Correcting False Concepts

ELIZABETH ADLAM

Children attending the Christian Science Sunday School from their earliest years have the unique privilege of gaining the correct understanding of God and of man, and of learning the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures. But often the adult beginner in the study of Christian Science may find that numerous misinterpretations of the Bible must be corrected, and that many of his preconceived beliefs and notions concerning the nature of God must be discarded and eradicated from thought.

Many familiar texts, thundered from old-time pulpits, have struck fear and consternation into sensitive childish hearts, leaving deep impressions of a God of wrath and vengeance watching from a great white throne to punish every youthful misdeed. And oftentimes these impressions have remained firmly embedded in thought throughout the years. However, when the light of Christian Science is thrown upon the Bible, through the inspired words of our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and her other writings, it is with relief and joy that we begin to discern the true nature of God as Love, Truth, Life, Principle, unchanging and unchangeable, and not as a sort of potentate administering both good and evil.

The well-known text from Galatians, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," has, from childhood on, conveyed to many the thought of punishment for wrongdoing, and nothing more. With the fuller interpretation gained through the unfoldment of Truth in our understanding, does it not also mean to us the sure reaping or reward for right sowing or thinking expressed in better health, more harmony, peace, and supply? For if a man sows thoughts of love, peace, gratitude, joy, shall he not gather the harvest of so doing? Indeed St. Paul, immediately after the words already quoted, said, "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Christian Science does not condone or excuse evil under any guise whatsoever, and shows why sin brings its own suffering, so that "they who sin must suffer" (Science and Health, p. 37). But it also shows the sure reward for righteousness or right thinking. Mortal mind is much given to predicting and expecting evil instead of good, so we must be ever on the alert to watch our thinking and see to it that we are expecting good only.

How many earnest men and women have prayed and pondered the passage from the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done"! They were taught in childhood to accept with meek resignation any and all calamities which befell them, and patiently to endure them, as being sent from God for some wise purpose—a purpose which was too deep for them to understand, and which they should not question.

What a different light is thrown upon this passage through its true spiritual interpretation given by Mrs. Eddy (ibid., p. 17): "Enable us to know,—as in heaven, so on earth,—God is omnipotent, supreme"! And what a burden drops away as the understanding is gained that, since God is omnipotent good, He can and does will only good to His children! We also learn that we may rely with absolute confidence upon the perfect will of God and begin at once to repudiate the old, devastating beliefs and fears, knowing that they are never real, true, or necessary, for they are never God's will—Love's will.

Many other oft-quoted passages from the Bible will easily be recalled, statements we have been accustomed to regard as beautiful, idealistic sentiments. But through the unfolding of Truth in our consciousness these are found to be vital, practical, usable truths, applicable here and now in our everyday experience as we lay hold of them and make them our own.

If we have been struggling for a long time with some seemingly tenacious difficulty, physical, financial, or moral, it will be well carefully and prayerfully to examine our thinking to ascertain what we are believing and accepting. Are we still holding to mistaken notions and impressions? Are we unwittingly accepting some of our ills as traceable to the will of God? Perhaps we are still in bondage to some hazy belief of punishment for past mistakes and misdeeds. It behooves each one of us to search honestly, and see to it that we are not still being influenced and victimized by our childhood fears of a God of vengeance. In short, that we are not still believing in two powers, good and evil.

Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 323), "The true idea of God gives the true understanding of Life and Love, robs the grave of victory, takes away all sin and the delusion that there are other minds, and destroys mortality."

A thorough examination of our thoughts, habits, and foibles may perhaps disclose many traits and traditions to be dispensed with. But true self-discipline is worth every effort we may make, for as we replace wrong concepts with the truth of being, and let go the old fears and misconceptions as they are uncovered to us, we shall grow into such an understanding of God and our relation to Him that we shall translate our understanding into demonstration, and so find health, harmony, and peace.

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Spiritual Character-Building

November 6, 1937

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