Article September 5, 1914 Issue

Value of Denial

JOHN C. LATHROP

Affirmation of truth and denial of error constitute in Christian Science the mental argument which attunes human thought, brings it into harmony with divine Mind. This is forcefully illustrated in the "scientific statement of being" as found on page 468 of the Christian Science text-book: "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." As here presented, the denial of error is actually a declaration of the truth; so, too, affirmation of the truth includes the denial of error.

No one questions the value of an intelligent affirmation of truth, when understandingly made. Such an affirmation is all-inclusive, effective, and sufficient. It is the spiritual knowing which instantaneously obliterates an erroneous thought, and leaves no trace of it. With this perfect realization always ready in consciousness, health and harmony would be assured. Would that we all had gained this perfection and poise of thought, this Christlike purity of mind, where positively no attention need be paid to evil, because all sin had actually been overcome! Moments of this clear vision and calm of thought are experienced by every Christian Scientist. During these periods great good is wrought, and this consciousness of absolute dominion should at all times be claimed as the natural and present possession of every individual.

It is because this perfect sense is not instantly realized and always maintained, that a denial of error is found to be of value and necessary; in fact, it is because there is some seemingly tenacious error to be denied and cast out that the truth is not readily realized. Mortal mind is a base deceiver, and is itself basely deceived. It loves its own, the erroneous material sense, and the trouble is that it is indisposed to face and give up this attachment; but the law of divine justice (divine Love) compels mortals finally to awaken, to repent in humility, to evidence love of good in practical reform, and to heed the command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me [Spirit]." This change of thought is a "denial" of real value, and is an indispensable preliminary to a perfect affirmation of truth. What human mind does not still contain an iota of this tenacious self-love and self-will? Then what human consciousness has risen wholly beyond the need of denials?

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Fitness and Blessing