Admitting we are Christian
Almost a year ago, on February 28, 2020, Eric Metaxas interviewed Peter Thiel on his podcast Socrates in the City. Mr. Thiel is the author of Zero to One.
Thiel confirms he is Christian. Metaxas quotes him from a 2011 interview in The New Yorker when Thiel said, "I believe Christianity to be true. I do not feel a compelling need to convince other people of that." Metaxas questions this statement due to the fact that anyone who is Christian would also naturally feel the compulsion to share and spread Christianity. Thiel admits it was not his best wording, but explains that in New York City simply saying you are Christian is enough courage for people to have today.
In speaking with others throughout the States they confirm for me this sentiment, -- that in a liberal aethistic society (we may simply call it a post-Christian era) -- simply admitting one's Christianity takes a lot of spiritual strength.
No doubt we are not in Diocletian's era of the Roman Empire, but admitedly there appears to be a crusade against Christian ethos, which each reader can thinkingly recall for himself.
This not being the first time Christians have been called to battle to fight for the promised Messiah, it won't be the last either. But while in the midst we may ask ourselves what is our duty to Christianity?
Christian Science itself is often criticized for not being Christian. Then add the word Science and eyes begin to cross or worse, roll. So, let's stop here for a moment and take these two words in light of what they mean to today's world.
To be Christian is to follow in the footsteps of Christ's Christianity. What are those footsteps? Above and beyond the human desire and ability to love others, express kindness and patience, is the demand to do the works. These works are uniquely Christian as evidenced throughout the New Testament. Many call them "miracles". Christian Science classifies them as "divinely natural." So, followership of Christ Jesus includes demonstration of the works. It also requires the willingness and ability to take up the cross. Christianity isn't only about peace and comfort. More often than not it is about striving to implement the teachings of Christ Jesus in our every action. Taking up the cross, facing evil with God, Truth, is Jesus' method.
Science is added to the term Christian because Christ Jesus demonstrated through his works a consistent principle. He taught his disciples this principle throughout his career. This "principle" is the basis of the works and results in divine law being made evident in human lives. This scientific Christian practice unites, then, the two words Christian and Science.
The author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy notes: "The two largest words in the vocabulary of thought are “Christian” and “Science.” The former is the highest style of man; the latter reveals and interprets God and man; it aggregates, amplifies, unfolds, and expresses the ALL-God. The life of Christ is the predicate and postulate of all that I teach, and there is but one standard statement, one rule, and one Principle for all scientific truth (No and Yes, p. 10:6)."
One standard statement. One standard rule. One standard Principle.
But, there's more.
Scientific Christianity, scientific truth, isn't just for Jesus and his disciples. Anything that is scientific, provable, based on a principle, can be and is proved throughout centuries, because it is based on law.
Mrs. Eddy puts it this way: "Christ's Christianity is the chain of scientific being reappearing in all ages, maintaining its obvious correspondence with the Scriptures and uniting all periods in the design of God"(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 271:1–5).
The design of God is His law to govern all. This period today is also under the control and government of God and His law. It is this law that, as Christians, we appeal to during tumultuous times. And, it is this law that defends, protects, and governs.
Now back to the question: What is our duty to Christianity?
Wouldn't it be to follow Christ Jesus in every aspect? Wouldn't it mean to heal through the same divine principle as well as to take up the cross?
True Christianity is not cheap grace. That is, there is a cross we face. It is the cross of standing with the Founder of Christianity, Christ Jesus. Our standing with and following of his words and works is the only thing that makes us true Christians. Our obedience to his words and the demonstration of similar works is the inner admitance of our genuine scientific Christianity.
True followership of Christ Jesus in word and deed, in truth and grace, is the highest post one can obtain. It comes with "signs following", which many cannot yet understand.
Sarah Bagley's journal of Janury 21, 1887 notes: "There is a class who seem to be religious but who are unwilling to look much to Christ; they wish to come at one with the Infinite, with no mediator, no intercessor. That is all right, but to me it is much easier to acknowledge a leader. As the little child reaches for the hand of the elder brother to lead it into the right path to direct its steps, and support it admid trials, so we look to Jesus to show us the way to guide our steps, to support and console us, and to direct our footsteps to that house of many mansions prepared for us from the foundation of the world. If we tread a rough and thorny road, we know that he has preceeded us. If we find our cross heavy to bear, we know that his was much heavier. If we find the sweat starting from our brows, at the hardness of our tasks, we know that his agony was so great that his sweat was red with his blood, and our tasks are better borne, and our toils lightened by the thought that his sympathies are with us, that his trials exceeded ours, inasmuch as his nature was larger and superior to ours" (The History of a House, Mary Beecher Longyear, pg 57-58).
While we may not be screaming from the housetops of our religious stance, may we not be quietly, substantially, and with courage and humility take up the cross and do the works of Christ Jesus as taught and explained through the teachings of Christian Science?
Admit that we are Christian? You bet! Through healing show that we are Christian? Most definitely! In our humble lives, our quiet homes, our contemplative walks we can grow spiritually to prove that "True Christianity is to be honored wherever found,... 'And these signs shall follow them that believe; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover'" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 359:18.
"Christianity is the basis of true healing."(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 192:29–30)
Hymn 18 encourages us to be firm. If you'd like to hear it please call me so I can direct you to it!
