Article March 2, 1929 Issue

None Common or Unclean

JACOB B. GADLOW

In the utilization of Christian Science in daily experience, the recognition of evil impersonal becomes a necessary and effective rule. In fact, the perception of error as a lie of personal sense rather than person or place, and the proper rebuke or repudiation of the false belief, constitute very necessary factors in Christian Science practice. The Scriptures clearly indicate that in all ages the mission of the Christ, Truth, includes the condemnation and rejection of sin as illegitimate. It is cause for rejoicing that the inspired writings not only exonerate man in God's image of the charge of having originated sin, but definitely establish the supposed identity of sin as separate at all times from man's true being. In II Corinthians appears Paul's explanation that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." And Jesus reduced error to what he termed the "mote that is in thy brother's eye" and the "beam ... in thine own eye."

There is a tradition that Jesus' rebuke was "fearful." His censure was directed to the so-called carnal or mortal mind, which he branded as "a murderer from the beginning," and described as being without an origin in Truth or reality. He rebuked and cast out devils or false beliefs. He rebuked fear, resentment, and false pride. He rebuked a fever, as well as unclean spirits of selfishness and sickness. For mankind, however, he never lacked compassion. For friend and foe alike, for the most sordid of sinners as for the most worthy of his disciples, his hand was ever extended to give healing and comfort, and to raise those whom "Satan hath bound," the victims of the enslaving senses, above the darkness imposed by ignorance and self-will.

Did not Mary Baker Eddy follow the same procedure? She, too, unflinchingly exposed and denounced error under every disguise. But she carefully pointed out her policy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 99), in the words, "My contest is not with the individual, but with the false system." And on page 226 of the same volume this purpose is amplified in a way which provides a program of action for all earnest students, as follows: "The lame, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, the sick, the sensual, the sinner, I wished to save from the slavery of their own beliefs and from the educational systems of the Pharaohs, who to-day, as of yore, hold the children of Israel in bondage."

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