What you need to know about Christian Science

Paradza Kudyakwenzaea: My Perspective
IT would be impossible to encapsulate all of Christian Science in a short article. I think the best short answer I could give is one of my own personal experience.
I used spectacles for 16 years. Without them I could not enjoy the beauty of the horizon but only ugly shades of gray.
However, when I was introduced to Christian Science 14 years ago, and learnt for the first time that I was made in the image and likeness of God – a perfect idea, a blameless creation of God – my sight was restored!

In the eyes of God I will always see.
Christian Science is a religion based on the words and works of Christ Jesus. It draws its authority from the Bible, and its teaching is set forth in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of the Christian Science movement.

She writes, “In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or the divine laws of Life, Truth and Love, and named her discovery Christian Science.”

The question “What is Christian Science?” is answered fully by demonstration, that is healing physical diseases, discord in society, in families and sin. Christian living can be applied in the workplace, in business and in any sphere of one’s life.

A distinctive part of Christian Science is its healing by spiritual means alone. Christ Jesus instructed all his followers throughout all time that his doctrine is from above; – God’s laws of Life, Truth and Love.

Jesus stated that it was not him doing the work but rather his Father in heaven. He who believes and is baptised – purified by the doctrine from above (the Truth that sets free), will be saved.

And these signs must follow those who spiritually understand the gospel by demonstration.
In My Name (those who live by Christ’s nature, His way of life, those who can append the Christly nature will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues. (Mark 16:15-17)

Christ taught his disciples the healing efficacy of this Christ Science. These same healing principles are available today for all mankind in our textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”.

According to Eddy, “No scholarly intelligence is requisite in the learner, but sound morals are most desirable … The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus’ time, from the operation of divine Principle (Almighty God), before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation.

“Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the signs of Emmanuel, or ‘God with us,’- a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime, ‘To preach deliverance to the captives (of sense), And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised'” (Luke 4:18)

The Way Shower taught, “I say unto you, he that believeth on Me (Christ, the Word of God) the works that I do must he do also; and greater works than these must he do; because I go to my Father.” (John 14:12)

Our Master showed, how to heal by demonstrating man’s unity with God. Christ Jesus never used material means of any sort to heal.

Eddy states, “Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realised … If you fail to succeed in any case (in healing), it is because you have not demonstrated the life of Christ, truth, more in your own life, – because you have not obeyed the rule and proved the principle of divine Science.”

Christ often sent the disciples to heal, and every time they returned with the joy of success. Paul who was not a direct disciple of Jesus healed in the same manner. Peter’s constant capacity to understand God enabled him to heal effortlessly and instantly.

When raising Lazarus from sleep Jesus says, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me, And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people standing by I said this, that they may believe that your sent Me (the Word of God).”

To them that are acquainted with God, healing is no longer a miracle or supernatural act because, they know that God heals through them that are obedient, therefor, healing becomes supremely natural.

The healing ministry of Christian Science is clear proof of the natural effects which results in drawing closer to God by listening and following Christ Jesus’ commandments. The superiority of spiritual power over the sensuous (revealed in the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations) is the central point of Christian Science.

The term Christian Science was introduced by Eddy the discoverer, to designate the scientific system of divine healing.
Note that Christian Science is not Scientology and the two have nothing in common.

Paradzai Kudyakwenzara is in the media relations department at Christian Science Committee on Publications for Zimbabwe