Rubbing Out the Chalk Line

William D. McCrackan

A Christian Science practitioner was once informed by a patient that there was opposition to the study of this Science on the part of a certain member of the family, "for," explained the patient, "he is not a Scientist." This remark provided food for thought, and when the question it raised was taken to Principle and carried into the realm of pure spiritual reasoning, an underlying fallacy was uncovered. It is true that humanity has drawn a line between Scientists and non-Scientists, but upon examination this line is found to be no better than a chalk line, and so it can be rubbed out. Right reasoning reveals that there is only one God and one universe, including man. God is divine Mind, and in reality all that man can think and know must proceed from the one Mind and must be true. This true thinking, this spiritual understanding, is Science and there is no other Science; therefore, in reality all men are Scientists.

This reasoning brought a most comforting assurance to the practitioner, and a wide prospect of the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God unfolded itself to him, so that he was able to advise the patient to rub out the chalk line of mankind's contriving and to abide by the result. Indeed, the sequel was most instructive, for that very night the supposedly hostile member of the family remarked upon the good which Christian Science was evidently accomplishing and asked for information about its teaching and practice.

Paul thus sums up the Christian teaching concerning the unity of God and man: "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." Steadfast in this blessed conviction that there can be no real line of separation between God's children, the Christian Scientist approaches every problem from the viewpoint of divine compassion and quick forgiveness. While it is true that all persons have not yet consciously accepted the only Science which has existence and reality, and while it is therefore permissible to state that such persons are not Christian Scientist, yet it is equally permissible, indeed absolutely necessary, to wipe out any supposed line which argues separation between individual ideas of God's creating,—and the result will make for human unity.

At one time Mrs. Eddy found it necessary to address to Christian Scientists the following words, which are to be found on page 7 of her work entitled "No and Yes": "I recommend that Scientists draw no lines whatever between one person and another, but think, speak, teach, and write the truth of Christian Science without reference to right or wrong personality in this field of labor." The habit of holding others mentally to the opposite side of a fictitious line has the tendency to make it difficult for them to cross over that line. Thus also the attitude of mind which considers it necessary to drag others over such a line in order to save them, virtually places an obstacle in the way of their salvation. It is the fatal flaw of proselyting that it first of all mentally creates the very separation which it tries to overcome in the second place by persuasive preaching. In practice the mental attempt to maintain a dividing line between God's children defeats its own purpose, because it is not in accordance with the truth of being, hence is not right mental practice and can even become unconscious mental malpractice. The proper practice is to rub out the unrighteous line of separation, and lo, God and man are recognized as one in quality, and all of God's ideas are in unity!

It sometimes happens that in a given locality much healing by Christian Science has been accomplished and the text-book is being widely read, yet those who have the desire to avow themselves Christian Scientists are few. Then is the time to question one's self about this wholly unnecessary and impertinent line of separation. Is it a real line, or is it a mere chalk line? If the latter, why not rub it out? What if the prevalent manner of speech does place that husband or wife, brother or sister, that trusted friend or highly prized neighbor among the non-Scientists! God knows no such distinction, neither need we, and in reality there is none.

William D. McCrackan.

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Among the Churches

September 9, 1916

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