Church: “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.” Manual by MBE
Afford means to produce results. Proof means conclusive evidence and demonstration. Utility is usefulness and value. So in order to be called a church we need to be producing conclusive evidence that Christian Science is useful and has value. How on earth can we do this? Luckily we have the obvious profitableness of healing the sick, and we can measure that by testimonies. So one way to check whether we’re affording proof of our utility is to have continuous healings and testimonies.
But is it enough for a few to be healed? What about elevating the human race? We need to somehow measure how much we have we helped the human race by looking at the fruits of our efforts. Does our community, through interaction with our church, have a better apprehension of spiritual ideas, and have they seen the demonstration of divine Science? Are they living lives freer from error than before? I think we all must look at our own church work and ask ourselves if we’ve done this for anyone outside of our church membership.
If we’ve handed someone a Science and Health or had a wonderful sharing conversation in our work in the Reading Room or at a lecture is that the proof of our utility? How can we measure the impact that conversation had on the human race? Jesus had some conversations that we know about. We know the impact of those conversations because 2000 years later we’re still learning from them. Jesus’ church grew because people craved what he had to offer. They showed up to learn more about the Christ message. If the people he transformed in one conversation just went on with their lives we would never have heard about it. It was because these people gathered together in the early churches and shared with each other that we know what happened to them.
I can’t help thinking that some of the proof of its utility must be seen in the health of the church. If the church had been producing value then it wouldn’t be declining in membership over the past 50 years. Its Sunday school students wouldn’t be leaving in droves. And the world wouldn’t be so unfamiliar with us that they confuse us with Scientology on a regular basis.
So, bottom line, we have not been a church by Mrs. Eddy’s definition for decades. How then can we claim that we can’t make changes to our church because Mrs. Eddy wouldn’t have wanted it? She didn’t define church as a group of people who follow a strict set of rules to the detriment of all else. She focused on results not method in her definition of church, and now it’s time for us to do the same.
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Well, bottom line according to your interpretation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that full churches mean a healthy church. What if the people sitting in the pews aren't interested at all? What if they're just taking up space? I've spoken to a couple of older people recently who indicated that people get so hung up on how full the churches used to be, but they don't realize that even then, there was only a core group of dedicated members. People went to church because culturally that was what was expected of them. It's something to think about anyway.
I haven't converted any of my friends, but I've healed them (from the effects of 3rd degree burns for one, massive grief when another's father passed on to mention just two), and they've acknowledged that they were healed through my prayers. It's not a daily occurrence, but I'm doing the best I can.
I like to focus on what we're doing right. That doesn't mean we ignore what needs adjusting, but if you constantly beat yourself up as an individual or a group, I think it hinders productivity...and healing. I've never ever experienced healing when I've been staring at the problem.
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ReplyDeleteI want to make sure that you're not saying that all our empty and closing churches are a sign that our members are more dedicated than they were years ago. Dedication isn't even part of the definition of church.
ReplyDeleteThe church is there to provide the "race" with the resources to grow spiritually and learn to heal. Also, since going to church is not culturally accepted now, if our churches were full today it would be a tremendous sign of health. I can't imagine anyone sitting through our church services just to take up space. The few people I know who came into CS after childhood had an experience of a loving person at church and that made them come back for more. So they may not care about the sermon, but they care about being loved, if we can do that, that's utility.
Focusing on what we're doing right is about looking at what proves its utility. It can only be "right" if it can prove it's useful. There's no reason to beat ourselves up, what good would that do. All we need to do is keep looking for ways that work and do more of that. You've found ways to communicate with and uplift your friends, so why would you expect less of the church you're a member of.
I think trying to measure progress is kind of futile. It's coming from the basis that there is something to change. The elevation of the thoughts of even one member in a CS church IS the elevation of the human race. Not measuring was probably the reason Mrs. Eddy didn't have us count the number of Christian Scientists there were - because it was missing the point! When we look at the number of people or the change in the community - when that change becomes our goal, we lose sight of the absolute. It's kind of like looking at a pimple, trying to know the truth, but saying at the same time 'why won't it go away?'
ReplyDeleteAnd how can one measure spiritual progress except by spiritual means? To measure our change in the community would have to be by material means anyway, and you can't draw a line along Spirit and say we have come thus far and no farther.
I went to an evangelical church for a while that was very full - but not healthy. And know of many churches in the area that are full, but are full of people there to socialize. So having a full church for the wrong reasons is worse than one empty, and likewise devoid of false intentions. For all that Jesus healed so many in his life, how many numbered the ones who really tried to understand? Hundreds listened to him in his sermons, but he had only twelve we consider of greater importance.
We know we're doing right as a church if we are demonstrating daily in our own personal lives. Beyond that trying to measure is just falling prey to a false conception of what progress really is. (I'm sorry if any of that sounded offensive - words and me, we have a problem.)
I don't believe that looking at the negative will solve any problems, but the answers here are confusing to me. People living Christian Science have more proof of utility than any giant evangelical church could ever have. We're healing on a daily basis. We're living healthier and happier lives because we know how to truly live life in Christ. If you're comparing us to any other church then you're doing Christian Science a disservice. So I don't follow your logic here.
ReplyDeleteIf we were effectively communicating this Christ life, people would be flocking to us for healing. The fact is, we can't even show our children the beauty of living in Christ because they've been leaving the Sunday School at about an 80% or more attrition rate. If every Sunday school student today stayed with the church after the age of 20 the church will still not be able to sustain itself in 50 years. If you value the presence of a Christian Science church shouldn't you want it to be around in 50 years? Why is it so offensive to look in the mirror and say something must be wrong here. If your hair was falling out at the rate that people are leaving our churches you would certainly not make excuses, you would get your thought and actions inline with Christ and you would expect your hair to grow back stronger and healthier then ever. That's what a Christian Scientist does when the images of error appear. We don't make excuses and try to cover it up with flowery language. Churches full of people doing that might as well die out. Who needs 'em.