Article December 7, 1935 Issue

"The warfare with one's self"

MAURICE MC CHURCH

On page 118 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy has written, "Be of good cheer; the warfare with one's self is grand." To those who may be disconsolate or discontented, regarding themselves in a measure as failures, or perhaps resenting circumstances which seem to have placed upon them heavy burdens, come these kind and encouraging words inviting consideration; for it is in our thinking that the victory must be won over every form of error.

What is the issue for which we are fighting in this warfare, and what are the methods which we are to adopt? Our Leader says (ibid., p. 8), "Simply count your enemy to be that which defiles, defaces, dethrones the Christ-image that you should reflect." Later in the same article, "Love Your Enemies," we read (p. 10), "Even in belief you have but one (that, not in reality), and this one enemy is yourself—your erroneous belief that you have enemies; that evil is real; that aught but good exists in Science." We may therefore say the warfare is between our true sense of self and a false sense of self which would attempt to dethrone the Christ-image which we should, and in reality do, reflect.

We are striving for nothing less than absolute dominion over every law of matter which a false sense of self believes in, and for the spiritual peace which such a victory brings us. In his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul says, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." Our method of fighting is the filling of our consciousness with Truth and Love, and this spiritual understanding does indeed pull down the strongholds which false beliefs seem to have erected.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"The warfare with one's self"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access