From Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
Do your daily protective work, because it is very important. Declare every day there are no accidents, that health is normal, and that nothing can change it, that there is no necessity to resort to material means, that man’s home is in the divine consciousness, and that all is Love, harmony, peace, protection and care, without measure or limitation.
from the 1937 College, by Bicknell Young, page 73-4
Protection
September 2016
From Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy
Christian Science never healed a patient without proving with mathematical certainty that error, when found out, is two-thirds destroyed, and the remaining third kills itself. Do men whine over a nest of serpents, and post around it placards warning people not to stir up these reptiles because they have stings? Christ said, “They shall take up serpents;” and, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” The wisdom of a serpent is to hide itself. The wisdom of God, as revealed in Christian Science, brings the serpent out of its hole, handles it, and takes away its sting. Good deeds are harmless. He who has faith in woman’s special adaptability to lead on Christian Science, will not be shocked when she puts her foot on the head of the serpent, as it biteth at the heel.
from Christian Science Its “Clear, Correct Teaching” and Complete Writings, by Herbert W. Eustace, p. 941-943
Look at the world today. You know, Science and Health reiterates Jesus’ statement that you are the light of the world. It further says, Christian Scientists must “hold crime in check.” You have read that; you know it. Then you must do it.
The need is paramount. You recall Judge Harold Medina’s wonderful exhibition of true judicial behaviour recently, in the trial of eleven communist leaders, in New York. The defendants and their lawyers were throwing every kind of epithet at the Judge, throughout a number of months of the trial. They tried all they knew to get him stirred up and to force, if possible, a mistrial. His wonderful judicial poise and patience won the admiration of the entire country, even of the world. Now, listen to this! The other day, September 3, Judge Medina addressed the Bar Association of Tennessee, at Chattanooga. This is the New York Times’ report of the meeting; I have had it verified.
Chattanooga, Tenn., September 4th, 1952.
Medina Cites Effort To Make Him Commit Suicide.
Federal Judge Harold R. Medina of New York disclosed here tonight, that a Communist psychological campaign to drive him to take his own life “nearly worked.”
Speaking informally at a meeting of the Chattanooga Bar Association, Judge Medina said that the macabre drama took place while he was presiding at the trial of eleven Communist leaders charged with conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow of the Government.
He said that the psychological campaign started about a month after former Secretary of Defense James Forrestal had died in a jump from a hospital window in May 1949. The first step in the plot, he said, was when a picket paraded outside the Court House with a placard reading, “Medina will fall like Forrestal.”
There followed a barrage of cryptic letters and anonymous telephone calls, that repeated, again and again, the single word “Jump.” Judge Medina said that “it got so I just didn’t dare go near a window,” and added, “you laugh now, you think it’s funny, but by golly, it nearly worked.”
The Jurist said that since childhood he had had a fear of high places, and that apparently the Communists had learned of it. That ends the New York Times’ report.
As a Christian Scientist, ask yourself, “What am I doing to stop this sort of thing?” If our jurists and others can be put under such outrageous conditions, with nothing to aid them, how helpless are they? You are familiar with the report of various Communist trials in Europe, in which witnesses are made to testify against themselves and their brethren. They will say whatever is suggested to them to say, oblivious of the consequences. You also know that only the other day one of the United Nations men did that same “jumping trick,” and it has been tried before.
Judge Medina said, you notice, “it nearly worked.” That surely shows you where your responsibility lies in your world; and yet, what are you doing? Here you are entrusted, as Mrs. Eddy says, “with the greatest and holiest of all causes.” You remember her statement in which she said that “The hour is come. The great battle of Armageddon is upon us. The powers of evil are leagued together in secret conspiracy against the Lord and against His Christ, as expressed and operative in Christian Science. Large numbers, in desperate malice, are engaged day and night in organizing action against us. Their feeling and purpose are deadly, and they have sworn enmity against the lives of our standard-bearers.”
Do not deceive yourselves — you are God’s standard bearers, and their purpose is to pull you down. As the very activity of God, you are responsible, and nothing can release you from that responsibility.
Mrs. Eddy continued the statement I just quoted to you, with the rousing individual question, “What will you do about it? Will you be equally in earnest for the truth? Will you doff your lavender-kid zeal, and become real and consecrated warriors? Will you give yourselves wholly and irrevocably to the great work of establishing the truth, the gospel, and the Science which are necessary to the salvation of the world from error, sin, disease, and death?” Read this for yourselves in her book, Miscellaneous Writings, 177: 13. She finishes with this trumpet call, “Answer at once and practically, and answer aright!”
From lack of moral strength empires fall. Right alone is irresistible, permanent, eternal. Remember that human pride forfeits spiritual power, and either vacillating good or self-assertive error dies of its own elements.
Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 268
by Mary Beth Singleterry
When people do not know or understand God, they often look elsewhere to find answers to problems that come up in life, sometimes to astrology or tarot card readers. You see their shops in almost every town now.
Years ago a practitioner in this church told us that it’s important to understand the workings of astrology. It is nothing to be ignorant about. In the Blue Book, on page 199, Mrs. Eddy says, “Astrology: Belief in a horoscope is a mortal thought, and it does actually affect human lives until it is overcome by Christian Science. Every human being comes under its influence, unless, and until, we meet it with the truth. Astrologists believe that a man can improve on his horoscope. (Mrs. Eddy said we were to know that there is no solar, lunar or planetary influence.)” This practitioner taught this, and said that it is not to be ignored, but to be handled.
