Article February 24, 1934 Issue

Cast Not a Stone

BERT V. ROBINSON

Whatever is retained in our consciousness as true is bound to be manifested in our words, deeds, or outward conditions. Whatever we believe real, whether good or evil, governs our thinking; and this affects our experiences. As students of Christian Science it is our joyous privilege to experience and share the message of Love with our fellow men. Are we pursuing this course if we bear false witness against our neighbor, if we listen to and accept the testimony of the so-called physical senses, calling him sick and sinful? In uncovering the subtle sin of judging and condemning another, St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." Oh, that we may be alert and not do "the same things"—the things we have condemned in another!

In Genesis we read that man is created in the image and likeness of God; that is to say, man by reflection partakes of the nature, character, and qualities of God. Christian Science recognizes Spirit, Life, Truth, Love, as synonyms for God. Jesus, ever conscious of the divine attributes, expressed those qualities inherent in his Father. He treated offenders compassionately. If hatred seemed to manifest itself, he expressed love. Where condemnation prevailed, he expressed justice. Where sin had overtaken one, through spiritual intuition he saw the man of God's creating, pure, perfect, whole. Of his spiritual vision Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 477), "In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." As we strive to emulate the Master in this blessed work, we shall awaken to the true nature of man as an idea of divine Mind—an idea perpetually expressing the creator—and shall refuse entrance into our consciousness of any suggestions of sickness or sin. In so doing we lift our own thought of the transgressor above the darkness of material belief; we "loose him, and let him go." We forgive him by purifying our own thinking about him.

We learn in Christian Science that sins are forgiven only as they are destroyed. Mortals find sin in their own thought; and from there it must be cast out, destroyed, and thus be forgiven. Christian Science teaches that to forgive is not mistakenly to endure, but to do away with whatever is unlike God, good; to put it out of our consciousness; to identify the offender—ourself or another—with the true likeness instead of with the false concept we formerly held. Indeed, the forgiveness of our own sins depends upon our power to forgive others. We are ourselves pardoned as we clear our mentality of any recognition of others' faults as real.

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