STUDYING the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we find recorded the words and deeds of many people who, to a greater or less extent, proved themselves to be God's witnesses. But the greatest witness of all was Christ Jesus; and students of Christian Science may well consider the statement which he made to Pilate, as found in the gospel according to John: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." Recalling all that we know of Jesus' life, we see that not once did he fail in fulfilling his mission. He was, indeed, a perfect witness to the truth,—the truth about God and His creation, spiritual man and the spiritual universe. That he also knew the enduring quality of his testimony is evidenced by these words which he spake to his disciples: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
In this age, Mrs. Eddy was the first witness to the Christ, Truth, or Christian Science; and she proved, beyond a shadow of doubt, by healing and teaching, that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This she did before giving to the world the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Since then, innumerable witnesses have proved, and are proving, the availability and reliability of this teaching to meet every need which presents itself in the round of daily living.
The opportunity to bear witness is presented to every individual. In fact, one is continually being a witness to good or to evil. The character of a witness is determined by the source or foundation of all testimony which he gives. With this thought before us. let us examine ourselves to find what our status is as witnesses. What are some of the requisites of a good witness, in other words, a witness for God? At once we see that intelligence is of prime importance; and there being but one source of intelligence, divine Mind, to the degree that we manifest or reflect the unerring wisdom of Mind are we truly witnessing for God, bearing testimony and furnishing proof to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that there is one supreme, creative, governing power, who perfectly and continuously maintains His entire creation.
Mrs. Eddy refers to man in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 83) "as a living witness to and perpetual idea of inexhaustible good." Elijah bore witness to the ever present abundance of good in the demonstration of supply for the widow of Zarephath; and shortly afterwards he proved his understanding of God as Life by restoring the widow's son. In the face of such powerful testimony one is not surprised at these words of the woman: "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth." To be such an able witness to the omnipotence and omnipresence of Truth, Life, and Love, results not merely from the work of a day, a week, a month, or even a year; but one may begin now to be God's witness in thought, word, and deed. When Jesus stated so clearly and concisely the reason for his existence, can we, as his followers, consistently claim any different reason or purpose for ours? On page 165 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," we find the question "What am I?" answered thus by Mrs. Eddy: "I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing."
If love is filling our consciousness, we bear witness to the fact by showing more kindness, courtesy, consideration for others, and unselfishness to all mankind, wherever we are and under all circumstances. What a beautiful example of unselfed love is the story of Joseph! He was a faithful witness to love for God and man, in spite of the many perverse conditions which beset him throughout much of his early life. It is our constant privilege to bear witness to Truth by being truthful, exact, honest, sincere, and just in all dealings with our fellow-men, abiding by Paul's counsel to the Philippians, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, . . . think on these things." As we do "think on these things," to the exclusion of all petty suggestions of mortal mind, we are joyful and happy witnesses. Knowing that divine Principle governs and guides man, we bear witness to that fact by expressing accuracy, orderliness, promptness, and by standing firm for our highest sense of right, assured by Scriptural authority that with "the Father of lights ... is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Living according to divine requirements means that day by day we must take just such simple footsteps as are here enumerated, being ever conscious of our responsibility as God's witnesses. In Science and Health (p. 497) Mrs. Eddy speaks of Christian Scientists as "adherents of Truth." This adhering is first of all a mental activity, and afterwards it finds expression in our conversation and daily deeds, these being the evidence that we are followers of the teachings given to the world by Christ Jesus and presented anew to this age by Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. The privilege of being a good witness, whether silent or audible, should never be forgotten or neglected. The world is judging Christian Science by the evidence presented by its followers. Can one, then, be too careful that so far as he is individually concerned his daily living shows forth, in an ever increasing measure, a greater degree of peace, happiness, health, wholeness —in a word, holiness?