I had never thought about it before. I thought it had nothing to do with me because, after all, I was a Christian Scientist. But after this teaching, I looked at my astrological sign, and I was almost shocked at how much my human personality would seem to line up with it — and I realized it is something that I do have to handle. I do have to be aware of it and to know that my individuality is in God and it is not in any way influenced by planetary movement.
In Science and Health, in her chapter “Animal Magnetism Unmasked,” Mrs. Eddy says, “The planets have no more power over man than over his Maker, since God governs the universe; but man, reflecting God’s power, has dominion over all the earth and its hosts.”
Now, that is the truth, but we need to be awake to the belief so we can protect ourselves with a thorough understanding of the truth; that we trust in Truth and have no other trusts. We turn to God for all our answers, and in doing so we are protected and blessed.
This is a mental age. Malpractice would dominate, and unless Christian Scientists are awake to it and alert, it would hold back Christian Science for centuries.
from Divinity Course and General Collectanea,
by Mary Baker Eddy, page 225
from the Church Manual, by Mary Baker Eddy, Art. VIII (adapted by Jeremy Palmer)
The Daily Duties were given by Mary Baker Eddy to her students and followers as a protection against mental malpractice. As recorded by Gilbert Carpenter in Precepts V, page 200: “The only possible way by which a Christian Scientist can be loyal and faithful to God, is to daily protect himself from malpractice. Mrs. Eddy had done her best to call for such protection from students; but their indifference finally compelled her to … frame the By-law, Alertness to Duty.” All three Daily Duties are below, adapted as they pertain to each one of us.
It shall be the duty of every member of this Church [It is my duty as a member of this Church] to pray each day: “Thy kingdom come;” let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!
Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts [my motives or acts] of the members of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love alone governs man [me, and all!]; and a Christian Scientist [I, as a Christian Scientist,] reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. The members of this Church should daily watch and pray [I daily watch and pray] to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously.
It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily [I defend myself daily] against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty [I will not be made to forget nor to neglect my duty] to God, to his [my] Leader, and to mankind. By his [my] works he [I] shall be judged, — and justified or condemned.
by Florence Roberts
Only the security of the spiritual man, God’s man, is certain, effective and everlasting, for he is in the “secret place of the Most High,” where he lives, moves and has his being in divine Love.
Not a day goes by without some disturbing news about our government, the economy, health, and world affairs to keep us uncertain and fearful. To an extent, we can all be fearful and remain enslaved if we indulge in these beliefs of uncertainty.
More and more I appreciate the admonition to seek God first; because only in this way do we gain the right understanding of who we are. Our spiritual understanding of the omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience and omni-action of God can save us from any discord, since they defy the presence and power of anything but God.
With the right thought about man, which we gain as we consistently have God in all our affairs, obey His laws and do His will, we can see ourselves correctly and know that God’s man, everywhere, is satisfied and complete because he has an indestructible unity with God. He is not apt to need drugs or engage in other violent or immoral activities to feel satisfied. He is aware that because of this spiritual unity, what cannot happen to God, cannot happen to him as God’s reflection.
The more this correct view of man becomes our model for ourselves and others, we will see right behavior more often, everywhere. For example, if our service men accept themselves and others as God’s children and with humility and willingness listen to God, allow each day to unfold according to the divine perfect plan, their reward for such discipline of thought would be spiritualized thinking with the ability to discern divine direction for where to go, what to do, what to say and even what not to say.
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Ps. 20:7) Only under the Divine government can we feel secure. There we allow our footsteps to be ordered by God, our health is maintained, all our human affairs are balanced by the one all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, all-acting, and all-loving power, God.
Psalm 121 reads in part, “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Real security cannot come better guaranteed than that.
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.
Coleridge
by Max Dunaway
Just God and man, and nothing in between;
No loveless circumstance, no sin unseen,
No wrong desire, no separating screen.
Just God and man, and nothing in between.
Just God and man in perfect unity.
Like as the Father, so the son must be.
That which the Father sees, the son must see;
That which He knows is man’s reality.
Just God and man, and nothing else but these;
No woes, no fears, no mortal maladies,
No strife, no tears, no inconsistencies.
Just God and man, and heaven’s harmonies.
by Bicknell Young
When you awaken in the morning, realize and repeat understandingly and at once, “There is only one Mind.” And right then, before the mesmerism of the day is taken in, establish the truth about Day. (see Glossary) Know that the belief of time has no dominion over you or others; you have dominion over it. Establish your days in consciousness and unfoldment. Day has no routine. When you awaken, know that you have time and opportunity to do all things that you need to do this day. Declare, that there is one Mind, that all things are already done in Mind, and that you have not a thing to do but be clear in consciousness, so that Mind may unfold. If you stick to this, you will have plenty of time and opportunity to do all things that you need to do. Know in the morning, that Day is the unfoldment of His plan; inspiration, that does not know how to begin nor end. All the incidents of God’s day are already arranged.
What do you have to do today? You have one thing to do, and that is to know the Truth. When confronted with sixteen hours work, just know the Truth the first thing. Do not start out with the belief that you have certain things to do. If you do, you are mesmerized already. You must know this before you get started, or it is too late. Infinite unfoldment never begins, never ends, and is never interrupted for a moment, and when you are declaring this forever unfoldment of God’s day, plan, and purpose, this is healing for today.
