Article October 21, 1985 Issue

Build your case for truth

CAROL CHAPIN LINDSEY

It seemed like an abrupt command, and it used to puzzle me to the point of frustration; as if we could just bring on a healing with a snap of the fingers! The human predicament is that we can't. And yet Mrs. Eddy had sound reason for stating: "Erroneous belief is destroyed by truth. Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher."^{Science and Health, p. 297.}

Finally I decided that among the truths packed into this passage there was a message especially for me, and that I had just better get hold of it. I started reasoning like this: In a trial each side marshals evidence for presenting its case to the judge and the jury. Such and such are the facts on our side, claims the plaintiff, therefore such and such must be the truth of the situation. "Not so," says the defendant. "Such and such facts add up to a totally different truth—my side of the case."

Of course! At last I saw what I needed to see. When faced with a challenge of any kind, mortal mind, or material belief, usually appears to be very generous in presenting its evidence: of sinful tendency, financial straits, physical disability, inharmonious homelife—whatever. And we so often not only listen to it but take it all in as fact, and even dwell on it. We bear witness—in other words—on the wrong side! Now, "change the evidence." Marshal the spiritual facts pertinent to countering the specific erroneous claims, and dwell on them. Make a complete switch. Immerse yourself in inspired logic, in tracing all cause and effect back to God, infinite good. Rejoice in God's presence and power and allness, and put all the weight of your acceptance on the side of truth. Deny the aggressive suggestions of sickness or discord in the light of the overwhelming, provable truths of God and His creation. Crowd out false testimony with what is spiritually true. That's changing the evidence. That's a form of prayer; it can constitute Christian Science treatment and become the modus operandi of Christian healing. The result?

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