Article September 5, 1925 Issue

Evil Impersonal

ARNOLD IRWIN RUMSEY

One of the most important yet seemingly difficult steps for the beginner in Christian Science is to apprehend that evil is not personal. The significance of this step lies in the fact that without the recognition of the impersonal nature of evil, whether it be sickness, sin, or death, demonstration is impossible. And demonstration consists in seeing the nothingness of error of any kind through the perception of God's allness. This will effect the disappearance of the former from consciousness and correspondingly from apparent manifestation. The question logically follows, If we regard evil as an integral part of ourselves, how are we to eradicate it without destroying ourselves, partially or wholly?

In Genesis we read that God made everything, including man, His highest idea, good; and in another passage of the Bible the explicit affirmation occurs that God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil." Therefore, anything unlike good we cannot accept as a part of our true selves, as God knows us, because the converse would be an unmistakable denial of God. Such denial essentially is a direct refutation of His supremacy and infinite Being, and in itself is responsible for the lack of healing.

The human mind, so called, is prone to think of itself as all-sufficient, and hence to regard with skepticism any power apart from itself. Unless this so-called mind, however, is completely surrendered for absolute reliance on the divine Mind,—the only Mind,—evil, which is only a fabrication of supposititious mortal mind, will vaunt itself as reality. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 450) Mrs. Eddy indicates very definitely this tendency of mortals and the subsequently attendant result. She writes: "Some people yield slowly to the touch of Truth. Few yield without a struggle, and many are reluctant to acknowledge that they have yielded; but unless this admission is made, evil will boast itself above good."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Guests of God
September 5, 1925
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit