Bearing True Witness

CORA MAY PRICE

In the twentieth chapter of Exodus we find the words, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." What a wealth of love is contained in this commandment; and what protection for each individual lies in rendering obedience thereto!

The early training of one student of Christian Science, received in a home devoted to an orthodox religion, impressed upon her the fact that in the usually accepted sense one must never utter false testimony against another. While the instruction covered but a very limited field, it is cause for humble gratitude that the home training prepared the way for a higher understanding of this commandment, as taught in Christian Science. This also made it comparatively easy to grasp and to obey its mandate, for the student was actuated by a greater sense of love for God and man, which Christian Science inculcates—a love which so spiritualizes human consciousness that one's thought heals and blesses wherever it may rest.

Love's infinite correction and provision are indicated in the Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 19), where our Leader writes: "Are earth's pleasures, its ties and its treasures, taken away from you? It is divine Love that doeth it, and sayeth, 'Ye have need of all these things.' A danger besets thy path?—a spiritual behest, in reversion, awaits you." Christian Science teaches how to reverse false testimony, so that we may have the rich blessing of the Father's spiritual behest to men. It brings to view the consciousness of true being demonstrated by Christ Jesus; and it is certain that the Christ, Truth, is cognized only by a consciousness prepared to receive it. Through the Christ one learns to dwell forever securely in the knowledge of his at-one-ment with God, and he realizes no other might nor mind but divine Mind. In recognizing that man, individually and collectively, shares in this at-one-ment with the Father, God, one knows there is nothing but good that can truthfully be uttered about spiritual, perfect man, the image of the Father.

How frequently we yield to the temptation to obey the behests of matter, and what disappointment follows our attempts to materialize good! Thus we look for good in finite mortals and a material universe, voice our disappointment and disapproval at not finding it there, and find ourselves guilty of bearing false witness, or making untrue statements about ourselves and our fellow men, who, in the reality of their being, are made in the image of God and are therefore spiritual and perfect.

Only a state of apathy, a lack of watchfulness, can cause a Christian Scientist to be so off guard that a breach of obedience to the above commandment is possible. It includes the acceptance of mortal mind's argument that his brother is separated from God, thus, in effect, limiting and penalizing him through the so-called laws of matter. At the same time, the bearer of false witness momentarily accepts the belief in his own separation from God, else he could not sin. Mrs. Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 261), says, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." This spiritual activity brings to our consciousness, here and now, order, law, harmony, and abundance, through our obedience to the spiritual behest. Good always results in proportion to our steadfast adherence to Principle.

In so far as he is conscious of his at-one-ment with God, the student can in no wise suffer or manifest discord. Neither can he, in this state of consciousness, bear false witness against himself by joining in an erroneous argument regarding his own health or harmony. A consistent endeavor to bear true witness to God's perfect man is shown in recognizing no other mind but divine Mind and realizing the spiritual facts about man. A refused to enter into the temptation of entertaining a view of man that obscures the clear spiritual picture of him, floods consciousness with a clear view of the true image, and rewards the honest student with the satisfaction of gaining a victory over self.

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