It may be said that "the scientific statement of being" given by Mrs. Eddy on page 468 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" harmonizes with and expresses obedience to the spirit of Christ Jesus' command, "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay," for it is constituted of clear affirmative statements of the truth about God and man, and also of definite denials of the errors associated with the false claim that man and life are in and of matter. The opening denial, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter," is needed by men to prepare their thought for the reception of the closing declarations of truth: "Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." Obviously one's belief in error must be denied in order that it may be displaced by the truth.

One who has learned somewhat of the control which thought has over the human body, but who still believes that life is in matter, might fear perhaps that one's use of the opening denial in "the scientific statement of being" would have an undesirable effect. The baselessness of such fear, however, is shown by means of human reasoning and spiritual revelation, and also by the healings which authenticate the Christian Science teachings. Certainly, if life, consciousness, and truth were really in and of matter, a denial of this would have no effect; whereas the disavowal and rejection of a false belief about matter from the standpoint of spiritual truth breaks the bondage which is coincident with acceptance of an error as if it were a fact.

Christian Scientists gratefully and humbly accept Christ Jesus as their Exemplar in all ways, and so they endeavor to have the Mind in them which was in him—which he expressed in his thoughts and teachings, in his life and works. Although the Master was so well acquainted with God that he knew, declared, and demonstrated the truth of spiritual being, he recognized the necessity of denying and denouncing the errors of human belief, including sin, sickness, and death. Among the recorded instances where Christ Jesus' rebuke of error was effective in healing may be noted the rebuking of the fever which had laid low Peter's wife's mother, and the denouncing of the devil or evil which had been manifested as epilepsy. If any student of Christian Science imagines that he has outgrown the need for denial of error in his metaphysical work, he should remember that even after Christ Jesus had risen from the tomb he recognized and rebuked the error of unbelief regarding his resurrection which had found expression through his disciples.

The author of Science and Health was well aware of the subtlety and tenacity of material beliefs, animal tendencies, and human fears. She proved and pointed out to her followers that spiritual progress and enlightenment bring a clearer cognizance of evil and error for the purpose of denouncing and destroying them. The error which is uncovered by the activity of Truth is seen aright as a falsity, devoid of personal influence and personal identity. On page 20 of the Christian Science textbook we read: "Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal belief, and 'with his stripes [the rejection of error] we are healed.'" Here the way is pointed plainly. We are to gain our healing—realize man's wholeness—by acknowledging the truth and by recognizing and rejecting error as did our Master.

Naturally, to be effective, the denial of error must be made from the standpoint of Truth, God. Therefore, everyone should strive earnestly and prayerfully to become acquainted with our Father-Mother God as our Master knew Him. To this end we should study our textbooks diligently and then assiduously endeavor to apply their instructions in our thinking and living. We become acquainted with God as Love by reflecting Love's qualities, such as gratitude, unselfishness, tenderness. We show our acquaintance with God as Mind, Life, and Truth by expressing intelligence, order, wisdom, accuracy, harmonious activity. As we thus become acquainted with God our lives will serve to affirm or set forth the truth—the truth which is ever an irresistible denunciation of error.

"The scientific statement of being" is very dear to Christian Scientists. With many of them it was the logical argument furnishing the spiritual inspiration by means of which they made their first demonstrations over sickness; and they find that its use is indispensable to their continued progress and proof. Our Leader's recognition of the importance of this statement is evidenced by the fact that it constitutes an important part of the Sunday services in Christian Science churches. So let us gratefully and trustingly affirm the truth of God's goodness and power and of man's perfection and purity; and let us consistently deny aught that is contrary thereto. Thus will our thinking and living comply with Christ Jesus' injunction, expressing "Yea, yea" to Truth, and "Nay, nay" to error.

W. Stuart Booth