Article April 1, 1939 Issue

The Simple Things

ALFRED F. GOODMAN

When Naaman, captain of the Syrian host, received instruction from Elisha to dip himself seven times in the river Jordan, he became indignant, and had not his attendants prevailed upon him to do what the prophet required, Naaman would have returned to his home still a leper. He had expected Elisha to do some great thing, for in Naaman's eyes his condition was extremely serious and he thought it necessary for the prophet to do something remarkable in order to overcome such a disease. His amazement can well be imagined when he was completely healed by simply dipping himself seven times in the river.

The disease of which Naaman was healed may have been due to pride, self-righteousness, and disobedience. His treatment by Elisha was a direct rebuke to these errors. The prophet sent word to him by a messenger, deeply offending Naaman's personal sense by an apparent refusal to give proper credence to the seriousness of his condition and the importance of his position as a Syrian captain. The immediate healing of Naaman followed his obedience, and was doubtless accompanied by the destruction of false pride and self-righteousness.

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 404, 405), Mrs. Eddy has written: "Hatred, envy, dishonesty, fear, and so forth, make a man sick, and neither material medicine nor Mind can help him permanently, even in body, unless it makes him better mentally, and so delivers him from his destroyers. The basic error is mortal mind." And she continues: "Christian Science commands man to master the propensities,—to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success."

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