Article July 12, 1941 Issue

Sickness a Temptation

BESS M. PANGBURN

Christian Science teaches that sickness, as well as sin, is a temptation of erring mortal mind, which must be overcome and cast out of one's experience through absolute reliance upon the power and love of God. Only in this way can one ever demonstrate the dominion which belongs to him as a child of God. We read in the first chapter of Genesis, "So God created man in his own image," that is, in the likeness of Spirit, and he was given dominion "over all the earth." This truth of creation has never changed. It is still in operation. Christian Science has revealed this great fact to mankind, and has made it possible for everyone who is willing to turn from his old way of thinking and learn of God, good, to gain such dominion. A knowledge of the great truth of being has brought health, peace, and happiness to countless numbers of sick, discouraged, and despondent mortals, replacing their fears with confidence in God, restoring their thought, and therefore their bodies, to a condition of harmonious activity which we call health.

The prophet Isaiah said, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God." Ezekiel admonished his followers, "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." And the Apostle James wrote in his epistle, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."

Doubt or fear often causes us to yield to the temptation to believe that God has forsaken us. We feel as though we were separated from God, and in consequence are unhappy and inharmonious. But through the teachings of Christian Science many are learning to resist the temptation to give power and intelligence to matter. They are beginning to understand that matter has neither sensation nor power. Rising above both fear and doubt, they are demonstrating in ever-increasing measure the power of Truth over evil. They are finding that they need no longer look upon themselves or others as helpless victims of inhuman forces, since these are unreal, and that by giving all power to God, Spirit, they can rise above the temptation to be sick or sinful and gain the understanding which enables them to defend themselves "against the wiles of the devil."

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