Infinite Love knows no limitation, it cannot be restricted in achievement, and its laws are irrevocable and cannot be interfered with. This day does not begin nor end; it does not bring you or me, nor anyone, nearer the tomb, in belief nor at all. This day takes you and all creation nearer immortality. This day is the very action of Omniscience. There is no power manifested in this day but Omnipotence. This day has divine order, and it comes about scientifically. All requirements of this day are established, and do not require time. This day is Spirit, not matter, and do not let material things say, “I AM” in any incident of creation. This day is immortality revealed and demonstrated. It has no night. It is eternal light, the irradiance of Spirit, God.
No problem can enter God’s day. Mind is not engaged with problems. Mind unfolds its ideas without interruption. It has all versatility, all originality, and all variety. It is infinite, and all its manifestations are complete, whole, and satisfied, for man is a state of God’s complete and supreme satisfaction.
Health means wholeness. One does not need to appear as anything else but whole. The original meaning of health is just that, just to be complete, nothing wanting, nothing lacking, and health we must have. It is divinely natural. Everyone may have it by claiming it. It can be had in Christian Science, because Christian Science reveals the law and science of life in Christ. It needs to be, and can be, demonstrated. You can demonstrate it. Try to do it, and help others to do it this day. This DAILY work will do much, that you cannot appreciate at once. Right understanding of Day lifts the burden of mortal belief, and serves to dissipate the current mesmerism of mortal mind, as well as protecting you from its claims.
from Mary Baker Eddy: Her Spiritual Precepts,
by Gilbert C. Carpenter, Vol. I, page 6
If one works for humanity, he establishes a demonstrating thought towards the world that inevitably brings him his reward, as well as fits him to handle the universal claim of animal magnetism directed against him. Any good mental worker, through his desire to bless humanity, is handling the error that may be aimed at himself, and thereby avoids much that those who are not working to bless humanity as a whole do not avoid.
Let us consider a thunderstorm where a Christian Scientist is struck by lightning. You say, how can such a one be struck? Here is another Christian Scientist who, seeing the importance of handling the belief of mental causation, is working on the weather for all. Such work is his protection and no stray lightning could hit him. His faithfulness in working on the weather, because he considers such work to be a part of the development of demonstration as well as of spiritual attainment, thereby protects him from the possibility of any weather conditions overthrowing him.
One cannot conceive of a Christian Scientist working on the weather correctly and at the same time being annihilated by it. One of the greatest protections against the unknown, the unseen, the unexpected, is the work to bless humanity, because one cannot bless humanity without handling the error that comes to humanity, and the handling of such error is one’s own life insurance. In working for all humanity you must handle its animal magnetism.
This is the Christian Scientist’s life insurance, since one cannot be handled by that which one is already handling.
from Divinity Course and General Collectanea,
by Mary Baker Eddy
Before you are ready to close your eyes in sleep, be sure you are not holding anything unlovely in your consciousness, anything unlike God; laying aside every fear, put yourself entirely in His charge. Quiet yourself with the thought that He who has all power will protect you, give you health, and all you need in abundance, and know that whether sleeping or waking, you are safe because your life is hid with Christ in God. To declare that you are well is the exact truth; you are not flesh, but rather the ray of divine light that, shining upon flesh, makes it appear alive. This you is spiritual and cannot be sick. Remember that power is exerted by merely stating a truth. All truth is the word of God. Assert it constantly, even though your so-called human mind screams falsehood. It is to acknowledge Him, to have your mind stayed on Him, to be directly benefited by the activity of good.
Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake.
from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,
by Mary Baker Eddy, page 442:30
The leaders in labor, in business, in government must learn that God directs the affairs of men. He rules there today, just as He has always done, regardless of the apparent rule of selfishness, strife, and oppression. “He disappointeth the devices of the crafty.” There is no other government than His.
Peter V. Ross
Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God governs the universe harmoniously and eternally, and in this government there are no evil organizations that can govern or influence men or nations erroneously.
Martha Wilcox
Right is not subject to political pulling and hauling. Its majestic and irresistible influence and power cannot be interfered with by the poor stuff called politics.
Bicknell Young
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
George Bernard Shaw
When individuals place their votes upon the people who have righteous views and the courage to stand for Principle in government affairs, there will be no danger of putting criminal politicians into power.
William McCrackan
I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents.
Sir Winston Churchill
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan
God has set man in an orbit—an orbit of security, of usefulness, of abundance, of opportunity. Principle holds him there. No power, no influence, can swerve him from his path.
Peter V. Ross
That peace, safety, and concord may be the portion of our native land, and be long enjoyed by our fellow-citizens, is the most ardent wish of my heart, and if I can be instrumental in procuring or preserving them, I shall think I have not lived in vain.
Thomas Jefferson
The contest, for ages, has been to rescue Liberty from the grasp of executive power.
Daniel Webster
Do not lose your faith in the allness of Good. Continue to stand and see the salvation of our Lord. We must not have any doubts as to the outcome — the outcome may be different from what we expect, and the help may come from a source at present unseen, but the outcome will be good and the help will be sure, because God is All-in-all.
Bicknell Young
Each experience comes at the right moment to confer the greatest blessing.
Herbert Eustace
Students of Christian Science must take their cue from their Leader and build up confidence in the power they reflect, establishing the glorious fact that their spiritual consciousness has the very power of the universe back of it; that nothing can stand before it; that it has a speed greater than that of light; that it goes wherever it is directed, acts instantaneously and does accomplish that whereunto it is sent.
