Article April 19, 1941 Issue

"There is no fear in love"

JOHN H. HOAGLAND

We sometimes hear an individual admiringly described as being fearless, apparently with the implication that others are not free from fear. Among the priceless gifts which Christian Science bestows is the understanding that in absolute reality all are fearless. The student of Christian Science finds in this understanding a courage that transcends the ordinary concept of this quality as being subject to fluctuation, according to varying human conditions.

Christian Science blesses the individual with immunity from fear by utterly destroying its claim to reality or power. On page 410 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'" But how, one may ask, am I to "be not afraid" when this or that situation confronting me presents so many difficulties that appear to warrant fear? Christian Science teaches us that fear is untrue because the inharmonious conditions seeming to cause it are also untrue. God, good, could not be the cause or source of an inharmonious condition or the fear seeming to attend it; hence both are unreal.

The student of Christian Science learns that he cannot temporize with fear, and therefore deals directly and specifically with any of the false arguments it may present. Spiritual understanding has revealed to him that God is omnipresent Life, Truth, and Love, and he avails himself of the present applicability and availability of the Apostle John's comforting assurance: "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. . . . There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

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