USUALLY it is not difficult for a patient to see that unbelief, lack of understanding, sin, doubt, discouragement, fear, and lack of application tend to retard or prevent healing in Christian Science. But there are hindrances of another class which stand in the way of the desired end, and which are usually more difficult for the patient to discern. These appear in the way solely because the patient has not learned the lesson of self-surrender. He does not know what self-surrender is or means, hence he does not know how to go about it; and this not having been accomplished, the unconscious assertion of self leads him to put many stumbling-blocks in his own way.
Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." The self which must be denied or renounced is the carnal mind which Paul declared is "enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Many people have not carefully thought out these matters, or carefully searched the Scriptures with regard to them, but it is the implicit belief of the average person that we get into the understanding of the truth and the kingdom of God by commencing where we are, and by correcting, developing, and enlarging that which we already have, until finally ye shall reach perfection. Those, however, who act upon this theory make as radical a mistake as did those of ancient times who thought to start upon the earth as a foundation and build a tower which would reach to heaven. God brought their work to utter confusion and destruction, as He does with the work of those who try to build spiritual life, or to gain spiritual health, on the basis of the carnal mind.
Said the apostle, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ;" and in immediate connection with this declaration we also find these words: "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." The fact is, that before we can learn much of the saving truth, we must be willing and ready to discard, as having no truth, reliability, or permanent value, all of that habit of thought and all of our so-called knowledge which is directly or indirectly based on the body or the testimony of the senses. In the measure that we have emptied our minds of "philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world," we are ready to learn and experience the benefits of Truth. Said Jesus: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus said again: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him;" that is, we cannot bring our mortal selves, our carnal minds, to God. We must renounce, or give up, the carnal mind, and let the Spirit be manifested in us; and thus we come to Christ.