Gilbert Carpenter
We have to clear our own vision, sweep away the rubbish of fear, impatience, and of a false estimate of our fellow man and know that the one Mind shines through all and governs all. You do not have to plan, to think how, or when, or where; that is God’s business; your business is to carefully reflect, listen to, and obey when this call comes.
Essays and Other Footprints, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 85
God is working and nothing else can. God is outlining, directing, “and no one can stay His hand or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” … We need to know that the divine Mind builds up, and unifies, and holds together and prospers!
Essays and Other Footprints, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 85
The government shall be on his shoulder…Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
from the Christian Science Sentinel, March 8, 1900, by Charles Spurgeon
The Christian may be tempted; but little impression is made upon him by the pleasurable bait if he is happy in the Lord.
There is a passage in Paul where he speaks of putting on the armor of light. It is fine poetry as well as solid fact that we wear the armor of light. Part of the meaning is that we are so surrounded with seraphic joy that nothing can tempt us. The joy which we wear is far superior to any which the evil one can offer us; and so his temptation has lost its power.
What can the devil offer a joyous Christian? Why, if he were to say to him, “I will give thee all the kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof, if thou wilt fall down and worship me,” the believer would reply to him, “Friend, I have more than that. I have perfect contentment; I have absolute delight in God. My soul swims in a deep sea of bliss as I think of God.” The devil will speedily quit such a man as that; for the joy of the Lord is an armor through which he cannot send the dagger of his temptation.
by Art Anker
Thank you, Father, for this day.
I turn my thoughts from self and pray
That all mankind will hear Your voice,
And with hearts of love,
Rejoice, — rejoice!
Drawing by Lil Linnell
(I Samuel 25:29)
by Max Dunaway
“Bound in the bundle of life with … God,”
So is the life of man;
Encompassed by all-encircling good
In God’s unending plan.
Hid in the heart of Love divine,
Where human sense finds rest,
So is the Father’s perfect son,
Safe and beloved and blest.
Bless you all. Mary Baker Eddy’s truths are marching on through people like you! I accept your pamphlet in the love it was sent to me.
I’m sure Grandmother Eddy never intended her church to end in Boston or controlled by the directors to the extent it is at this time. I thank God for people like you in Plainfield who keep her words alive!
Yours with love,
Mrs. Eddy’s Granddaughter
Received your letter today. Enclosed is a small check for the fund for your fight for right thinking and freedom from those in Boston who are destroying the true church of Mary Baker Eddy. I only wish it were for a thousand times more.
I would also like to receive information on how I can become a member of your church. It is time one of her great-grandchildren became a member of the one and only church that is truly following what she taught.
Mrs. Eddy’s Great-Granddaughter
from the Christian Science Sentinel, Jan. 1918,
by William D. McCrackan
The real pacification of the world can only be accomplished through adhering to Principle. By advocating peace, pacifism may pose as being above war and the custodian of high ideals. Yet this state of mind does not heal the world’s woes, but rather makes a covering for the perpetration of further crimes upon humanity by ruthless exploiters of the weak.
Pacifism seeks ease, but finds dis-ease; it dreads to hurt, but by inaction produces a worse hurt. Under the pretense of maintaining the brotherhood of man, it keeps the door open for the unscrupulous to incite fratricidal wars. The pacifist with the desire of being a peace-maker practically becomes a peace-breaker. On page 233 of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,” Mrs. Eddy writes: “The Scriptures say, ‘They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace; when there is no peace’ (Jeremiah 6:14), thus taking the name of God in vain. Ignorance of self is the most stubborn belief to overcome, for apathy, dishonesty, sin, follow in its train.”
An outward peace may mask a mental volcano. The habit of smoothing over difficulties instead of correcting errors leaves a smoldering fire to smudge up the atmosphere and thus darken the whole situation. Better the flashes of fire which refine and eventually make for perfect peace than the hidden hate and grievance which poison the system.
God requires us to work for the world, to battle for the freedom of the universal brother, not to sit at ease and look on with indifference at the slaughter of defenseless women and children. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” The sword of Spirit is two-edged, — when it goes forward it destroys conspicuous error, and in returning clears away any subtle, lurking error. The swing of the two-edged sword cuts both ways. The sword of demonstration is mightier than the pen which writes down mere doctrine, but the pen that is used powerfully to waken consciousness out of its selfish stupor is an instrument of God. Then the pen and the sword become one in purpose and power.
The excuses of drowsy pacifism against meeting the enemy cannot becloud a nation’s mentality with a mesmeric mist when Christian Scientists courageously handle error as they have been taught by their Leader. When national honor is threatened and the attempt is made to deprive the people of liberty, it is rendering a poor service indeed to call war a calamity. What would we have today had not our forefathers paved the way for liberty? A greater liberty is to come whereby peace will be permanently established in the hearts of mankind by the understanding that death has no sting and Life is God. In the book of Job we are given a very simple recipe for peace: “Acquaint now thyself with him [God], and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”
Experience proves that the sentimental outpourings of pacifism do not help to end wars, but rather tend to hinder a nation’s whole-hearted support of the brave soldiers who have taken the field. When the issue is clear between Principle and materialism, the whole armor of God should be donned. There should be no flinching, no hesitating; but the banner of Love, floating high above the fumes of hate, should be carried joyfully to victory. In due time the eagle of righteous warfare will make way for the dove of peace. If the counsel of pacifism were followed, the dove would precede the eagle and thus be foully slain by the arrows of the enemy before its blessed mission could be accomplished.
