Editorial February 21, 1948 Issue

SUBDUING LUCIFER

John Randall Dunn

A statement of vital importance to the student of Christian Science is that which our inspired Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, makes on page 451 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." There we may read: "Every Christian Scientist, every conscientious teacher of the Science of Mind-healing, knows that human will is not Christian Science, and he must recognize this in order to defend himself from the influence of human will. He feels morally obligated to open the eyes of his students that they may perceive the nature and methods of error of every sort, especially any subtle degree of evil, deceived and deceiving."

When a Christian Science teacher or practitioner, therefore, points out some phase of erroneous thought which must be dealt with and nullified, let not pupil or patient protest that he only wishes to hear about Truth and Love, and not about evil. Such a one evidently has not awakened to the realization that a reluctance to uncover and come to grips with error springs from the carnal mind, which today, as in the time of Jesus, cries out in the presence of the healing Christ, "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee?" (Mark 1:24.)

Error ever finds the truth troublesome. We read that when the Apostle Paul appeared before the evil-minded Felix to bear witness to the Master's teaching, "as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25). There is no record, however, that the "convenient season" ever came for the crafty and fearing Felix. Truth, as the hymn says,

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"I COMMAND THEE ... FOR THY GOOD"