Article January 3, 1920 Issue

"The soul that sinneth"

CARRO A. BIRD

When Paul voiced the thought, "The good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do," he expressed the feeling of all who, at some stage of their demonstration, should come after him. What humble seeker for Truth has not, with burning tears, regretted the hasty word or thoughtless deed which has caused some one unhappiness? In the word spoken carelessly or the heedless act, there may have seemed to be no wrong intent, but still in it the opportunity for misunderstanding existed; and whatever is not absolutely good, is evil. One student of Christian Science who had spoken quickly, saw immediately that the meaning had been misunderstood, and a great sense of sor row was felt. It seemed as though the student had been unwittingly betrayed. Much thought was given to the situation and the means of preventing such occurrences. It was seen that only through a realization of the government of the one Mind, God, at all times and under every circumstance, and a yielding to this Mind could such experiences cease to occur. Self must be purified so as to be always in accord with God's will.

As the student pondered, the words from Ezekiel came to thought: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," also Mrs. Eddy's explanation of this passage as given on page 481 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as follows: "In Science we learn that it is material sense, not Soul, which sins; and it will be found that it is the sense of sin which is lost, and not a sinful soul." When this sinful sense is lost, man will be found entirely under the government of divine Mind.

In trying to understand how the "sense of sin" can be lost, the Scientist dwelt upon the relationship of God and man; and it was seen that since man is the expression of God, thoughtless or unkind words can be controlled. Not being good, they do not emanate from God and cannot be expressed through His child; and not having their source in God, who is all-power, they possess no power of self-expression. Great comfort and renewed hope were realized when the Scientist recognized that it was only the false sense of mind in matter, sinful sense, which endeavored to substitute error for the words of Christ, which are the words of Truth and Life. The words of Christ, expressed through God's child, must always be helpful and healing; they can never offend.

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