God is the power which strengthens the ranks, lifts the fallen braves, gives the blessings of self-conquest, and brings the kingdom of heaven on earth. He holds the universe in the hollow of His hand and governs man. A peace of human contriving actuated by fear or self-interest is a bad peace; but when humanity has learned to let the outlining of good peace be traced by the Eternal One, war will be no more. As Mrs. Eddy has stated on page 204 of Miscellaneous Writings: “When the good fight is fought, error yields up its weapons and kisses the feet of Love, while white-winged peace sings to the heart a song of angels.”
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
Benjamin Franklin
from the Christian Science Monitor Home Forum Page,
April 19, 1921
The world has been going through a process of reconstruction and readjustment, and upheaval and disorder of many kinds seem to be present. This process is apparent in unsettled business conditions and radical changes taking place in the government of the nations. There has been a thorough stirring up of evil, and its ways and hidden methods are constantly being uncovered and brought to light.
In her article, “The Way,” in Miscellaneous Writings (p. 355), Mary Baker Eddy states: “Error found out is two-thirds destroyed, and the last third pierces itself, for the remainder only stimulates and gives scope to higher demonstration.”
So instead of becoming alarmed or depressed, or fearing the tremendous upheaval that is seemingly taking place, it should be a time of great rejoicing in knowing that error is uncovering itself and nearing its own destruction. All that is actually taking place is the unfoldment of God’s infinite being, which is good and perfect. It gives everyone an opportunity to prove that evil has no activity, no intelligence, and no power.
In the first chapter of Genesis it is stated: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” In God’s kingdom, then, no so-called reconstruction is necessary, since the entire universe, including man, is already created and is good. Nothing can be added to nor taken away from good, or Truth.
Man’s real work of reconstruction, then, is to know more of God, and man as the reflection of Mind. This spiritual understanding will heal the sick, revolutionize the world, and overcome all error. It may be necessary for mortal mind to receive many jolts and thorough shakings before it is willing to leave the false beliefs that are imbedded in matter and turn completely to Spirit. Nevertheless, even while this seeming process of reconstruction is going on, mankind can rejoice in the fact that God, divine consciousness, and its infinite idea, is all there is, and is right now perfect, whole, and complete.
by Art Anker
Dear “Shepherd,
Show me how to go.”
There are so many things
I long to know.
This human mind
Is void of power
To care for me,
Hour by hour.
But, You, loving Shepherd,
My All, my stay,
Will lead me,
Will guide me
All the way.
In every task that’s mine to do,
My heart goes out,
To You — to You!
by Susanne Abetti
There have been some major paradigm shifts in my thinking that have been taught to me by the Plainfield Church. These were learned in classes taught by Mrs. Evans and now continued in the Roundtables. Although I had gone to Sunday School and had class instruction, it seemed I didn’t have much practical instruction.
One major lesson learned early on was, “Put God at the center of everything you do.” The first time I heard that, I was amazed—because I simply had never heard that before. It startled me because I realized that I had not been paying attention to God as much as I should have. It was pointed out that God is loving us and communicating with us 24/7, and yet, an hour or two in church is all that many people consecrate to God. I had never thought about that either. Even though I attended church and read my Lesson, I soon realized that I had been using God for my purposes, instead of letting God use me for His purpose. I had been reaching out to God only when I had a problem. That was a humbling realization. I was being self-centered, not God-centered.
Another lesson that really struck me was that there is no detail in our lives too small that God cannot be a part of. Once I put God consciously into more and more of everything I did, then things just started working out better. If you find yourself fretting over anything, it can even be: What do I wear? — just hand it over to God — “Put it on the altar of God,” I was taught — and the answer will come. Because the more time we don’t waste on petty stuff, the more time we’ll have for the more important things — like helping others.
“I need thee every hour” was a favorite hymn of Mrs. Evans. I had never thought about needing God every hour! That sure hit home. And yet another lesson that struck home is, that I am nothing without God. Nothing! I can’t do anything without Him. I can’t move, breathe, or even exist without God. So that was very humbling. I need God in order to go about my day, to even have a day! I hadn’t really thought about it like that before.
I think often about these lessons and many others I’ve learned, because it has been through the strong and practical teachings in this church over the last 15 years or so that my life has been completely transformed. The teachings have brought Science and Health to life for me. At times I truly felt like I was in a hamster cage going round and round, year in and year out, not making much progress at all. Now my life is more full than I could ever have imagined it, full of purpose and plenty of opportunities to work for God.
The teachings in this church have helped get me out of my rut, on track with God, and to be useful to God and those around me. I’d never want to go back to the life I had before finding Plainfield. I am so grateful to every member of this church, our practitioners, Mrs. Eddy for discovering Christian Science, Jesus our Wayshower, and our wonderful God!
by Joseph McTaggart
Have you ever had a morning where you wake up but just can’t find peace? It’s like life has run ahead of you.
It’s good to remember that time is a man-made construct. God doesn’t see time because He is “from everlasting to everlasting.” He cannot be boxed in to any man-made system. Knowing He hasn’t changed at the moment of our stress can help a lot. It’s not that He is waiting for you to give Him a minute, it’s more about realizing that in every moment He is there, for your very existence is in Him. Just as He exists in a timeless spiritual existence, so do we.
The story of Lazarus (John 11, 1-44) is another example of “time.” Jesus tells his friends about the sickness of Lazarus, and says: “this sickness is not unto death.”
