to my Heavenly Father;
My spirit and my body are not mine;
They’re His — I’m His — along with all that is.
Father-Mother God created me a song,
And I will sing, because I belong.
Got it into my head
I was a sad and a hopeless case.
I made peace with the darkness in my life.
I could not accept the good.
I’d say, “I’m misunderstood.”
But God grabbed me by the hand —
It was my misunderstanding.
I belong to my Heavenly Father;
My spirit and my body are not mine;
They’re His — I’m His — along with all that is.
Father-Mother God created me a song,
And I will sing, because I belong.
Every mountain of pride must tumble
And each valley of sorrow be raised up
That the glory of God may appear —
Loud and clear! Let the whole world hear it!
I belong to my Heavenly Father;
My spirit and my body are not mine;
They’re His — I’m His — along with all that is.
Father-Mother God created me a song,
And I will sing, because I belong to Him.
by Bicknell Young
Lack of love is the only trouble in the world today. Love alone will heal the distrust, jealousy, fear, and ignorance of the race. It will also heal poverty and disease.
One might be justified in not liking another person, but he should still love him. There would be something the matter with you, if you liked everyone! You can’t like unpleasant and objectionable things, and call that love. However, everyone is entitled to your scientific respect.
We don’t lose human affection in Christian Science; we lift it up. Don’t stifle human affection. Just let it be more and more like God. Love is so powerful that when we demonstrate it, it will do something to everything we come in contact with. Every difficulty that we encounter will fade out in the presence of Love, but we must be that presence.
Love more; all the time more and more. Not a maudlin sentimentality, but Love; love which is ever kind, where nobody is condemned, but reformed; love, where nobody for a single moment is shut out of heaven, but always put there and kept there.
You may have different opinions and different views, but never permit yourselves to part in anger. Don’t go away and say, “He’s been handled by mortal mind!” If he were, what would heal him? Would hatred and resentment do it? Think the way God would think about everybody.
Christian Science does not exempt us from having good manners and from being considerate of others’ feelings. Be very careful what you think. Never entertain any thought that would harm another, if it had the power to do so.
First, last, and always, the great need is love. It is the very acme of all things and it is the glory of absolute Science.
from the 1936 Primary Class, by Bicknell Young, page 129
If you think you are in anything, you are subject to it. If you think you are in an organization, you are subject to it instead of Principle. “The structure of Truth and Love” (as Mrs. Eddy defines Church in the absolute) is really the universe, isn’t it? It is nothing less. You can’t “go to church.” You take the church with you! Unless the church is inside of you, you’ll never get inside the church. And if you have the church inside of you, nothing that takes place inside the church, humanly speaking, can affect your church. You do not come to the real church; you always have it with you.
It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to daily purge himself of all aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget, nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind.
To build a church requires more than money, stones and talk. The world will give you plenty of money, M.A.M. will stone you. Talk will not be lacking. Demonstration—one Mind—one God—this is necessary.
Collectanea of Items by and About Mary Baker Eddy, Addenda, page 60
Angels are pure thoughts from God, winged with Truth and Love, no matter what their individualism may be.
from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy