Article August 1, 1970 Issue

Face Up to Fear!

DONNA NALLEY RYBURN

"Do the thing you fear to do." These words spoken by a testifier at a Wednesday evening meeting in a Church of Christ, Scientist, greatly impressed one of his listeners, a woman who had for years avoided facing a certain problem because of intense fear concerning it. The soundness of the testifier's advice was illustrated by his own healing experience in Christian Science. His testimony opened the way for the woman to face up to the fear that had hampered her since childhood, and to completely and permanently overcome it through Christian Science.

No one likes to be afraid. And no one has to be! After all, what is fear but a belief in evil, a belief in something unlike good? Understanding corrects belief. Where the understanding of the allness of God, divine Love, is there is nothing that can disturb, bewilder, defeat—absolutely nothing to result in fear.

Christian Science teaches that the overcoming of fear is basic to Christian Science healing. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, 'Be not afraid!'"^{Science and Health, p. 410;} She reiterates this teaching in these words: "Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients."^{p. 411;} As Mrs. Eddy indicates, this fundamental rule is founded on Christ Jesus' example. According to Bible record, Jesus frequently quieted the fear of patients audibly. What compassionate understanding lay behind his oft-repeated words: "Fear not. Be not afraid"!