Four days pass, and then Jesus raises him up — not by accepting that he died, but by knowing that God is his life, and that death is not an inevitable reality. Jesus had already said this sickness will not end in death, because it couldn’t end that way. Jesus knew there was no “moment” when Lazarus passed, and he knew that death itself is just as man made as time — time-honored systems that we’ve been taught to accept.
When I was younger I used to think that reading the Lesson was something you did when you had “time,” or that you “had” to make time to read it. Now I realize it’s a wonderful way of life, not a way of just grabbing moments in a busy day. I’ve found that reading the Lesson first thing in the morning, even if I have to get up earlier than usual before the cares of the day parade before my eyes, has made a tremendous difference in my life. Putting God first, and taking the time to study the Lesson, and refer back to a statement from it during the busiest of days, keeps me peaceful and able to accomplish everything efficiently.
The Bible says: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4.) Have a great “day”!
The ideal state, or heaven, is not a place from which problems have been removed. Rather is it a place where pain and stress have been taken out of problems.
Peter V. Ross
by Jeremy Palmer
Do you think you deserve the good you have? I didn’t. But through what I’ve been learning in Christian Science, I now realize that, since we all are God’s children, we don’t deserve to be expressions of Truth, Life, and Love, we simply are. Like banana bread doesn’t deserve to be banana bread, it just is. This revelation has helped me greatly, as I’ve often sabotaged my own progress by feeling that I have done nothing to deserve good.
Thinking and worrying about whether I deserved anything was a waste of time. The only suitable way forward is to embrace the fact that I am God’s idea and to strive to express Truth, Life, and Love always.
Something which often goes hand-in-hand with this is wondering why something happened. Since I can no longer say either, “Well, it’s what I deserved” or “I guess I didn’t deserve it,” I’ve needed to look at the concept of “why” more closely.
The concept of “why” is just as meaningless as “deserve.” Christian Science, as taught through our Lessons and discussions here in Plainfield, is showing me that when good happens, I need to understand that it comes from God and to be grateful for it. On the other hand, if something that seems bad happens, I need to look at my thinking and see what I am not handling.
Injecting that additional step in there, where I wondered “why is this happening,” was not only pointless, but was often a way to avoid making useful changes in my life. Cutting through the question altogether, with the understanding that Christian Science is bringing to me, is such a blessing!
It is astonishing that my thinking was so clogged! Without this church, and without the authentic Christian Science taught here, I would still be stuck. I am very grateful to see in my own life, and through all the testimonies week after week, the wonderful changes that occur with certainty once Christ’s Christianity is brought into our lives.
by Luanne Tucker
I was always one who dwelled on the negative, thinking nothing and no one could ever change. But I have learned here that, if changes need to take place, they must take place in my own thinking. Declaring the truth about myself and others, as a child of God, depersonalizing error, understanding the nothingness of error and the allness of God, has opened the way for changes to take place and allowed me to witness the power of Truth and Love — almighty God — which casts out error and transforms lives, right here in my home.
A few months ago, when I saw my son sitting on my back deck, obviously having financial and other troubles, I never imagined this would turn into the wonderful, joy-filled experience that it has. He certainly was an answer to my prayers at a time when I needed help around the house, but I got to witness something even greater from God.
I was taught to hold him in Truth, seeing him as he is, the idea of God, good, with higher moral standards, capable of making intelligent choices, desiring to do right, incapable of being led astray. I have seen enormous growth and maturity in him. The transformation brings such joy to my heart. He has changed from a child searching for fun and wild adventure, untrustworthy, disrespectful, and selfish, into a young man, worthy of trust and respect, helping with tasks around the house as a good friend would help another, out of a right desire to do good to others, sharing in the responsibilities as an adult, working and paying down his debts, in just a few short months.
Having him in my household gave me the opportunity to put into practice the lessons I have been taught that have helped me to change how I react or respond to error. It has also helped me to be more steadfast and watchful of my thoughts, turning away from the old habit of negativity. It has helped me to use what I have learned from the Bible studies and Roundtable discussions, that Love destroys error. Learning how David reacted to Saul, and the transformation that took place in Saul as a result, gave me a better understanding of how I needed to change my thinking, and my behavior, towards my son.
I am so grateful to my practitioner for all the work she has done, holding him in Truth and teaching me to do so as well. I have been so blessed to be a member of this Church and to have the understanding of my practitioner, to lead me on. I am so grateful to God for the many blessings I have received, and for this wonderful transformation.
God never withdraws Himself; mortals merely lose sight of Him.
Gilbert Carpenter
by DeDe DeAlmeida
Last night I was up rather late when a child abduction alert came on TV describing a 5-month-old that had been taken. My first thought was, I wouldn’t be awake to see this if there was nothing that I could do.
I began to pray with the thoughts, man is honest, God’s idea can never be separated from Him, there is no loss, and no one can be taken out of the love of God. I continued with these thoughts until I felt calm and confident before going to sleep. I thought nothing of the case this afternoon but I happened to turn to a local news station just after 6pm, in time to see the story that the little boy had been returned to his family with no harm done.
I’m so grateful that we are learning in this church the importance of demonstrating even the little bit that we understand, in order to bless the world, and I am so grateful to see the daily results when applying my new understanding.
by Gary Singleterry
I am grateful for the Christian Science that is taught and practiced here in helping me to establish a real relationship with God. By that I mean when I first came here I was quite hyper. I was always ready to act on every thought that popped into my head and was ready to help anybody who looked like they needed help. Quick to do things but not very peaceful. Shortly after I got here a practitioner took me aside and told me to stop whatever I was doing several times a day and have a conversation with God. Just talk to Him like a friend. Ask Him what He has for me. Ask Him if there’s someone who needs my help. Then peacefully wait for the answer to come before I go rushing into whatever I was doing.
