In the Christian Science Bible Lesson January 16, 2012 Issue

In Truth's courtroom

For the lesson titled "Truth" from January 16-22, 2012

By Nancy Fisher

Courtroom terminology abounds in this week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Truth.” How appropriate, as the aim of a justice system is to ascertain truth (fact; reality; that which is in exact accordance with what is). Besides discovering words related to “witnessing,” I loved finding other court terms—judgment, law, proof, accuse, convict, acquit, free, pardon, plead the case. 

To me, it boils down to the importance of discerning which witness we’re going to accept as valid—“the flesh” (Responsive Reading, John 8:15) or “the Spirit,” which the Golden Text states “is truth” (I John 5:6). Throughout the Lesson we discover that accepting Truth’s witness is life-sustaining, freeing, purifying, guiding, expansive, comforting, defending—and always healing. 

I challenged myself to look carefully at every example of “witnessing” in the Lesson—from the 21 times that actual word is used, to the many terms and phrases with similar meanings, such as attest, evidence, testimony, bear record, see. Then I’d look to see whether it was Truth or error that was being witnessed, and I’d note the results! 