Myrtle's Theology of Healing

The following is an analysis of Myrtle Fillmore’s theology of healing:

Scripture

Myrtle studied the Four Gospels, and is said to have read them meticulously, especially studying the words of Jesus Christ concerning healing.  She read and re-read from John:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do

the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do,

because I go to the Father.”

And from Mark:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that

you receive it, and you will.”

And John:

“Do you want to be healed?”

For Myrtle, the Bible would become the guidebook to uncovering Truth and she references the following Bible verses in her writings on healing:

Jesus says, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your

Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:8). 

Paul says, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God… glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). 

She believed that God’s work of restoration never ceases its activity in us and that God seeks always to restore harmony, strength, life, and wholeness in that which He has created.   The Father within is saying “be thou perfect.”

Tradition

Myrtle’s parents, Marcus and Lucy Page were deeply religious and were faithful Methodist.  Myrtle never became a member of her parents’ church; she found much of the doctrine unacceptable in her own life and instead affirmed the truth her soul could accept about Methodism and quietly denied that part she could not accept.  However, she did appreciate the services in the Methodist church she attended, and in fact, as an adult, she fondly recalled her Methodist experience.  Writing to a friend she said, “I know my life must express many of the splendid ideas embodied in the Methodist faith.  And I always have a warm spot in my heart for all Methodist people.”  [See, Myrtle Fillmore Mother of Unity, p. 5]

Myrtle was of the belief that all religious orders should work together for the common purpose of oneness with God.  She studied Christian Science and read religious literature from both East and West and consequently, “Practical Christianity” was developed.  Practical Christianity was not Orthodox Christianity, Christian Science, Spiritualism, Theosophy, nor any of the systems of religion or doctrine formulated by man, but was instead the correct interpretation of the teachings of Jesus.  This shaped her approach to healing.

Her approach to healing was in accordance with the threefold health law: spiritual, keeping a person assured of his God given freedom from all anxiety, worry, fear and lack; mental, giving him the intelligence that enables him to do that which promotes health and success; physical, forming those habits which keep him making the right use of his faculties and powers and the life energy and substance.

Experience

According to Myrtle, the best way to help someone is to pray for them to be spiritually illumed.  The greatest help is to be able to show others how they may help themselves and become self-supporting and resourceful. 

She often cautioned individuals to not let the opinion of any doctor cause them to waver in the least.  God, she said is the health of His people, and He is your health.  “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10).  “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Ex. 15:26 KJV)

Myrtle spoke from experience when letter writers complained that they had tried, and prayed repeatedly without any results.  She understood their feelings and comforted them.  She too had prayed for most of her life, and even though she was always a religious person, yet she was sick, and in the 1880s, sick unto death.  Myrtle said, “As I gained real poise and the ability to keep my thoughts and feelings truly free, I was healed and restored to strength, and normal functioning.”  [See, Myrtle Fillmore Mother of Unity, p. 92]

From a young age Myrtle was dedicated to helping build a world where people would not crystalize and stagnate or get stale and stiff.  She envisioned a world that would be alive. 

As a young girl, Myrtle had a dream which at the time meant little to her, but as her healing was complete and her future assured, it meant the world to her.  She says, “And over the ledge of rock came pouring a regular Niagara.  I had to get back further into the woods, away from the spray.  It ceased when the bed was filled.  As I stood looking at the clear water of the stream, beautiful flowers sprang up.  This is one of my many dreams, the meaning of which was to be made plain afterwards, although at the time Scripture verses came to me about the rock of salvation and the waters of life.”  [See, Myrtle Fillmore Mother of Unity, p. 40]

Reflection

Myrtle was convinced that the key to her success was faith in the healing power of God within.   She believed that the only way to abide in cosmic consciousness is to develop Christ consciousness, which is the key that will open the kingdom, and give Christ mastery. 

When Myrtle began her healing work, her primary concern was on enabling individuals to overcome their physical and psychological ailments and return to good health.  However, she soon came to the realization that physical healing was only one aspect of the work.  The real goal was advancing the spiritual development of the patient. 

Following is an excerpt from Neal Vahle’s Myrtle Fillmore Lighting the Way, p. 48 in which she describes her attitude toward healing when she first began practicing, and how her viewpoint has evolved:

“At that time healing seemed the most important thing in life to me.  I loved seeing folks get well and happy.  I do yet, but I have learned that the spiritual awakening and the daily development of Christ powers are more important.  The soul must be awakened and brought to a realization of the Truth, and encouraged in the righteous use of all the God-given faculties and powers.  The individual must be helped to unify his spirit, soul, and body in harmonious spiritual living here and now.”

Myrtle cautioned those who thought that they will get better results if they are treated by an individual healer.  She said it was her experience that the healing averages higher where cases are handled from an impersonal standpoint.  There is good reason for this -- the work is not done by the healer, but by the Spirit of Truth, where both patient and helper forget self and center all power in the Great Supreme; consciousness is raised to a higher plane and the result -- Divine.