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Coming into the Light

The Bulletin Board is for gratitude for Christian Science and the Church, as well as timely excerpts from the Bible, the works of Mrs. Eddy, and the early workers that help and encourage. We are very grateful for all posts that conform to these guidelines, but will edit or remove anything that the Practitioners feel is not in complete accord with pure Christian Science or in any way disrespectful of it.

We also ask that you keep your postings as concise as possible. If you quote the Bible, please use The King James Version, as this is what Mrs. Eddy used. Thank you!


Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #8914
    MaryBeth
    Participant

    “For every one that doeth evil hateth light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3)
    I found an interesting article entitled “Organization” by Bicknell Young, in which he states, “The mission of the church is to challenge and vanquish sin and hell. Without the church organization, there is nothing with which to challenge and overcome sin. When one turns aside from this organization, claiming for himself an advanced revelation, or that organization is no longer necessary, he is being blinded to his own disobedience and unwillingness to observe the discipline essential to his own spiritual growth in the organization.”
    The excommunication of our church from the central organization has proved to be a great blessing. It has resulted in what we feel is a “spiritual organization” which steers sharply away from any one central control and allows everyone to progress, and to demonstrate with God. This also results in spiritualization of thought and great growth individually as well as collectively. I have always felt the divine idea of “church” is so important. It allows for accountability. When left alone, it would be very easy to drift away from God without even knowing that this was happening. It would be easy to cherish “hidden sins” without them ever being brought into the Light, to be challenged, rebuked and so destroyed. How important it is that we have each other, for how can you love God if you can’t love your brother as the Bible teaches us? Being part of “church” enables us to do this. And as we have been taught here from the beginning, “one stick you can break, a bundle you cannot.”!

    #8919
    Florence
    Participant

    It would be easy to cherish “hidden sins” without them ever being brought into the Light, to be challenged, rebuked and so destroyed. How important it is that we have each other, for how can you love God if you can’t love your brother as the Bible teaches us? Being part of “church” enables us to do this. And as we have been taught here from the beginning, “one stick you can break, a bundle you cannot.”!

    A Church can only be a true Church if it allows and fosters the spiritual growth of its members. Where there is enough Love to chasten, rebuke or correct with the motive to help someone maintain that necessary structure of Truth and Love, i.e reflect Principle, there is the right sense of Church, which is found here. This has always been one of the most important qualities of this Church, for those who are humble enough will take the correction and grow because uncovered error will not be ignored. Whereas other examples I have witnessed is the “talking behind peoples’ back which rather fastens the error on one and precludes the maintaining of one’s structure of Truth and Love.

    It is such an opportunity to be a part of a Church where there is enough care to be alerted when being distracted by error. It is also comforting that all are humbly working TOGETHER to best glorify God with what we have each been given to do; and are not afraid for the light to shine out what does not belong to any of God’s children here or anywhere.Thanks for this post!

    #8921
    JoanneF
    Participant

    Thank you, dear practitioners, for these two posts. And isn’t it interesting that we can’t claim to be “disciples” without discipline — the discipline of divine Truth and Love that is practiced here in this true sense of Church!

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Love is the liberator.