Truth's Power ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          There is perhaps no passage of Scripture which is so much loved and so often quoted by Christian Scientists as the Master's words, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As this promise is appropriated by each one, it assures him of freedom from every ill which seems to hold him in bondage at the present time or which might threaten him in the future, whether it be manifested as sickness, sorrow, sin, or poverty. In all of Jesus' teachings constant reference is made to the power and availability of Truth, and yet professed Christians in general are on very much the same plane as was Pilate when he asked, "What is truth?" If, for instance, they were told by a Christian Scientist that truth alone could heal some sick person, without the use of any material remedy, would they not question the wisdom of relying upon something unseen by the physical senses and fall back upon the threadbare argument that to depend upon a purely spiritual remedy would be equivalent to doing nothing for the patient. Did we not all believe so before we became acquainted with Mrs. Eddy's teachings?          Now truth may be spoken of as "the substance of things hoped for," although it is approached by faith on the part of humanity. Nothing else is so vital as truth, and the saying of Christ Jesus when on trial before Pilate, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth," cannot too often be recalled. It is noteworthy in this connection that Jesus did not answer Pilate's question, so far as the record goes, doubtless for the reason that the materialists about him would not understand his answer any more than the corresponding thought does today. Yet the Master said on that momentous occasion, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." On page 142 of Science and Health we are told that "Truth is God's remedy for error of every kind."          Students of Christian Science soon learn that they cannot accept both truth and error in respect to anything and make any progress. They must "know the truth" about every problem of human experience, and this demands the acceptance of the spiritual fact at all times. Absolute Truth is always opposed to material sense evidence. The "scientific statement of being," which bases all work done in Christian Science, says (Science and Health, p.468), "Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error." It is necessary, however, to know the truth as distinguished from error, in order to prove Truth's power. When Jesus entered Jairus' home he was told that the ruler's young daughter was dead, but he denied this in the face of scorn and opposition. He held by the changeless fact of God as the only Life of man, while those who laughed at him held to their belief that matter is the arbiter of life and death and that Mind had surrendered its sway, temporarily at least, to this mortal despot.          It was then and there that the answer to Pilate's question was given. Those who were "of the truth" heard his voice and witnessed to the majesty of Truth; even the maiden who was in the dream of death responded to the call and proved that the identity of God's child is never lost or obscured. Those who were not "of the truth" were not participants in that triumph of Life over death. We read that Jesus "put them all out." This cleared the way for the great demonstration which followed, and thus must we put out of our consciousness all that questions or denies in any wise the power of Truth to break the fetters of sin, disease, and death.          That which was true "when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," is just as true today, and when we know it, we can do no less than give utterance to our joy. To the Christian Scientist, Truth's power is infinite and Truth's name so sacred that it can never be taken in vain. It means no cold abstraction, no mere formula of the schools; it is God with us, Love with us, the Christ with us, forever declaring, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Those who cling to this declaration rejoice that Christian Science is obeying the command to "teach all nations" the truth that makes free.   "Truth's Power" by Annie M. Knott, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, February 19, 1916

 

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