Fear is universally recognized as one of the strongest elements of the human mind, the efficient cause of disease and the foundation of mortal misery. Being wholly mental, it can only be eliminated by a changed mental condition, while the attempts through material agencies to destroy the physical effects of fear, when unable to remove the fear itself, are, as has been proven, wholly unsatisfactory.
Christian Science shows the real nature of fear, and the necessity of its abandonment, and presents the only teaching which enables mortals to overcome it scientifically.
In view of the numerous phases of fear we have to encounter from day to day, and knowing the rule in Christian Science, that in order to gain the spiritual fact we must reverse the evidence of evil or mortal sense, we can readily see that the first essential step is to substitute a fear not for every claim of fear.
The Bible, the basis of all Christian Science teaching, gives forcible examples of the spiritual command to "fear not." Accepting with all other Christians the events recorded in the Bible as historically true, Christian Scientists also understand them as conditions of mind which are as applicable to humanity to-day as of old, and which all mortals must pass through in working out their salvation, in growing out of the mortal, material sense of things into the spiritual.
In this light the Scriptural command to "fear not," and the conditions attending it, are of special interest to all who are trying to solve life's problems by demonstrating the government of Mind.
On page 525 of Science and Health we read, "Fear was the first manifestation of the error of material sense; it began and will end the dream of matter." We can assume from this that we shall have the claims of fear to meet and master in some form until we overcome the belief of life in matter, therefore we have daily need to remember and apply the spiritual injunction. "Fear not."
A person may have advanced in Christian Science beyond the more material aspects of fear, and look with pity upon those still struggling against fear of material conditions, —climate, food, physical law, etc., and yet be so mentally terrified himself over the more subtle nature and hidden mental operations of evil, that every little error appears magnified. He continually frightens himself and every one with whom he comes in contact, because the "fear not" is forgotten, therefore his peace and safety in God's loving care cannot be realized.
How much better to face the supposed adversary with Peter's question, "Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
If one is a follower of that which is good, he places himself in a direct line with the operations of Good, and consequently partakes of the divine blessings and protection.
It must be remembered that action always proceeds from God. The divine Principle of all being produces all the action there is or ever will be found anywhere. The real man is God's reflection, hence man's true selfhood can be found only in what he knows and reflects of God. "Man is properly self-governed, only when he is guided by no other mind than his Maker's" (Science and Health by Mary Baker G. Eddy, p. 286): also on page 19: "Reflecting God's government man is self-governed, and cannot be controlled by other minds when subordinate to the divine Spirit."
Mortals suffer most through ignorance or forgetfulness of their true selves and the freedom and dominion which encompasses their real being.
A man may have ample moral courage and self-respect to hold himself far above the weakness, temptations, and fears of a dissolute life, wholly from the mortal belief of being too good to fall to the level of such gross evil or to be afraid of its harming him. Yet this same courage and self-respect which sustain him in the one instance, may utterly fail him in another. He finds himself a slave, frightened and helpless before the belief that decaying vegetation, stagnant water, mindless microbes permeating the atmosphere, etc., have power to destroy him; admitting through his ignorance and fear that these conditions are greater than man, and thereby belittling himself and his Creator to an extent that would be considered degrading if attached to his character or his business or social life.
All through the Scriptures we are shown the spiritual protection of God's children who trusted in Him in the face of seeming perils and evil. The flood did not burst forth until Noah, the highest representative of man's unity with God at that time, was safe in the ark, showing us that the characteristics of Truth expressed in man are spiritual realities which exist forever, and which nothing can destroy. The preservation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the midst of fiery flames; Moses, protected to receive and declare God's law in the very face of the decree that every male child should be put to death; Daniel's safety in the lions' den; the experience of Joseph, Paul, Peter, all are striking examples of the power of God to deliver from evil.
Through all these manifestations of divine Love, the omnipresence of Good is clearly demonstrated. The realizing sense of this great fact of Being must be attained, in order to be preserved from the beliefs of evil and the evils of belief.
God should be brought more into the minutiæ of our daily experiences. Our faith in God must be a living, practical faith that cannot be shaken or turned to any reliance on lesser gods under any circumstances; but can we have all faith in God until we lose all faith in everything else? We must not only lose faith in drugs and all material methods of healing, but must also lose all faith in disease, all belief in its supposed power, and all fear of it. This would mean the disappearance of disease.
If a man cannot at once gain a realizing sense of the nothingness of disease, he can begin by trusting as a little child, knowing that he need not fear his body, for as God's child he is greater than his body, greater than any material condition.
The recognition of the law of Good operating in human thought will regulate the system and eliminate disease much better than drugs or any physical law.
We become conscious of the spiritual reality of our being, our God-given life—nature, health, etc., in proportion as we cast out and overcome our beliefs and fears concerning everything that is opposite to the spiritual and eternal.
Every step in Christian Science must be an individual experience. We can only understand God as we have the actual experience that lifts us out of a false sense of God. This experience is always varied and more or less prolonged, even after we have reached a period of growth where we desire to relinquish all error.
We all know if we were good enough, the error would disappear instantly; because it does not, we should not stop trying to be good or to know more of Good. On the other hand, we should increase our efforts until nothing but God's image can be manifested in us.
We do not stand on safe ground in Christian Science until we reach the point where we love it more than we love anything else, and hunger and thirst for a higher knowledge of God. Until this point is reached we can be tempted, our faith can be shaken, and error can attack us from many standpoints. It should not be difficult to attain this position when we realize that through a higher understanding of God, greater and more abundant blessings will come than can possibly come from any other source; for what does Paul say? "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
We cannot stop until the work is done, for only in this way can the divine order be restored, in which the work was finished and God was satisfied with it, satisfied with the universe and man.
Jesus said, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved:" and in Revelation, 2:10, we read: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." We know this does not mean the death of the individual, but the death of error.
As we cease fearing the error without and strive to be right within, we shall prove the truth of our Leader's beautiful message in The Christian Science Journal of March, 1899: "There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. ...
"The right thinker is safe, and abides under the shadow of the Almighty. His thoughts can only reflect peace, good-will, health, and holiness."
