Newness of life is the greatest blessing of all

Love, as a synonym for God, occurs more times in “Atonement and Eucharist” than in any other chapter in Science and Health. How does this chapter define Love?

The chapter defines Love as the divine law that redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death. It explains that Jesus demonstrated his understanding of divine Love by healing the sick, casting out error and sin, and raising the dead, all while showing compassion for mankind. He did this through reliance on Mind, not matter, and thus taught us all how to rise above the material sense of being and into the light of Truth. Divine Love was expressed in Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will during his greatest hour of struggle. As Mrs. Eddy says, “When the human element in him struggled with the divine, our great Teacher said: ‘Not my will, but Thine, be done!’—that is, let not the flesh, but the Spirit, be represented in me. This is the new understanding of spiritual Love” (Science and Health, p. 33:18-22).

What is required to live as a transparency for Love, God?

The answer to this question was given by Jesus himself when he affirmed that the right way to live was to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:25–27). When we seek God first in our lives, we are being obedient to His purpose for us, and with this obedience come the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Through these fruits we are able to love our neighbor as ourselves and thus become a transparency for God’s Love.

We must be willing to obey Jesus’ instruction to his disciples, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). In order for others to see God’s Love through us, we must deny the material man, pick up the cross of Christian Science daily, and follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, demonstrating divine Love through healing sickness and disease, overcoming error and sin, and showing kindness and compassion to all of mankind. This is not a sprint up to the mountaintop, but the race we run with patience and endurance. “Atonement and Eucharist” says it well: “If Truth is overcoming error in your daily walk and conversation, you can finally say, ‘I have fought a good fight….I have kept the faith,’ because you are a better man. This is having our part in the at-one-ment with Truth and Love” (Science and Health, p. 21:1–5). Living as a transparency for Love is a daily walk with God, in obedience, humility, and understanding of His divine purpose, plan, and idea for us.

How does a Christian Scientist fearlessly face down popular beliefs that oppose the practice of Christian Science?

With the power of divine Love. As I John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” With the conviction that there is no power greater than omnipotent Love to heal sickness, sin, disease, and death, the Christian Scientist is ready to stand in the light of Truth with steadfast resolve, despite any opposing viewpoint or influence. Jesus was our perfect example of this. As “Atonement and Eucharist” tells us, “He 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” (Science and Health, p. 49:21).

As someone who was not raised in Christian Science and has a family that believes strongly in the medical practice, I’ve had to stand my ground in my practice of not getting annual physical exams, as I had prior to coming into Christian Science. When family members mention that I’m ignoring my health, I am able to respond with absolute certainty that I am taking care of my health, just not in the way they think I should. Through Christian Science prayer, I am understanding that I am under the care of the Great Physician. There is no need for medical checkups, for I am made in God’s image and likeness. When faced with physical challenges, I have been able to demonstrate healing through Christian Science prayer and the help of a practitioner. To avoid further opposition or the fearful thoughts of others, I have learned to use discernment in choosing with whom I discuss my practice of Christian Science and any physical ailments that I am experiencing.

What are the benefits of building one’s life on the Rock?

This is the question I love the most because the answer to this is infinite. Those who are seeking God first and honoring the First Commandment have yet to experience all the benefits of living on the Rock.

The Bible tells us that when the storm rages against the house, it does not fall, for it is built on the rock; likewise, when we build our life upon the Rock of Christ, we have a firm foundation to stand upon as we face the storms of life. Personally, I have found amazing grace in times of turmoil, expanded capacity when facing seemingly impossible tasks, peace in times of distress and fear, comfort and joy in times of sadness and grief, happiness regardless of my outward circumstances, discernment in times of confusion, stillness in what appears to be chaos, courage and strength in times of intense adversity, and healing in times of sickness. And these are just a few of the benefits I have experienced.

Building one’s life on the Rock brings us a true sense of purpose; we no longer live for ourselves but for God and others, and through this, we experience healing from sickness, sin, disease, and death. Thus, we are redeemed through divine Love. We are able to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12–13, New American Standard Bible). As we endeavor to build upon this solid foundation, we are able to “rise into newness of life with regeneration” (Science and Health, p. 24:12–13). And this newness of life is the greatest blessing of all.