Article May 15, 1920 Issue

True Debt

HELEN T. BELFORD

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." This portion of the Lord's Prayer, with its spiritual interpretation given by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 17), "And Love is reflected in love," has proved a source of great inspiration to me. A close study of the phrasing brings out much that is necessarily unrevealed by any mere repetition of the words. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines debt as "a thing owed" and further states that it is the duty of a debtor to pay a debt without waiting for a demand.

Many of the troubles that seem to be part of mortal existence are brought about by a false sense of debt, as of merely something due to some person. Among these troubles are the beliefs about the body, that have been accompanied by so-called mortal rules and regulations aimed to prevent disease and discord. Mortals are beset on all sides by what they are supposed to owe to their bodies to preserve health and harmony. Here Christian Science replaces the false sense of debt with the true. The only debt one owes to his body is to realize that Mind and its idea is all there is, in place of any material sense of body. As the divine Mind is perfect and harmonious, so Mind's idea, the reflection of God, is perfect and harmonious.

Much of the unrest so commented on in the press of today is due in a large measure to the false sense of debt entertained by mankind. From the individual relations of living, on through the relations of employer and employee, labor and capital, up to the relations of the nations, the false sense of owing something stirs up discord and dismay. Every one seems to be demanding his due, or what mortal mind has outlined as his due. This false sense of things seems to take many varied forms. Sometimes it is a belief that deference and servile obedience are due to supposed mortal place and power. It may be a sense that allegiance is owed merely because of fancied benefits bestowed by some person. Again, the suppositional mortal mind would like to demand as its due a complete surrender to its opinions. In such a case there is generally resentment unless the spurious debt is promptly paid.

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