Article April 28, 1980 Issue

"Hold crime in check"

RICHARD CLAUDE HAW

Are we doing it? Mrs. Eddy expected us to. She wrote of the mental fermentation caused by Truth destroying error: "During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection."^{Science and Health, pp. 96–97;}

How do we go about this duty? First, we make sure we don't become part of the problem by participating in the public's general belief in crime, violence, terrorism, immorality, and so on. Evil is simply false thought manifested, and the only way it can subsist is through human acceptance of it. In the Bible we read, "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers."^{Ps. 50:18;}

Christ Jesus said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness."^{Mark 7:21, 22;} What a tremendous responsibility this insight places on each of us not to add to evil's mental impulses by giving reality to such thoughts—or actions! There is but one way to deal with evil: reduce it in our own thoughts and lives to nothingness, on the basis that God, divine Mind, is the only intelligence and power. When we do our part, evil, or crime, has less power the world over.