The Greatest Tradition of All
The Los Angeles Times recently reported: "With almost no fanfare, the United States is experiencing its most dramatic religious transformation in this century. What has been a nation steeped in the Judeo-Christian tradition is fast becoming the most spiritually diverse country in the world."
Greater religious pluralism is evident in many parts of the world. How significant, then, that the Bible teaches that we are all the children of God, created in His image. The woman who discovered Christian Science termed God "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Pg. 587).
Traditions often bind a people together, preserving a treasured past and ensuring continuity in the future. Many people would agree that the greatest tradition humankind has ever known is one passed along through time immemorial - belief and faith in a Supreme Being. Over the centuries, prayer based on such faith has wrought deliverance and salvation, and has traditionally preceded important human undertakings.
The Times article quoted one woman as saying, "I think there is no one religion. Spirituality comes from the heart." It is good to accept the relationship we have to each other through God. The understanding of our shared spiritual heritage opens the way to the healing of misunderstanding, while at the same time preserving all that is good in the precious diversity of God's people.
Jesus Christ showed humanity that God-given spirituality is universal. Jesus stands in history as an important link between the human and the divine. He showed God to be divine Spirit, to be a wholly loving God who has never brought disaster, sickness, or death to humanity. Christian Science explains that the healing works of Jesus came about because he understood each individual to be made in the likeness of God, wholly spiritual and good.
He expected others, past and present, to follow his example of healing. He said: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:15, 17, 18).
Spiritual healing is a tradition carried on to this day, through understanding how Jesus practiced God's healing law. Science and Health states: "First in the list of Christian duties, he [Jesus] taught his followers the healing power of Truth and Love. He attached no importance to dead ceremonies. It is the living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes Jesus 'the resurrection and the life' to all who follow him in deed" (Pg. 31). This healing power of Truth is available for anyone to practice.
My husband and I brought up our family of five children, relying on the laws of God, as explained in Science and Health, for physical healing. Here's one example. One of our sons suddenly lost the use of his legs one day when he was young. At bedtime we had to carry him up the stairs. Together, we prayed for him. After he had fallen asleep, I found myself praying for quite a length of time - thanking God for creating His children perfect and for preserving their spiritual perfection. I had learned that God is the only true cause and that His effect is always like Him, good. God's loving nature would never allow this child to be afflicted.
In the morning our son was up and active, totally unmindful of the condition of the previous day. To our grateful family this was not unusual; it was but one of the many proofs we had experienced of God's care for His children.
The Science of Christ speaks to anyone's spiritual hunger and thirst for the things of God. It satisfies those who want to carry on what I'd call the most important tradition of all - that of relying wholeheartedly on God for guidance and well-being.
The Christian Science Journal, a monthly magazine, contains in-depth articles on Christian Science.
