Here it is, Christmas Eve Day, and much of our society is preparing for Christmas festivities—visiting family, gathering around meals, attending church services, and exchanging gifts.

And as pleasant as those activities and gifts can be, let’s not be swept up by them and forget that there are gifts far greater than these—gifts “…where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt…” (Matt. 6:20)

What are those?

The spiritual, imperishable, unassailable, immutable gift that Mary Baker Eddy brought to the world through her discovery and founding of Christian Science—the Comforter that Jesus foretold.

In the Preface to Science and Health (p. vii), she wrote:

The time for thinkers has come.

What a simple and direct statement!

Yet, it’s a statement that’s not only a spiritual observation, but, perhaps of greater import, is a command to each of us to think—to use the gifts of spiritual discernment, perception, and judgment that we all have been endowed with by our Maker.

Why are these so important?

Because they are gifts that lead us into more fully understanding what Christian Science is and what it isn’t.  Gifts whose absence would make it impossible to have the spiritual clarity so necessary to be the healers that God has anointed and appointed each of us to be.  Gifts that enable us to both become aware of and see through the lies of mortal existence and then bear witness to the real individual who is made in the image and likeness of God.  To the truth of being!

As Mrs. Eddy stated:

The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea, — perfect God and perfect man, — as the basis of thought and demonstration. (Science and Health, p. 259)

And it’s that Christlike understanding—that precious gift—which allows us to heal the sick and reform the sinner.  The gifts that bring salvation to a world so deeply and obviously in need of Christian Science.

And could any gift be greater than these?

Think about it.

Let me preface this post by saying that it’s unusually long for a blog, but given its topic, I hope you’ll hang in there until the conclusion.

Recently, I’ve been seeing an increase in online discussions on Christian Science about how Eastern religious systems and practices are similar and/or complementary to Christian Science.  One commenter had even gone so far as to say that any objections that Mary Baker Eddy had to Buddhist, Hindu, and other pagan and pantheistic philosophies were a result of her ignorance of the “true” nature of those systems.

For any thinking Christian Scientist, alarm bells should be ringing!

From all that we know of Mrs. Eddy, she was exceptionally detail-oriented, very well-read, examined all of the systems of her time, proved what she taught through first demonstrating it, and of greatest import, was the person who was inspired by God—not by mortal mind—to bring the Science of Christ to the world for humanity’s salvation.

Having been involved for 20 years in the in-depth study of and adherence to various Eastern and Western systems of esoterica prior to my first encounter with Christian Science, I can attest to the vast differences between these—the former being mortal mind’s aping of spirituality and God, and the latter being the Holy Comforter.

Put plainly: There are no similarities!

To search for such comparisons is a dangerous road that undermines the very fabric of demonstrating the blessings of Christian Science—of being able to be healed and having the ability to heal others.

Mrs. Eddy wrote in Science and Health (p. 464):

Adulterating Christian Science, makes it void.

Can it be any clearer than that!

Now, why then would some of our members—both young and old—try to make such false comparisons when the price to be paid is so great?

They simply are unaware that they’re being wrongly influenced.

By what?

By those very systems of Eastern thought they advocate!   Whenever Christian Science was mentioned or written about during the time I was engaged in those philosophies, it was spoken of as not only being similar to, but also virtually being the same.

But why would such claims be made?

In an attempt to validate and bolster the view that all of these systems (in which they included Christian Science) were the universal coming of the New Millennium—a Millennium in which each of these disparate strands of “spiritual” journeys and paths would eventually mingle to bring about the spiritual government of the world.

On the surface this may sound desirable and even a goal to be sought after.

But that’s on the surface.  Contrary to such a claim, it was nothing other than a subtle attempt by the carnal mind to mask the uniqueness of the Science of Christ by obscuring it in the fog—the mist of Genesis II—of these “isms.”

Mary Baker Eddy stated in her book The First Church of Christ of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany, p. 119:

Think not that Christian Science tends towards Buddhism or any other “ism.” Per contra, Christian Science destroys such tendency.

Think about it.  If Christian Science—the Science of being, the Science of divine metaphysical healing—destroys such tendency—and it does—can there be any real good in such systems since God, good, would never eradicate an iota of good?

Let me tell you about a radio interview that I had several years back that I think will illustrate these points.

I was one of two guests on a live 2-hour radio program.  The other guest was a former gynecologist who had become a nationally known practitioner of Siberian Shamanism.  The host, who conducted the non-stop back and forth discussion, had been a psychotherapist who had entered into New Age studies and had become a counselor and teacher of various energy-beliefs about the brain and chakras.  It was interesting to say the least!

Whenever I spoke about Christian Science and Christian Science prayer/treatment, the two of them would immediately respond that they do the same—even though the shaman had been talking about incense, sound therapy, incantations, and other very strange materially based rituals.  No matter what I said, they kept insisting on the same claim.  And whatever the shaman said, the host, who had been a patient of hers, fawned over.  To say that I was praying like mad to break this aggressive mesmerism would be an understatement!  Remember, it was not just the three of us—there was an entire audience out there in radio-land, too!

It came to me to relate a healing that I had in Christian Science of what appeared to be a cancerous growth in one of my eyelids.  As I spoke of my feeling and awareness of the all-encompassing presence of divine Love, of God, at the moment of that healing—and I felt that same power right while describing it to them—the host began to openly weep, so touched was her thought by the presence of the Christ.  From that point on, she no longer hung on every word of the shaman.  Instead she earnestly wanted to understand more about Christian Science.  She wanted more of that “cup of cold water” that Mrs. Eddy wrote about.  She was getting a deeper glimpse into the uniqueness of Christian Science!

Now do I believe that either of these individuals was consciously trying to undermine Christian Science?  I don’t think so, but that’s exactly the point.  They were mesmerized to such a degree by their beliefs that they simply couldn’t initially see the difference.  Yet that mesmerism—that blindness—was nonetheless extremely aggressive and convincing to them.

And this, dear friends, is something we can’t afford to ignore: namely, that those repetitive assertions of similarity would try to mesmerically influence Christian Scientists into accepting them.

Consider this: Billions of inhabitants on our planet are adherents to these various systems, each person living their life under the dictates of those philosophies, each expending considerable mental energy in their meditations and prayers which flood world thought with these false, yet no doubt heart-felt hypotheses and superstitions.

Could we actually be made to believe that if we’re not alert—if we’re not prayerfully standing sentinel at the door of thought—we wouldn’t be adversely affected by these silent suggestions of mortal thought towards those tendencies—the tendencies that Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, warned us about.  Of this we can be certain: There was no naiveté, blindness, or ignorance on her part.

And do we really want to take the position that the very claims made by some as to the supposed similarities, etc. are not the effect of such wrongful influences—contrary to Mary Baker Eddy’s writings?   Isn’t that exactly how mortal mind works—convincing us that its conclusions and observations are our own?

For those who would point to the ascending popularity of these various religions as a proof of a leavening of thought by the advent of Christian Science, I would ask: How can systems of thought which have preceded the founding of Christian Science by millennia and which are continuing to promote the same false concepts of God and man—concepts which continue to keep their devotees enslaved in those doctrines—have been leavened?  Where is the proof?  How can bread that has already been baked be leavened?  Isn’t this really animal magnetism’s hostility to the Christ being voiced in the popular thought instead?

Now lest anyone be confused here, let me state that I am not calling into question individuals, but rather the systems of thought which are the antithesis of Christian Science, which have proved for thousands of years to be destructive in so many ways, and which are exerting a wrongful influence.

Let me conclude with a passage from the reminiscences of Clara M. S. Shannon about Mrs. Eddy (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy-Expanded Edition, Vol. 2, p. 216):

She saw how error was trying subtly, through mental suggestion, to reach the thoughts of her students and other Scientists, and she saw how necessary it was to open their eyes to what was being done, and one of the things she wanted to impress on them was the necessity to study Science and Health daily and thoroughly and to abide in the truth in that book.

Clearly, advice that we each need to take seriously—if we don’t want to lose our way!

“Prayed up” is an expression that I’ve heard for years from a variety of Christian Scientists on numerous occasions.  It’s often used in a phrase such as: “I was so grateful that I was all prayed up because things went so well at the meeting, etc.”

And perhaps, it’s one that you’ve used yourself from time to time.

But did you know that try as you might, you’re not going to find that phrase in any of Mary Baker Eddy’s writings.

Why?

Because it flies in the face of the Apostle Paul’s inspired admonition to “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17)

How so?

Because being “prayed up” indicates a finite sense of prayer—like topping off your gas tank in your car before a trip.  Or a bank account of prayer in which you make deposits and withdrawals.

It, however, is not unceasing prayer!

“But,” you might be thinking, “Paul’s injunction is not really practical today in our modern, fast-paced world with so many things vying for our time and attention.  How could we expect to even begin to accomplish such a demand?”

Well, by striving to keep our thought focused on God—what He knows to be true about each and every one of us.  By listening to the “still small voice”—the voice of divine Love—directing our every thought and action.  By being obedient to what infinite Principle is imparting to us.

By realizing that there is only One Mind—God—not many minds.

And doing so is eminently practical.  I’ve seen time and again how consistently endeavoring to realize and express the allness of God and applying the truths of Christian Science in my daily activities has brought healing to my life and to those who have needed my help.

On pages 4 and 15 respectively of Science and Health you’ll find these two statements:

The habitual struggle to be always good is unceasing prayer.

AND

Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers.

There it is!  The author has shown us exactly how to pray without ceasing!

But could this in any conceivable way mean that we don’t need to regularly pray and give treatments?  Of course not, but it does mean that we certainly can achieve what Paul, Mrs. Eddy—and of greatest import—God requires of us.

If we want to be the healers that God has ordained, anointed, and appointed us to be, then we dare not accept those arguments that the carnal mind presents to us about the impracticality and impossibility of actually being able to pray without ceasing.

In her Miscellaneous Writings (p.356), Mrs. Eddy stated:

Cherish humility, “watch,” and “pray without ceasing,” or you will miss the way of Truth and Love.

And that’s a way not to be missed!