Earnestly and steadfastly endeavoring to be faithful witnesses, expressing and living in accord with our highest understanding of the truth which Christian Science teaches, we would never be found disobedient to the ninth commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." When a child, the writer was given the Ten Commandments in rhyme, and the line for the ninth commandment was, "Tell not a willful lie." Such has been a common interpretation of this one part of the Hebrew Decalogue. How grateful we should be that through the study of Mrs. Eddy's writings, our understanding of this, as well as many other parts of the Bible, has been enlarged and perfected! Bearing false witness is the result of having a wrong source or foundation for one's testimony. If we accept the evidence of the so-called material, personal senses, and witness according to their dictation, then we are false witnesses, not only against our neighbor but against ourselves. We are admitting that error is an entity with a channel for its expression. One may be a false witness without voicing error; for mentally beholding one's self or others as sick, poor, disabled, angry, or admitting error of any nature as belonging to man, as being in any place or operating as any thing, means a yielding to the temptation to believe a lie, and prevents one from witnessing to Truth. As a witness in court is often influenced by others, who try to make a tool of him, so we need to be ever on guard against suggestions of evil which would adulterate, hinder, obstruct, or completely pervert our testimony for good.
On pages 430 to 432 of Science and Health we are shown how the claim of the counterfeit tries to sustain itself by false testimony, all evidence being given for the purpose of proving man mortal, subject to sickness and death. Are we being misled today by such a witness as material sense testimony? Are we accepting in any way the evidence of this false witness? Not if we understand in some measure that God is the only cause and creator, and that man, as His offspring, is spiritual and perfect. Because of spiritual discernment, which is man's God-given right, one need never be a false witness, nor fail in properly appraising all testimony presented to him.
In the book of Proverbs we find this statement: "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape." Here we are plainly told that the question of reward depends on the witnessing. A dictionary gives the following definition of reward: "That which is given in return for good or evil done or received." Just as surely as effect follows cause, so is one's reward commensurate with the character and quality of his testimony. An example of this is given in the first gospel, where, in the fifth chapter, several qualities of thought are spoken of, each one followed by a promise which, when fulfilled, would be a reward. Purity of thought is rewarded by seeing God; the blessing or reward for the meek is inheriting the earth; the peacemakers are blessed by the reward of being called God's children; and the reward for the merciful is that they shall obtain mercy. God's eternal law of justice is ever operative and unvarying; and because it is, we may be confident that according to our fidelity as His witnesses shall we be rewarded with good. A true witness is not concerned with the question of reward; if he were, that very condition of thought would prevent him from being a true witness.
In human affairs there are many laws made to govern the office of witness, these laws varying in each country in accord with the form of government, and all being more or less limiting. We are told by the historian Josephus that in ages gone by women and slaves were not allowed to bear witness. How different is this in the kingdom of divine Mind! God is not and cannot be a respecter of persons; and each of His children has equal opportunities and is subject to the same unchanging requirements.
Being ever mindful of our duty as witnesses, taking thought that our testimonies are sure and convincing, and proving by daily deeds that we know whereof we speak, are results of following the advice of the master witness, who said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,"—in other words, Have a sure foundation for your testimony,— "and all these things shall be added unto you." This witnessing is truly being about the Father's business; and one need never be unoccupied. Let us be grateful that this work is ours. Then shall we persistently, patiently, fearlessly, bear testimony and furnish proof that it is possible in everyday human experience to be obedient to the spirit and to the letter of the Golden Rule, thinking of others as we would have them think of us and conforming our words and deeds to our thoughts.
At no time did our beloved Leader counsel her students to have before them less than the goal of perfection in any line of endeavor; and the attainment of this goal is to be brought to full success in a manner conformable to the direction found in Isaiah: "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." It cannot be otherwise than this in the work of being God's witnesses. When, as students of Christian Science, we recognize the demand made upon us to bear witness to the truth learned, how glad and willing we should be to obey! If alertness, integrity, and consecration characterize our unceasing efforts, then will be accomplished in an ever increasing measure the overcoming of all false testimony, and the claim of the counterfeit will be rendered null and void. We need not be dismayed that "the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night," for the Apocalyptic vision further declares that "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."
Nothing less than the majesty of God, and the powers of the world to come, can maintain the peace and sanctity of our homes, the order and serenity of our minds, the spirit of patience and tender mercy in our hearts. Then will even the merest drudgery of duty cease to humble us, when we transfigure it by the glory of our own spirit.—
