Refusing the Counterfeit

LUELLA PANNEBAKER DIESEM

If a counterfeit coin should come into our possession, we would immediately stop its circulation: and that would indeed be a commendable act! In this connection the writer has been pondering the questions: Do I as gladly and as quickly stop the counterfeit concepts of man which daily knock at the door of my consciousness for admittance? And is not any lie about man which we are tempted to believe, and to pass along, just as much a falsity as a counterfeit coin? And is not the accepting and passing of it on just as much a crime?

Christian Science is teaching us how to refuse the lie, or counterfeit, as it seems to be presented to us; and it should be the business—yes, the blessed privilege—of every student of Christian Science to endeavor constantly to silence the lies regarding man as they come to him; for, as some one has expressed it, "error needs a mouthpiece and an audience in order even to seem to operate." We need neither be its mouthpiece, nor its audience. The writer is finding that the happiest days in her experience are those on which she succeeds in stopping the operation of the false concepts of man in her thinking, neither speaking for error nor listening to its lying arguments.

A little child often proves that the pure, childlike thought is instantly healed by the simple statements of truth realized. A little girl of six, who had learned the simple truth that God is Love, and, as she expressed it, that "He keeps us well and happy," was playing with her kitten when a large dog came into their presence and frightened the pet. The kitten, in jumping quickly from the child's lap, left two long, deep scratches on her arm. When asked what had happened, she quickly replied: "Oh, kitty scratched me, but I know she didn't mean to. The dog frightened her. I love her though. Why shouldn't I? She's my kitty." Such a lesson! No thought of resentment or hate entered the little one's thought; she saw only the loving playfellow! She refused to accept any counterfeits; with the result that in a few moments she was happily playing, the incident being quickly forgotten.

It we, as Christian Scientists, could always remember that man is our brother, think only good of him, and refuse to believe the lie that is constantly knocking for admittance into our thought, we would more readily realize the truth of Mrs. Eddy's statement in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 9), "The spiritual power of a scientific, right thought, without a direct effort, an audible or even a mental argument, has oftentimes healed inveterate diseases." Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments;" and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This means that we must be as quick and as willing to see our brother in the image and likeness of God, spiritual and perfect, as we are to see this truth for ourselves.

How carefully we should watch that the false concept enter not! How joyously we should go about seeing the real man, as God beholds him! In so doing we are obeying the "Admonition and Counsel" of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in her article "What Our Leader Says," in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 210): "Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited." What an inspiration to think rightly when we realize that righteous thinking blesses all mankind! And let us remember Jesus' words: "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein."

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