Discovered, not invented

Occasionally inquirers think that Mary Baker Eddy inventedm Christian Science. They suppose that it's a fleeting religion. nothing could be further from the truth. Mrs. Eddy explains: "Divine Science derives its sanction from the Bible, and the divine origin of Science is demonstrated through the holy influence of Truth in healing sickness and sin. This healing power of Truth must have been far anterior to the period in which Jesus lived. It is an ancient as 'the Ancient of days.' It lives through all Life, and extends throughout all space." n1

n1 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 146

An analogy helps illustrate this point: Why didn't anyone talk on the telephone in the Middle Ages? Have the laws governing the physical universe changed since then? Have we invented a new law?

Obviously, the answer is no.

The laws that enabled natural scientists to harness physical elements for the instrument we call the telephone have always existed. But humanity has not always been aware of these laws, nor of practical ways of implementing them. When consciosness caught up, the goal was achieved.

This is analogous to what has happened in regard to the Science of Christ.

Spiritual laws -- God's laws, the laws of Truth, Life and Love -- have always existed. They were here before Jesus walked the earth. They were here before the prophets, before the patriarchs. But humanity hasn't always been sufficiently aware of their existence to recognize their importance, their practicality, or their healing results.

Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and above all Christ Jesus possessed this consciousness God's laws and brought about startling proofs of His power. These proofs were possible because Truth has always has been true. But understanding Truth -- and living it -- was, and is, required to prove its presence. Christ Jesus promised, "IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." n2

n2 John 8:31, 32

In the nineteenth century Mrs. Eddy, a New England woman, recognized the already-existing laws of Truth and grasped something of their unique power to heal. Through this glimpse, she herself was cured of a serious injury and was soon healing others and teaching them to heal. She named her discovery of this already-existing law of good "Christian Science."

Mrs. Eddy's writings, which spring in large part from the spiritual sense of Biblical truths, invent nothing. Rather, they spell out the implications of the revelation that came to her of what God is and of what an understanding of His nature signifies for human experience. These writings are practical and inspiring. But it requires spiritual sense to discern and begin to prove their healing impact.

Each one must, in a sense, discover the Science of Christ for himself. No one can do the whole job for us. Do we long to know God? Are we willing to study the inspired themes of the Bible and search for its deep, healing significance? are we proving today whatever little we now know of God's goodness and power? Do we yearn to follow the Way-shower, Christ Jesus, as far as we comprehend him? By cultivating these desires, we grow in vision. The reality of the spiritual will become clearer and the powerlessness of the material more apparent. A step at a time, we catch up with the truth stated by Mrs. Eddy: "Christian Science is the new- old Christianity, that which was and is the revelation of divine Love.' n3

n3 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,m p. 301

DAILY BIBLE VERSE Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119:33, 34