Article September 17, 1955 Issue

"TRUTH IS AFFIRMATIVE"

JEANETTE F. SUTTON

One student of Christian Science remarked to another that she had denied error so much that she felt weighted down. Her friend recommended that she do less denying and spend more time affirming the truths of perfect spiritual being, wherein there is nothing which needs denying. The one who had felt burdened endeavored to follow this rule. She later reported to her friend that she had enjoyed greater dominion over error as she had employed her thought more consistently in truthful affirmation.

While denial of power and reality to error is necessary and often serves to destroy fear and thus makes one more receptive to Truth and Love, it is the realization and affirmation of the facts pertaining to true spiritual existence which accomplish the healing. Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 418): "Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony. All metaphysical logic is inspired by this simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality. By the truthful arguments you employ, and especially by the spirit of Truth and Love which you entertain, you will heal the sick." It is well in Christian Science treatment, whether for oneself or another, to emphasize affirmations concerning the eternal, perpetual harmony and perfection of God and His idea, man. This emphasis tends to leave one's thought spiritually fortified against further encroachments of evil.

In a parable related by Christ Jesus, an evil spirit, which had departed from a man, returned to find his former abiding place "empty, swept, and garnished" (Matt. 12:44) and apparently unguarded. The evil spirit is represented as reentering the man's consciousness with additional evil spirits, thereby causing a worse state than had existed before. The inference can be drawn from the Master's parable that had the man filled his thought with spiritual, affirmative truths after getting rid of error, he would have been protected against aggressive suggestions of evil.

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