Editorial August 17, 1912 Issue

EFFECTIVE DENIAL

John B. Willis

There are not a few of those unacquainted with the teaching of Christian Science who are disposed to refer to its so-called "denials of fact" in terms designed to amuse their hearers. In their uninformed and therefore prejudiced opinion, it amounts to a silly repetition of words, or a more silly disposition to refuse to recognize actualities, and they sometimes, in their discussion of the subject, give expression to a sense of patronizing pity.

Among those who have indulged in this "gentle raillery" are not a few ministers, who are or ought to be familiar with one of St. Paul's much-in-little phrases in which he counsels Titus and all others to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts," a phrase which evidences that he thought this spiritual activity no less sanely Christian than important. No student of the life of this "great apostle" can fail to realize that the dominant note of his character and teaching was positive, and that the denial which he commends is the fruitage of this positiveness. To say, "I don't believe it," or "It isn't so," may signify nothing more than a skeptical or negative state of mind; it has no corrective or healing power whatever. The only denial of error which counts is that which expresses a mandate of Truth.

On page 113 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "Life, God, omnipotent good, deny death, evil, sin, disease." The realization and declaration of the truth of being is the ever-present though perchance unspoken ground of every true denial, and this relation of truth to the negativing of error is familiar to us all. The teacher's condemnation of faulty work is but the pronouncement of the decree of demonstrated propositions, the true concept established in his understanding. The decision of a judge or his denial of an appeal is but a delivery of the statutes, and neither teacher nor judge can speak with any hope of commanding respect or obedience unless he thus voices an unquestionable authority.

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