2) Feeling of resistance
2.There are a lot of fundamental Christian groups that are against Christian Science.
Just agree to disagree. Sometimes you’ll find folks are bent on making the material spiritual. Some see the Bible as a historical book and not as the nexus of God’s revelation to humanity through faith and understanding.
Understand that as a reader of the Bible Lesson, you know the Bible. Don’t let yourself get wrapped up in debates. Seize the high ground. As stated in the Bible, “worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” (John 4)
Get familiar with the Gospels, especially Luke and John. Don’t worry about what you say or don’t say; trust it all to the glory of God. It takes you out of the equation and puts it where it all belongs—to Him.
There is a lot of misinformation about Christian Science on college campuses today, even in the classroom. One of the best ways to respond is by sponsoring a lecture directly in a religion classroom. By doing this, you are providing answers to some rather serious questions that are on the minds of many. You are bringing “a true and just reply to public topics condemning Christian Science.” (That’s a quote from the Church Manual [p. 93] describing just what a lecture is supposed to do!) This “condemnation” comes from both fundamentalist Christianity as well as more liberal Christianity, although in different forms.
Lecturers with backgrounds in Christian history can address the root of this misinformation and concurrently enable Christian Scientists on campus to be better understood and respected. And the best part of a classroom lecture is that the academic community has been given an opportunity to dismantle the ugly teachings handed down through decades, and to hear the genuine blessings of Christian Science.
The CSO at Miami University (Ohio) put table tents up in the dining area announcing a lecture. Members of some Christian groups showed up to the lecture and waited for the Q&A period to attack Christian Science as not being Christian. The discussion went on for another hour and a half. Some of them left sure they were right, but most stayed and gradually what won out was a deep sense of our common love of Christ Jesus and yearning to follow the direction of the Sermon on the Mount. CSO members and those from other groups left with hugs and kind words, “God bless!”
Dave Stevens, CSB, California, USA Alum, Harvard U. and Principia College CSOs —I would encourage you to engage. Challenge the unnatural reluctance to reach out. Instead of resistance you might find yourself making connections and developing friendships that could last a lifetime. This is one of the best ways of destroying stereotypes of both Christian Science and Christian fundamentalism.
“When the heart speaks, however simple the words, its language is always acceptable to those who have hearts”. (Miscellaneous Writings, p.262)
