Article February 14, 1925 Issue

Discernment

MAGGIE H. MCDOUGALL

WHAT confidence and encouragement are conveyed to thought through Jesus' words, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"! To obtain the promised freedom, however, we must know the truth. It is quite obvious, then, that our work is to know or discern Truth; and through the study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, we are learning to do this.

This study teaches us how to remove from our consciousness all speculative theories regarding material phenomena. It gives us a new vista of thought through the understanding of God as divine Principle, and of Principle's ideas as omnipresent. Thereby we begin to discern Truth, and some of the confusion of the so-called human mind disappears. Then we become really anxious to get rid of all false beliefs; for our mental attitude has changed. We are willing to learn; and with a deeper sense of humility and love we press forward, with greater resolve to strive for that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus." This purification of thought clears our vision and prepares us for fuller discernment. Discernment even in a small measure of the truth, namely, that divine Principle and its ideas are ever present, conveys to thought unlimited scope for activity. It removes the belief that anything of a so-called material nature can either help or hinder our progress, wheresoever our duty may call us. As it is our thinking which needs attention, we must have no less a model than the Christ for our ideal. Spiritual understanding to some extent having taken the place of ignorance and fear, we inevitably look out from a different viewpoint, and experience the truth of Paul's words, "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

It is true there are times when to discern Truth does not seem easy. Yet this is not because discordant conditions ever have any reality, but rather because we are reluctant to give up the false belief in a realm and a power apart from divine Principle and its ideas. It is our finite concept of reality which causes the difficulty; but every earnest endeavor to do each moment our very best will lead us farther out of discord and error into abiding peace and quietness. We need not be discouraged, though we may seem to fall short of the ideal. If we are earnestly striving and praying, and sincerely applying what we understand of Truth, God will guide and help us forward. Thus we shall gain our freedom. On page 322 of Science and Health we read, "When understanding changes the standpoints of life and intelligence from a material to a spiritual basis, we shall gain the reality of Life, the control of Soul over sense, and we shall perceive Christianity, or Truth, in its divine Principle."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Right Viewpoint