The Truth that Frees

ELLEN CHORLTON

ON page 463 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, we read, "A spiritual idea has not a single element of error, and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive." This statement corresponds with Jesus' words, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

What is the truth which frees? Through the study of Christian Science we learn that it is the truth about God and His universe, including man in His image and likeness, the record of whose creation is given in the first chapter and the first five verses of the second chapter of Genesis. On perusing this account, we find that "not a single element of error" is to be found therein. And why? Because it portrays the creation of the perfect spiritual creator, God, who is defined in Science and Health (p. 587) as "the great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence;" who, as we read in the first chapter of Genesis, "saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

Referring to spiritual creation in Science and Health (pp. 502, 503), our Leader writes: "The creative Principle—Life, Truth, and Love—is God. The universe reflects God. There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God." God, or Truth, is the one great and only cause, from which all things real, all things good, emanate. This is the spiritual viewpoint which the earnest student of Christian Science is endeavoring always to retain; and in the ratio of his spiritual understanding and endeavor he is experiencing the happiness and the freedom which are the birthright of the sons and daughters of God.

How is the Christian Scientist doing this? By associating continually with spiritual ideas. The more closely acquainted he becomes with these ideas, the more clearly he sees that they have "not a single element of error," the result being that evil is gradually removed from his experience. Take, for instance, his attitude towards work. Work is a manifestation of intelligence; and God being Mind, infinite intelligence, it is evident that He supplies the necessary intelligence to fulfill the manifold tasks in the universe. Man is God's unlabored expression; and this truth removes any offensive belief of toil or fatigue, leaving in the place of these the true sense of joyous occupation and right activity.

Does the Christian Scientist consider a business merely an opportunity to make money? No. He understands a business to be a channel through which the needs of mankind may be met. Principle should be recognized as present to control his business affairs through honesty, justice, right dealing, and truthfulness. Under this government the law of supply and demand is adjusted for the benefit of all concerned; and the beliefs that greed, dishonesty, injustice, wrong dealing, and untruthfulness can prosper or hold sway are removed. Does he look upon himself and his fellow-men as sick and sinful mortals, who suffer and die? No. He sees, instead, that man is made in the image and likeness of God; that he reflects the harmony which is health, the truth which is the reality of being, the love which is divine; and thus he is freed from the bondage of material beliefs.

The Christian Scientist recognizes in the supplying of his needs the natural outcome of right action which has been preceded by right thinking, the "added" things which follow earnest seeking for the kingdom of God. Thus, by setting his "affection on things above, not on things on the earth," he endeavors to see infinite Mind expressed wherever he is; and any erroneous thought contrary to God's spiritual ideas he immediately recognizes as an intruder that would manacle him with a belief of lack in some form or other—lack of knowledge, understanding, activity, wisdom, love, honesty, ability, health, substance, intelligence. He knows, however, through establishing his life in the truth of Being, that the sons and daughters of God can never lack, and, indeed, never have lacked, any of these qualities, since they are the qualities that go to make up the compound spiritual idea, man; and this truth removes properly all offensive beliefs.

In the light of the great truth about God, man, and the universe, which Christian Science reveals, thousands of its students, by adhering strictly to the Bible, to Mrs. Eddy's writings, and to the authorized Christian Science literature, are proving the utility of the spiritual viewpoint of life to the annulling of their former material views. Daily they are praying, as did the Psalmist of old, "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Our Source of Authority

March 24, 1928

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit