Article May 14, 1966 Issue

Christ, the Refiner

ELOISE PATTILLO HENDRICK

Refinement to many people means culture and fastidiousness. To the Christian it should mean more, even its original sense of being cleansed and freed from all impurities.

In Malachi the coming of the Christ is figuratively described, "He is like a refiner's fire...and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Mal. 3:2, 3; Unlike the refining process in which a substance may lose some of its toughness as the alloys are removed, the refining process of the "purifier"—the Christ—results in greater strength to the individual.

To the Christian Scientist, dedicated to exemplifying the Christ, Truth, this type of spiritual refinement is a very important consideration. Spiritual refinement goes far beyond the effects of what is called gracious living and social advantages. It means nothing short of putting off the false sense of an assertive material selfhood and letting the Christly nature of man appear. Indeed, bringing into subjection everything that wars against the Christ makes for true refinement.

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