Article February 21, 1914 Issue

True Conversion

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK

"True conversion does not consist in being turned from one set of opinions to another, but in being turned from darkness unto light." The author of this quotation voiced no uncertain sentiment. He was evidently not in sympathy with the prevalent theory that the mere profession of belief in a certain creed and the uniting with a church constitute conversion. He knew that the thoughts and intents of the human heart must be reckoned with; that there must be a turning from the opinions of men to the spiritual knowing or understanding of God and His laws before true conversion can be experienced.

Turning from darkness to light involves practical repentance and radical reformation, both of which lie wholly within the realm of consciousness. Without a change of thought there is no repentance and no reformation. In the light of Christian Science this change of thought comprehends vastly more than many people imagine. Our revered Leader says (Science and Health, p. 272): "It is the spiritualization of thought and Christianization of daily life, in contrast with the results of the ghastly farce of material existence; it is chastity and purity, in contrast with the downward tendencies and earthward gravitation of sensualism and impurity, which really attest the divine origin and operation of Christian Science." It will thus be seen that it is not the voluntary or involuntary exchange of one human thought for another human thought, for this is not overcoming, and where there is no overcoming of evil with good there is no genuine repentance. Simply thinking and declaring that one is not sick when he feels that he is sick, is neither Christian nor scientific, because such a process involves no repentance or reformation, consequently no conversion. Trying to think and to declare that one is not a sinner when he knows that he is sinning, is still more erroneous, and if persisted in would be fatal to one's happiness and success.

Christian Science means vastly more than the forsaking of one human belief for another, else it would be powerless to prove its divine origin in healing disease and sin. A mere proselyte who outwardly turns away from one church to unite with another denomination, may experience no radical change of heart. He may even profess belief in Christian Science without any adequate grasp of the healing power of divine Love. Moreover, to discontinue the taking of medicine does not constitute one a Christian Scientist, and no outward observance or form will make him one. Reformation lies within human consciousness. How to purify finite consciousness is the problem confronting every would-be Christian. This alone leads to true conversion or redemption through Christ, Truth. Believing in the actuality of sickness and sin while trying to believe in the reality of their opposites, health and holiness, has signally failed to Christianize humanity.

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