Spiritual Medicine

By Christine Driessen, CSB

IMAGINE GROWING UP as a child without fear, free to push beyond limitations, having complete confidence that God, being divine, all-powerful, ever-present Love, is always there to protect us and that suffering is not God's will. And then imagine this confidence being played out in immediate healings through my own prayers-at age seven, after falling on my glass jar of spiders, which broke into many pieces; at age eight, when I was stung by a swarm of bees one summer at Girl Scout camp; and at age ten, when someone accidentally poured a boiling liquid on my leg. Each time through prayer in Christian Science, the pain disappeared immediately and a complete healing followed just as quickly. It doesn't get any better than that!

The reason, I feel, that Christian Science enables us to live free of suffering is because it teaches that health is the natural state of God's creation.

My family has relied exclusively on scientific prayer in Christian Science for four generations-ever since the early 1900s. In my own life-which has included competitive sports, performing as a professional ballet dancer, and traveling in areas rife with unsanitary conditions-I've never taken medicine, drugs, or vitamins, or had surgery. The reason, I feel, that Christian Science enables us to live free of suffering is because it teaches that health is the natural state of God's creation-for each of us, irrespective of gender, race, age, or religious background, or even if someone has no religion. The Bible assures us that His creation is complete-nothing can be added to it (no sickness or disease), nor anything taken from it (harmonious functioning and movement) (see Eccl. 3:14). And Christian Science not only heals physical challenges, but perhaps even more important, as a mother, I'm grateful for the preventive aspect of this Science-the exemption from contagion, false influences, and harm that the knowledge of God's infinite care makes possible.

It is difficult to adequately describe the gratitude I feel for the contribution of Mary Baker Eddy, who wrote the definitive textbook on scientific healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. She discovered that prayer is not blind faith, guesswork, or mystery, but can be scientifically certain when it's based on divine laws that have always existed and continuously maintain all creation in perfect harmony. She discerned this scientific basis for the Science of Mind-healing in the Bible, starting with the first chapter of Genesis, which explains that man and woman were created and blessed by God, Spirit, and that everything He made was good. Matter-based treatments begin with the premise that disease and discord are natural and inevitable. The Bible, on the other hand, reveals from beginning to end that Spirit maintains its perfect creation and that God's work never deteriorates, becomes diseased, or dies, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction" ( Ps. 103:2-4). And Paul affirmed, "In him we live, and move, and have our being" ( Acts 17:28).

When Jesus was asked if he were the promised Saviour, he answered with his record of healing sickness and disease (see Luke 7:19-22)-acute and chronic, contagious, hereditary, congenital, long-standing, terminal. But Jesus was quick to explain that the healing power was neither personal nor physical. He said: "I can do nothing on my own .... It is the spirit that gives life" (John 5:30, 6:63 New Revised Standard Version). Jesus taught that anyone who followed his teaching would be able to heal just as he did and would even do greater works. What is at the heart of his teachings? Jesus summarized it in two commandments: 1) love, trust, obey, yield to Spirit alone as the only power and creator; and 2) love your neighbor as yourself-as God loves you, His perfect beloved children whom He cares for. (See Matt. 22:36-40.)

Mary Baker Eddy's discovery of Christian Science affords everyone access to the understanding of the divine Principle, Love, which enabled Jesus' healing work. Science and Health states, "God being All-in-all, He made medicine; but that medicine was Mind" ( p. 142). That's another reason I've chosen to rely exclusively on prayer in Christian Science-it's always available no matter where I am-whether traveling in Africa, hiking in mountains, or on a transcontinental flight. God's healing power is always present because infinite divine Love fills all space. And it's immediate-no paperwork to fill out, no waiting to get God's ear or to hear His loving, healing messages. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is: "God is ... a very present help introuble. Therefore will not we fear" ( Ps. 46:1, 2).

Since each one of us was made in the divine image and likeness, no one can ever be separated from the healing power of the Christ. None can be too young or too old, too distant or too far gone, to know and feel its saving presence. It's the most effective form of healthcare you'll ever find!

Join us for a lecture by Christine in Calgary, April 21 and 22, 2012.

Testimonies of Healing

Chronic fatigue and food allergies overcome

Shoulder injury healed

Healing of Depression

More accounts of healing

Online Lectures

How relying on God brings healing (57 minutes)