BANISHMENT OF ERROR

KATE HOLLAND PATTON

The Christian Scientist finds a strong impetus toward spiritual healing and confidence in the permanence of that healing through the study of the Bible and the works of Mary Baker Eddy. In our great textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 391), "Banish the belief that you can possibly entertain a single intruding pain which cannot be ruled out by the might of Mind, and in this way you can prevent the development of pain in the body." Of all words that one might use to clarify this sentence and stabilize its substance, surely none could introduce the idea more perfectly than the word "banish."

We note in the sentence that it is "the belief" which is to be banished. Here is pointed out the way to permanent freedom, for everyone is at liberty to decide whether helpful or erroneous beliefs are to be entertained in consciousness. In the last analysis, then, we see that it is not the return of pain which causes concern, but the return of the belief that pain and disease are real, that they are self-constituted entities, liable to manifest themselves, at any moment with power to come and go of their own volition. Mrs. Eddy gives further helpful counsel along this line in the textbook (p. 381), "Let us banish sickness as an outlaw, and abide by the rule of perpetual harmony,—God's law."

The fact that fear is a seeming cause of sickness and suffering is accepted in Christian Science, and this premise is beginning to be believed quite generally. Every student of the Bible knows what to do with that false accuser, fear. He is to cast it out, and this he does through love. We can banish fear by persistently turning away from binding thoughts of self and by expressing love to all mankind. Even though the remembrance of a painful experience and the fear of its return may try to appear in one's consciousness, these suggestions can find no way to enter and no space where they can be manifested if our thought is filled with love. Such fears are indeed the outlaws which our Leader tells us to banish, and happy is he whose vision is so spiritually clear that no outlawed thoughts can becloud it.

How positive and incontestable are the healings of Christ Jesus as related in the New Testament. In the ninth chapter of Mark is found the account of a father who brought his son to the Master and humbly entreated him to heal the lad. We read: "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Seeing the great need of healing and addressing what the Scriptures term "the foul spirit," Jesus commanded, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." Here was complete banishment of error, for not only was "the foul spirit" cast out, but it was adjured never to return.

Jesus' healing work was always done quietly and with calm assurance, never with haste or emotional excitement. The devils of sin and sickness were cast out with authority. There was always perfect faith in God's ever-present love and unfailing power. In many of the accounts of his healings, we find recorded his beautiful references to the quality of faith, which he apparently considered essential.

A true healing faith is not blind, nor is it a vague uncertainty, allied to the hopes and fears of mortal thinking. True faith, essential to the healing work, is firmly grounded on divine Principle. It demonstrates the power of good and the absolute powerlessness of evil. Thus the Christian Scientist learns to "banish sickness as an outlaw," as he abides steadfastly by God's law. With each healing experience, he draws nearer to the complete banishment of error. If at moments he is tempted to fear error's return, he wins the victory when he remembers the beautiful promise of the prophet Nahum (1:9), "Affliction shall not rise up the second time."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit