Christian Science teaches the importance of dealing with every claim of so-called mortal mind as well as affirming the truth of perfect God and perfect man. In the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy says (p. 339), "You conquer error by denying its verity." When, in spite of our most prayerful and constant affirmations of the truth, our problems refuse to yield, it may be well for us to ask ourselves, "Am I denying the error specifically and scientifically?"

Christian Scientists learn to recognize that although in an absolute sense error is nonexistent, it does appear to be real to mortal sense. Consequently it is necessary to deny the evidence of the material senses and thus to deprive error of its claim to reality. Our Leader clearly understood the nothingness of error and the importance of rebuking error's spurious beliefs. She writes (ibid., p. 184), "Belief produces the results of belief, and the penalties it affixes last so long as the belief and are inseparable from it." She adds, "The remedy consists in probing the trouble to the bottom, in finding and casting out by denial the error of belief which produces a mortal disorder, never honoring erroneous belief with the title of law nor yielding obedience to it."

Perhaps fear, timidity, or a sense of inadequacy is saying that we cannot deny error effectively because we lack the necessary authority or ability. We must not allow such suggestions to deter us. Christ Jesus never failed to rebuke error in order to uncover and destroy it. Indeed his denial of error was so vigorous and instantaneously effective that the people "were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out" (Luke 4:36).

It was the Christ-power that enabled Jesus effectively to rebuke and cast out evil. That this power has continued to be available for all to demonstrate is shown in the experience of the Apostle Paul. We read in Acts (16:16-18) that Paul, when he was confronted by "a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, ... turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

Failure to deny error may cause unnecessary delay in the solving of our problems. The smallest and seemingly most trivial erroneous belief, if allowed to linger in thought, delays the complete demonstration of Truth. An effective denial of error is essentially scientific.

The Christian Scientist's first step is to examine his motives thoroughly. For example, he does not deny error merely as a means to harmonize his human experience. On the contrary, he takes care that his denial of error does not in any way unwittingly substantiate error's claim to reality. He then asks himself, "What am I denying—a material body, condition, person, or circumstance external to consciousness?" Christian Science teaches that all error stems not from matter but from mortal mind. We should therefore deny error not as a reality but as a false, mesmeric illusion of mortal mind. And we break this mesmerism and dispel the illusion through a scientific denial of this so-called mind.

In Science we learn that since error is an illusion, its claim to identity and power is presented only through deception. Our work, then, is to so clarify our spiritual vision, our understanding of the Christ, Truth, that we are enabled to see through error's deceptions. This work often requires vigor and perseverance. A halfhearted, perfunctory denial of error is not sufficient. We sometimes need to stir ourselves mentally in order to break down the apathy which would cloud our vision and leave error uncovered but not destroyed. If we are not fully awake to the illusory nature of evil, we may be deceived into attempting to deny error as a reality. Clearly, our mental cleansing needs to be thorough and unremitting until evil assumes no reality in our thinking.

The Christian Scientist does not regard his denial of error as a humanly psychological method designed to act through mental suggestion. He knows that in Science the denial of error is an essential part of prayer—a prayer which acknowledges the living, activating presence and power of only one Mind, God. He understands, therefore, that a scientific denial of evil must be the outcome of his unselfed love for God—a deeply sincere longing and practical endeavor to understand and to prove His allness. When we purify our motives and earnestly strive to live in accordance with our highest understanding of God, divine Love, we are then able to deny error effectively and with authority.

The importance of denying error scientifically was proved to the writer in the following experience. A condition developed which appeared to affect the whole of one side of his face, so that one ear became completely deaf. Although he prayed consistently about the problem, it did not yield; and after a few days the affected ear began to discharge. After more than a week of prayerful metaphysical work the condition still had not improved. Then one day the thought suddenly came to him: You have dominion. Therefore all you need to do is to use that dominion.

Immediately, without pausing to consider what the result would be, the writer emphatically and vigorously denied the error, literally commanding it to depart. About an hour later, having resumed his business activities, he suddenly realized that his hearing was normal. The discharge had completely stopped, and the erroneous facial condition had disappeared. Not one vestige of the problem remained.

Later, when pondering this healing, the writer wondered why it had taken place so suddenly after such a seemingly long delay. He then recalled that although he had persistently affirmed the truth, he had neglected to deny the error. In consequence, he had been unwittingly regarding the condition as something real which he had to overcome through Christian Science. He had to resist the error positively in order to cast it out, thus proving the Bible injunction (James 4:7), "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

We read that Jesus gave his disciples "power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases" (Luke 9:1). Through Christian Science the same power and authority are available to all to understand and to practice. Let us strive to express that Christlike purity, goodness, and love which serve as a living rebuke to all evil. Thus shall we scientifically deny error and aid in the universal recognition and acceptance of Truth. We shall then increasingly rejoice in the proof that error is unknown in the allness of God.