Article July 24, 1926 Issue

Mental Litigation

ERNEST E. OERTEL

Often when a problem seems difficult to solve in Christian Science the student gives false prestige and power a comfortable lodging place by allowing his mental opposition to become less and less active as this false belief consequently becomes more and more vigorous and aggressive in asserting itself. Error appears to have many opportunities for growth when apathy and inactivity are indulged. When the false belief assumes the right to dominate and rule, then fear creeps in; and if error has its way, despondency follows, tending to paralyze all righteous efforts. Evil has a way of rampantly threatening its victim and goading him on to destruction as long as the victim is submissive. Let this same victim however, righteously resist the evil,—devil,—and it will flee from him; for it has no power to withstand Truth.

Not realizing the impotence of all error, mortals sometimes believe a particular problem to be so exceptional or so formidable that their feeble mental opposition will be of no avail. Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 380), "Gazing at a chained lion, crouched for a spring, should not terrify a man." Truth chains all error, regardless of kind or amount, of circumstance or condition. However vicious a particular kind of evil may seem, however long it may have manifested itself, or however well it may have succeeded in terrorizing others, it has no power before Truth.

Christian Scientists resist evil by declaring the truth. Evil must be rebuked; and should Christian Scientists be apologetic or apathetic in dealing with it? When so much depends upon the outcome of mental battles with beliefs of sin, sickness, and death, can one afford to let pass unchallenged the belief that evil is more powerful than good in any way, at any time? Evil may seem formidable to human sense; but can man, made in the image and likeness of God and having dominion over all the earth, be frightened at such a sham seeming? His is the power to understand Truth and declare his freedom.

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