Steve Henn - The Christian Science Journal March 2006
What do I want to think of when I think of Church? It’s a simple equation, really: Church = joy.
Seriousness doesn’t speak to me-I guess because in my mind, it relates to fear. And that’s what I’ve asked myself a lot with regard to Church: Why on earth do we take Church so seriously? Why do we seem to take these ideas, this Science of Christianity, so seriously? What are we afraid of? Are we afraid if we don’t, if we don’t guard it and protect it, that we’ll lose it? What do we think is going to happen?
Christian Science is a Science, and as with any science, it’s important to know what the truth really is, or we can’t prove it. But being overly serious about this Science of Love seems counterproductive; it removes the childlikeness that I think both Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy saw as so valuable to our practice.
The Bible says, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 1 And that’s just it. The kingdom-all God’s goodness, all His love-is a gift to us, the gift of divine Love. Imagine that! There is nothing I can gain by being more serious, because that kingdom just is. It’s mine. Right now. And it’s being given to me as a gift! That alone fills me with joy. And that’s the joy I see as being at the heart of what Church really is.
If I want something in my life, I have to bring it out in my life rather than waiting for it to come to me from somewhere “out there.” If I want to experience love, joy, and playfulness in Church, I can’t wait for Church to bring those to me; I need to be a powerful witness for love and joy right in the midst of whatever Church seems to be. Church is not a gas station. We don’t go in empty and walk out filled. We are filled. That’s the kingdom of God within that Jesus talked about2-the kingdom that we bring to Church.
We want healing in our churches? Love? Then we’ve got to start with the fact that we are already filled-right here, right now. Even if we don’t always feel it or believe it. Because when we walk into church even just with a simple desire to be a witness to God’s goodness, church becomes alive and vibrant. And we find healing. And joy!
1 Luke 12:32. 2 See Luke 17:21.