Article September 16, 1922 Issue

Know the Truth

LOUIS J. SIMMONS

Among many quotations from the Bible, none, perhaps, is more frequently used by Christian Scientists than the saying of the Master, as recorded in the eighth chapter of John, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." To know the truth is the one important thing, an instruction so clear that no student of the Scriptures can ignore it. Without the aid of Christian Science, the Science of the Christ, Truth, the world would be in the same hopeless condition as was Pilate, the representative of the Roman eagles, when, in the presence of Jesus, who for years had been demonstrating among the people the truth which makes free, he asked, "What is truth?"

The light thrown upon the Old Testament writings by the life and works of Christ Jesus did not seem to penetrate the thought of those who were regarded as the spiritual leaders of the people. Many of the common people, however, heard the Word with gladness and, grasping the truth to a degree, accepted it, and were freed from false beliefs,—their freedom being in proportion to the extent of their understanding. Later, for centuries the darkness of creed and dogma obscured the light of Truth's healing power in the world, until it was rediscovered by our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, who revealed its permanency to humanity as demonstrable Science in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," thus placing it within the reach of all. The phraseology of Christian Science may be easily understood by any honest, earnest seeker for Truth who reads with an open mind.

Students of Christian Science so frequently use the expression, "I knew the truth," as to make it noticeable in conversation, in testimonies, and in published articles, adding, perhaps, that thereby the "claim" was met and harmony was restored. While the meaning given to the words by the one using them is clear to himself, and may be to some other students of Christian Science, still in many instances it may be unintelligible to a person hearing the statements for the first time. To know the truth is to demonstrate the power of God, good, over any false belief manifested as disease or any inharmonious bodily condition. The student who does so may be sure that he is not letting self-will govern him; for in his effort to know the truth he is overcoming the false sense of self to the degree of his understanding of the truth.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"The little hills rejoice"