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CSEC ON-LINE REFERENCE LIBRARY |
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ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD
And scan His work in vain. Early in his experience the student of Christian Science learns that he is not expected to accept blindly any statement, whether religious or secular, but must apply to it the inexorable test of Principle. He thus sees that nothing material can ever furnish positive evidence of reality, indeed that such evidence is of value only when scientifically corrected. In the Scriptures we find the most unequivocal condemnation of the mental quality spoken of as unbelief, and yet today many persons rather pride themselves upon their unwillingness to believe in or accept spiritual things, on the ground that they are intangible and according to mortal belief not subject to proof. This last supposition has been proved baseless in Christian Science, which furnishes proof of the reality of spiritual law and spiritual being and thus destroys the material evidence of sickness and suffering, replacing these unnatural conditions with the harmony which is inseparable from spiritual being. In the New Testament we read that in Jesus' wonderful ministry of healing he was confronted with unbelief to such an extent that in one place, as we are told, '"he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." We also read: "He marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching." This statement will be readily understood by the Christian Scientist, who will see that Jesus' work along the line of healing was temporarily given up until through spiritual teaching the darkened understanding had gained enlightenment from the truth he taught. The strange thing is that the centuries should have lost sight of this important lesson and that those who called themselves the Master's followers should have felt no regret for their own unbelief, indeed should have sought to justify it on the basis of material evidence, which their Master denied in order to heal the sick. Following the wonderful story of the transfiguration we read that when Peter, James, and John descended from the mountain with their glorified Master they came upon a case which the other disciples had been unable to heal, — the epileptic boy whose distressed father sought the Master's aid. This was readily given, and Matthew says, "Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour." When Jesus was alone with his disciples after this incident they very naturally asked him why they had failed to heal the boy, and the great Teacher's reply cannot be too often pondered by students of Christian Science today. It was this: "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." The question is sometimes asked whether the unbelief which Jesus condemned in this case was that of his disciples or of the afflicted father and the multitude which stood by and mocked. In taking the different accounts of this incident found in the first three gospels it is very clear that his criticism included all who doubted the power of Truth to heal the sick and suffering. On page 449 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy we have this assurance: "A grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth." It cannot be denied that many cases of delayed healing in Christian Science are due directly and indirectly to this error of unbelief, but this must never be held over the sufferer in the way of condemnation, for if the obstacle happens to be a solidified form of unbelief in the thought of the patient, or possibly in that of some close relative or friend, this must be cast out by the truth, and the results will be in accordance with the words of Christ Jesus. Not only is it true that with God all things are possible but it is also true that they may be applied to every faithful follower of the Master, if we are to accept his words, "Nothing shall be impossible unto you." In the third chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews we read: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." The apostle goes on to explain that if any of us fail to enter into the rest provided for the people of God, it is because of unbelief. There can be no question on the part of any Christian Scientist as to the effectiveness of the divine Word, and it therefore remains with those who look to it for aid that they cast out of their consciousness everything which would tend to hinder its operation. It may be well for us while advancing along spiritual lines to turn all our doubt upon the arguments and aggressions of evil. We certainly have authority and good reason to doubt everything which is unlike God, and the doubt should be followed up by a swift and vigorous denial of evil's reality. This scientific process of reasoning will establish us more firmly in the truth, which is not dependent upon us for its support, although we are entirely dependent for all things upon the truth taught and demonstrated by Christ Jesus and revealed anew today in Christian Science. The chilling, deadening tendencies of unbelief are likely to hold sway on the plane of mortal thought so long as we look to materiality for evidence of our progress; but when we gladly and obediently refuse to look at the "things which are seen" by mortal sense, we shall begin to see the glorious things so freely provided for us by divine Love.
Christian Science Sentinel, July 27, 1918 |
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