I found this to be an extremely valuable discipline because it made me more peaceful. I stopped doing a lot of things that, in hindsight, didn’t really need to be done. It was the beginning of a real relationship with God, because before then, my asking wasn’t consistent. It was always God up there somewhere and me down here, and then my turning to Him when I was in trouble. I have a closer relationship with God now. I can feel His love for me much better now. That enables me to have more compassion for others. It has given me a sense of peace and a purpose to my life that I never knew. I can’t be grateful enough for the help of that practitioner and for Mary Baker Eddy for giving us this Science of living, the Science of Christianity.
by Benjamin Ndukwe
A loving heart feels no fear, was my message for this week! As I prepared to post it on the church sign, I started to think more deeply what it means to me; or maybe what it would mean to anyone who would believe. I realized that love and fear cannot reside in one heart. I remembered that, all the time I was afraid of something, or afraid of a person, my love had gone cold. For a loving heart can sense no fear; and if you are afraid of something, your love is not pure, or maybe you do not love at all. Love must be pure to be active. It must occupy every space in our heart and thought to have an impact, for a pure heart is a loving heart. Then, he that dwells in fear of any kind, in any form, of a thing or person, of the past, present or future, does not dwell in love; for fear is the absence of love.
Are you trapped in the fear of environment, terrorism, state of the country, economy, and immigration; the future of your children, and all that politics and the news media project? Are you making a reality of them? If so, your heart is not in the right place. Purify your heart and you will be at peace; then it will appear in your understanding that “Divine Love alone governs man” and that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” in this place, now, tomorrow, and forever more.
When your love is pure, only then can you protect yourself and everyone around you. In one of her hymns, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Love is our refuge; only with mine eye can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall: His habitation high is here, and nigh, His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.” For love alone is our one safe defense. Indulgence in fear endangers one’s liberty and security and everyone he or she cares about; making one vulnerable and exposed to that which he or she is afraid of. But revise this feeling, and find yourself secured in the love of God; knowing that you and your household are safe and secure in His presence. This sense of God, I believe, can only be attained by purifying one’s heart and thought. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” (I John 4:18)
So, I would like to invite you to join me, come on over to the side of love, let’s bring in the millennium. And remember, holiness is Christ, Love, and Truth, lived.
I found your church through Facebook this morning. What a gift! What a way to start the day!
It is refreshing and reassuring to read all about you, especially the Q and A from your website.
Thank you.
E-mailThanks for the new format for Love is the Liberator and all the contributions. Welcome to the Gems, they were always a favorite; and thanks for including Mr. Morgan’s letter. What wonderful artists we have here, who are using their talents to bless!
Great issue on what we all need most — a greater sense of our inherent freedom!!
GeorgiaI want to express my gratitude for the forum on this website. The other day I came home after a demanding day. I needed to quiet my thought and I was having difficulty concentrating. I went to Joseph’s corner on our website and played his piano solos as I read through the forum posts for the week. The ideas expressed on the forum turned my thoughts to God and brought peace. Many times I have been blessed by this weekly and dynamic church activity. Also thank you Joseph for sharing your musical talent.
PennsylvaniaThank you for all this Church is doing and standing for.
Costa RicaI have to say how grateful I am for the Plainfield calendar. Not only do I receive encouragement, I have been sharing the quotes with members of my family … and they thank me! I also tuck them into notes and letters. One friend told me that she had saved every single quote that I had sent to her.
PennsylvaniaThank you to all of you in Plainfield for making the Plainfield Church — a church without walls — possible.
I am very grateful for all the opportunities to participate in church work and activities, and to send blessings to all mankind.
Enclosed is a check for my monthly contribution.
CaliforniaAs always, thank you for all that each of you does to maintain the beauty of Plainfield Church, both in physical presentation and online presence. I remain so thankful to have found this wonderful church!
Missouri
It has been a very long time since I have felt a sense of belonging, yet I know it was always there and blessing me. I saw very little real demonstration of Christian Science in my former branch church. The constant competition between local practitioners, sometime erupting in actual public arguments, was shocking to say the least. The only assistance we received from Boston was to blindly follow along and not rock the boat, so to speak. It seemed the only viable way was to go one’s own way.
For me, it began a period of drifting, questioning, and wondering; but Truth will not be silenced once it has spoken, and I always came back to Mrs. Eddy’s writings and the solid rock of Christian Science. And it is here I stand.
With healings, happiness, and trust regained, I felt a need to join my thought within that “structure of Truth and Love,” as Mrs. Eddy defines “Church,” and have been working for some time, knowing that divine Love would fulfill this need. And so it has. I give daily gratitude for finding Plainfield Church.
I join with you in love and a true desire to serve the cause of this Truth entrusted to us. My joy is boundless and my gratitude overflowing. I look forward to growth, community, and, of course, Love.
Last week while leaving the garage, I banged the side of my head on the garage door. I immediately began declaring the scientific statement of being and several other truths. I put a band-aid on it and tried not to look at it, and held onto the statement, “If it wasn’t good, it never happened in divine Mind.”
