The Time for Thinkers ELLA W. HOAG, CSD            Right thinking has generally been considered of much importance. Men, however, as a whole have not realized how necessary correct thinking is to the right advancement of the individual as well as of the world. To be sure, they have often acknowledged that the best thinkers in any community have been its most valuable members, but this has not been a sufficient incentive to spur others on to like mental activity. Because it has been so largely believed that thinking originates with persons, both personal pride and personal depreciation have tended to hinder mankind from accepting and proving that the ability to think is a universal privilege and possibility, — yes, and also a final necessity.          While Christian people have accepted Jesus' teachings as the right standard for all action, they have frequently failed to see in how large a degree true thinking has been directly concerned therewith. Indeed, they have too often felt that if acts were properly controlled, it made little difference what the thoughts might be. Even when men recognized the importance of thinking, they did not seem to understand how to divide between right and wrong thoughts. Many have been the deceivers and the deceived because no invariable standard was accepted whereby it could be decided as to which thoughts were true and which were false. Today we still have the questions: How are we to become thinkers? How and what shall we think? How are we to divide between right and wrong thinking?          There is an answer to all this questioning, an answer which will satisfy every honest, earnest heart. Christian Science — in its revelation that God is infinite divine Mind, the only Mind there is, and that man is therefore the image and likeness of Mind — immediately calls upon men to awaken to the understanding that right thinking is that which concerns every one most deeply. Christian Science teaches that from right thinking right actions must follow. It stands squarely with Jesus' pronouncement that thinking comes before acting and by guarding thoughts right actions will result.          In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 462) Mrs. Eddy writes: "Anatomy, when conceived of spiritually, is mental self-knowledge, and consists in the dissection of thoughts to discover their quality, quantity, and origin. Are thoughts divine or human? That is the important question. This branch of study is indispensable to the excision of error." Here is given the perfect standard by which all thoughts may be weighed and measured; here is the one simple method whereby each individual not only may become a thinker, but may learn to think only the thoughts of God, divine Mind, and thus free himself from all the disastrous effects of evil thinking.          Since man is the likeness of Mind, all men have the God-given power to reflect perfect thoughts, to think correctly on every subject, to divide between right and wrong thinking at all times, under all circumstances. All the world is beginning to believe that thinking expresses power, and it is only as through Christian Science we learn to divide between the thoughts which originate in the divine Mind and those which are the suppositional product of a supposed mortal mind, the opposite of God, good, that we can be sure we are on safe ground. Only thus can we become helpful thinkers and be protected from the claims of false thinking, which would "seduce, if it were possible even the elect."          Christian Scientists, in accepting that man is the image of divine Mind, acknowledge that each individual must prove this by learning to know whether the thoughts which knock at his mental door are human or divine; and he must, in accordance with Christian Science, reject the one and cling to the other. In order thus to differentiate between true and false thoughts, an understanding of the nature of divine Mind must be constantly gained in ever unfolding measure. This is the great reason why the earnest and continued study of the letter of Christian Science is so necessary. God has revealed Himself in His Word as found in our textbooks, and there we are to look if we are to win that understanding of Mind which will make it possible for us to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ," as Paul so strongly advocates.          In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 252) Mrs. Eddy writes "Christian Science classifies thought thus: Right thoughts are reality and power; wrong thoughts are unreality and powerless, possessing the nature of dreams." How plainly this defines the way out of all evil! When we read in Proverbs that as one "thinketh in his heart, so is he," and join with this the wonderful truth that "right thoughts are reality and power; wrong thoughts are unreality and powerless," who would not hasten to dwell continually with the thoughts of God, divine Mind! The way is indeed clearly defined, but it is straight and narrow! Each must do his own thinking. Each has the God-given ability to think rightly, and thus may prove the all-power of "right thoughts." How soon shall the world be won to Christian Science through right thinking expressed by Christian Scientists? Our beloved Leader tells us (Science and Health, Pref., p. vii), "The time for thinkers has come."   "The Time for Thinkers" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, December 1, 1923

 

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