Loathing the Error

A practitioner reminded me many times that when confronted with an error, we must learn to loathe it. I had a little trouble with that at first, but now I can see what was meant by it. Mrs. Eddy says, “If at present satisfied with wrong-doing, we must learn to loathe it.” (S&H, p. 240) Because, if we don't loathe it, we probably won't get rid of it. We just coexist with it, and that is never God’s plan.

Some things that I had not considered to be sins, I found out were sins — to be fearful all the time, to entertain negative thoughts, jealousy — all are sins of the carnal mind. I had to learn to loathe it, and not tolerate it in my thought. Once I did that and really meant it, I began to make progress. In order to do this you have to be a terror to error. You can't just kindly live with an error, you've got to kick it out and get rid of it, and get on with the good work God gives you to do.

I’m very grateful for the whole chapter Mrs. Eddy wrote entitled “Pond and Purpose.” She explains this process, the three baptisms. The first, giving up and really seeing the error we have been indulging in — giving it up, sometimes with tears, sometimes it’s chronic, sometimes acute. Then you progress on and learn more about God, and have a sense of joy and peace in your life. It continues until you have that peace that passeth all understanding, and you're expressing more and more of that divine Mind which we all have, but sometimes gets dusted over with the trials of the day.

So I’m very grateful for what Christian Science teaches us. As was said before, it is a science, it can be practiced by anyone; it’s also Christian, which means it must have the love and compassion, and the following of the precepts of Christ. It’s a wonderful way of life, and I am so glad it is being practiced correctly here in this church.