Article April 1, 1922 Issue

The Third Commandment

EUNICE F. MAURER

More than two thousand years ago Moses, one of the first seers to glimpse and demonstrate the Christ, Truth, taught us: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

The world may fail to understand Christian Science, since it believes itself opposed to its teachings; but the time has come when general human opinion does concede that Christian Scientists honor God in their daily living. It is recognized that they read the Bible, are kind, loving, forgiving, and slow to take offense; it is granted by the layman that they are endeavoring to come out from the world of sin and disease. Moreover, all these things are now expected of a Christian Scientist by society. No one is more before the public eye at the present time than he; for Christian Science has won the world's respect. Therefore, to-day, no one is held up to a greater public scorn than the one who boasts himself a Christian Scientist but lives a life that is contrary to its rules.

The world sees the outward acts, but Christian Science searches the heart. It purifies thought until honorable living is the natural consequence; hence, to be obedient to the third commandment one must be upright in thought and deed as well as in word. A label is a mockery if it fails to tell the truth. It destroys confidence, and may even be punishable under our legal codes. The term Christian Scientist ought never to be a label; it should be a divine title, a title to be striven for rather than assumed. our Master proved himself to be the Messiah; and the Scriptures teach us he was given the new name Christ Jesus, meaning the Godlike. Jesus is "the way." In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p.153) Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Christian Scientists bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, not flesh; and God giveth this 'new name' to no man who honors Him not by positive proof of trustworthiness." Christian Science living must be a constant prayer, uttered best in good deeds.

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