Editorial June 19, 1915 Issue

Truth the Foundation

John B. Willis

The well known adage "Physician, heal thyself," expresses a thought of peculiar pertinence to all professing Christian Scientists. It speaks for the imperative requirement that they exhibit the genuineness, exemplariness, consistency, and efficiency which, as they aver, are the true tests of the practical worth of their idea, and which rebuke the cant and professional palaver that in the world's opinion characterizes the output of some religionists. If we are not taking our own medicine, and reaping therefrom results which are distinctly noticeable in a healthier, purer, more unselfish, more trustworthy, and more loving life, then we are sure to be accounted "liars," in frank estimate, because we are not only disappointing legitimate expectations, but are dishonoring our pledges. "Be ye . . . followers of God" is the supreme urgency of Christian Science, and "every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power" (Science and Health, p. 233).

To take heed unto our ways is therefore vitally important, and yet not more so than that we remember the tremendous fact to which Mrs. Eddy calls attention on the first page of the Preface of Science and Health, viz., that Truth is independent of doctrines and systems, of imperfect concepts, and especially of sadly imperfect human living. Whatever our sense of unworthiness and self-depreciation, we must not let awareness of this fact blanket our confidence in and our readiness to declare the great unquestioned truths of being. That thought is to be Truth-centered and not self-centered is indicated in the Master's wondrous words, "I can of mine own self do nothing." Moses was in a very unideal state of mind, out of sorts with the complaining people if not with himself, when he smote the rock in the wilderness; nevertheless, though he paid to the last farthing the penalty of his unworthiness, the water of which there was such famishing need gushed forth.

If our freedom to declare and our capacity to do for God were dependent upon and determined by our sense of human selfhood, our feelings or mental states, our consciousness of worthiness or unworthiness, then our ministry would be meager indeed. Happily, the imperfection of the avenues of its expression does not affect the nature and redemptive power of divine Truth in itself, as St. Paul clearly indicated when he wrote, "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; . . . notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice."

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