The next morning when I called the practitioner from the Plainfield Church, the lump had gone down and so had some of the tenderness, but there was a fair amount of discoloration around my eye. The practitioner gave me several statements on accident to work with. The following statement from Collectanea was quite helpful: “As shadows of various types come in contact with one another and no harm ensues, so the impact of material objects in what is called an accident makes no impression on the true consciousness, and in the realm of Spirit nothing has happened.”
I did put some makeup on my eyes so as not to look so noticeable, and carried on. I even went to a meeting, praying for it before going, and no one seemed to notice a thing. After the meeting I went to the grocery store, and the same thing — no one noticed. When I told the practitioner, she said, “All anyone can see is the child of God.” After that, all the fear left. The discoloration is going away and the tenderness is completely gone.
I’m very grateful for Christian Science as taught in the Plainfield Church, and for all the help of the Plainfield practitioner.
from B. S. in CaliforniaI was doing some gardening one afternoon, and decided to take a break. I sat down for a few minutes, and when I stood up to go into the house, my foot was in terrific pain. I hobbled inside, barely able to walk. The pain kept getting worse until I couldn’t walk on it at all.
I immediately called a practitioner for help. She told me to read pages 390 to 393 in Science and Health, and said she would help me. Within just a couple of hours, the pain had eased up to where I was able to walk a little. By bedtime, it was much better again, and by the next morning, it was completely healed. I tried to figure out what had brought it on, but the practitioner told me that error never has any cause, for God is the only Cause and Creator.
I thank God for Mrs. Eddy for sharing with us her understanding of the Bible and the purpose that Jesus was here for. I’m so grateful for the Plainfield Church for correctly following Mrs. Eddy’s teachings so we can grow in the right direction.
from D. S. in OregonI am deeply grateful for a lesson I learned from a Plainfield practitioner about the need to keep your peace.
Late one night an electrical wire snapped and went down in our woods due to a fallen tree. This then caused an electrical surge to pass through our home, causing sparks, smoke, and pipes to heat up in our basement. We called emergency services, and we were told to leave the house immediately.
As I hung up the phone, I grabbed my hymnal. Once outside, I called a practitioner at Plainfield for prayerful support. Her quiet calm, tender care and strong faith were powerful. A fire started in our woods, and she confidently told me that Love, God, would extinguish the flames. I hung up the phone while I was directed farther away from the home.
The fire was quickly put out. We were outside for almost two hours during this process. Twice I opened the hymnal for comfort and my eyes fell on two lines: “every place is hallowed ground” (Hymn 227) and “comfort is love whose home abides in peace.” (174:1) I talked with the practitioner again while I was outside, and this time she talked about the importance of keeping the peace of God at all times.
I have many blessings to be grateful for, such as kind neighbors opening their homes to us, and friendly firefighters making us comfortable. The fire was put out quickly, the electricity was restored the next day, and there was no damage to the home or wires. Most of all, I am endlessly grateful for the help of the practitioner, and for the important lesson I learned — to keep my peace.
from L. S. in PennsylvaniaLast year my ankles began to swell, especially in the hot, humid weather. This problem seemed very big because at times I couldn’t even put my shoes on.
I called a practitioner from this church and asked for prayerful help. She gave me the statement from Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy: “Have no fear that matter can ache, swell, and be inflamed as the result of a law of any kind, when it is self-evident that matter can have no pain nor inflammation.” Immediately the fear left. I’m not sure when the healing took place, but this summer I didn’t have a problem at all, even though we had some very humid days. I was healed.
I am very grateful to God for this healing, to Mrs. Eddy for giving us Christian Science, and for the loving help of the practitioner.
from S. W. in New JerseyI recently needed to have a physical examination for insurance purposes. I called a practitioner from Plainfield Church and asked for help. The practitioner said to go into the examination with the authority of the Christ, remembering that “The king’s daughter is all glorious within,” and that she would help me.
When I was asked when I had my last physical, I told the doctors it was when my younger son was born, and he is now married and has two children of his own. They did an extremely thorough examination, and seemed to be determined to find something wrong; but they were not able to find anything at all, except for one thing — the platelets in my blood were a bit on the low side. Their examination did not come up with a reason why the number was low, but there was one more test they wanted to try to find out.
I remembered the practitioner saying that whenever you need to go into a medical situation, remember that God and you are the boss — not the doctor. So I said, “Why don’t we do another blood test first and see what the level is now.” He rather reluctantly said to go downstairs and have the test, and then come back to his office, and then we would make an appointment for the next day to have the final test. When I got back to his office he said, “Don’t bother coming in tomorrow, your platelets are fine.” I saw the paper, and the number had risen by almost 50%!
I am endlessly grateful to God for His care, and for the powerful prayers of the practitioner.
from C. C. in New JerseyI’m so grateful for God’s protection. Recently I was doing a couple of things here at church when suddenly it became extremely windy. Opening the door, I felt only a gust of wind but no rain. I still needed another couple of minutes to finish what I was doing and felt right about staying a little longer. As I was leaving, it did begin to rain. I had driven a block from the church when a huge tree fell across the road in front of my car, landing on wires and on the street. If I hadn’t stayed the extra couple of minutes, I am sure I would have been hit.
I thank God that I got the thought to stay at church the extra time. That was not luck but God guiding. He is speaking to us every moment, and we must listen and obey.
from L. L. in New JerseySatisfaction is not found in ease or repose but in service and achievement.
Peter V. Ross
Corporeal sense, or error, may seem to hide Truth, health, harmony, and Science, as the mist obscures the sun or the mountain; but Science, the sunshine of Truth, will melt away the shadow and reveal the celestial peaks.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy