Article February 28, 1914 Issue

As a Man Thinketh

SAMUEL GREENWOOD

To one accustomed to view existence from a purely material standpoint, it may seem that Christian Science lays undue emphasis upon what one thinks; but when it is remembered that nothing can enter human experience except through some medium of thought, this objection should vanish. We have not been educated to find the connection, or even to look for it, between our thought–processes and our moral or physical conditions; but that the connection is there is as certain as that mathematical figures do not adjust themselves of their own accord. Mrs. Eddy clearly understood this, and taught Christian Scientists to look into the so–called human mind, instead of into matter, for the cause of disease and discord, and to the divine Mind, or a divine mode of thinking, for their cure. Throughout the Christian Science text–book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she urges mortals to improve their thoughts. She writes: "Stand porter at the door of thought. ... Exclude from mortal mind the offending errors; then the body cannot suffer from them." Again, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts" (pp. 392, 261).

The supposition that man is governed by material conditions, irrespective of his mental state, would leave Mind out of the universe and make man the victim of chance. The theory that life is a series of adventures and misadventures is but the attempt on the part of mortals to shirk the responsibility for their wrong thinking. The fact that nothing happens without an antecedent, shows how important it is that the thought which precedes action or experience shall be good and worthy. St. Paul evidently had this in view when he counseled the Philippians to think of good, pure, and virtuous things; and to have the same Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus." The apostle's injunction naturally means that we should be found having the same things in mind that Jesus had, or, in other words, should think the same things. The logical inference from New Testament teaching would seem to be, that the distinguishing mark of Christians lies in their having this Christ–mind; and in the degree that they have this Mind they will manifest the Christ–life and the Christ–power. Every person can picture to himself the effect upon his life and conduct of always having the same things in mind that Jesus had, the same thought regarding God and man; and the background of this mental picture is the fact that the capacity to think good thoughts is always present with him.

It is plain that one who continually contemplates unholy things is unequal to living a pure life until his state of thought improves; and he whose thoughts are filled with fear cannot be truly happy. There is always a mental avenue through which sin and disease enter consciousness, and the first step in working out one's salvation is to close these avenues with opposite thoughts. The fact that disease or sin or any error cannot enter through a good thought, should awaken us to the wisdom and the advantage of never thinking evil. Sin could not possibly enter consciousness through thoughts of goodness, or hatred through thoughts of love, nor could any other error enter except through love of evil or fear of it. Good thoughts open the door to good experiences, and this confirms the teaching of Christian Science that right thinking is the only means of salvation.

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