Article December 9, 1933 Issue

Leaving All for Christ

SARAH V. CORNELIUS

From the moment of his first glimpse of the glorious light of Christian Science, the student is started towards the goal of complete separation from matter. This release takes place gradually but irresistibly as each erroneous material concept is replaced by the true or spiritual one. In speaking of the vanishing from consciousness of the dream of material existence, Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 77), "This period will be of longer or shorter duration according to the tenacity of error." Progress is painless or seemingly painful according to the acceptance of or resistance to the truth that continued study is inevitably unfolding in one's consciousness. Each trial may be regarded as evidence that some either consciously or unconsciously cherished false belief has been challenged by the truth that is being assimilated, and can no longer hide away and call itself a part of the student's consciousness. "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive" (Science and Health, p. 463); but the struggle experienced by the student, in this removing of error, is occasioned by the resistance of the material sense which is clinging to false concepts generally or individually accepted, while the growing understanding cannot tolerate this obstruction to progress.

In giving up all for Christ we find that it is only the shadowy, the fleeting, the unworthy, the unreal, from which we must turn away; that nothing real, or beautiful, or desirable, or true can we possibly lose. Through a divinely ordered change of values we find worldly attractions growing less, and "the things that are God's" taking proper place in our hearts and lives.

In a deepening understanding of the wide meaning of Christianity or Christian practice we learn the true joy set before us in our Leader's statement on page 238 of our textbook, "He who leaves all for Christ forsakes popularity and gains Christianity." As we surrender self-will, the law underlying the Psalmist's words, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me," governs every detail of our thinking and its resultant conditions in our home, church, and world relationships, so that we find no vacuum in our thought as it is being changed from the unreal to the real.

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