The attitude of Christian Scientists towards evil is frequently misunderstood by those unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science. This attitude is, however, in harmony with that of Christ Jesus. He discriminated between good and evil. The Bible states that he "loved righteousness, and hated iniquity" (Hebr. 1:9). Knowing himself as at one with the Father, infinite good, he did not allow any sense of the reality of evil to enter his consciousness, with the result that he was able to prove that evil was powerless to control or affect him.
Students of Christian Science, modeling their way of life on that of Christ Jesus, abhor evil in every form. But they do not ignore it. On the contrary, they face it fearlessly and are able to cast it out of their consciousness in proportion to their spiritual understanding of the allness of God, good, and the consequent unreality of evil.
People uninstructed in Christian Science may endeavor to overcome evil, but because they regard it as real and formidable, they are not confident of the successful outcome of their struggle. Many individuals, observing the evidence of evil, with its many inventions, coming to the surface, are overcome by the seeming hopelessness of the task confronting them; they grow weary of the struggle and withdraw from it. Christian Scientists, on the other hand, wage their warfare against evil on the lines indicated by Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (9:26), "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air."
If evil is left undisturbed and is nurtured, it will increase until it reaches the point at which it explodes. But this is not desirable or necessary. Mrs. Eddy says: "The pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible detonation to free them. Envy, rivalry, hate need no temporary indulgence that they be destroyed through suffering; they should be stifled from lack of air and freedom" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 356).
If error finds itself faced with the spiritual understanding of its nothingness, it may turn and try to rend its destroyer. It may call on the one denying its presence and power to engage in combat with it, but on ground and with weapons of its own choosing.
In the well-known story told in the first Book of Samuel, Goliath called on the armies of Israel to send a man to fight with him. His challenge was accepted, but not on his terms; so he was overcome by David, the fearless young shepherd, who had none of the weapons on which Goliath depended. As the Bible states, "There was no sword in the hand of David" (17:50).
Many people hold the view that the resurrection of Christ Jesus and his triumph over death and the grave prove that he fought and won a personal battle over evil. In one sense this is true, but this view is likely to leave the impression that it would be well-nigh impossible for any other person to have sufficient knowledge to obtain a victory over evil for himself, even in less difficult circumstances. It is comforting to learn in Christian Science that this impression is incorrect.
On page 597 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes: "The martyrdom of Jesus was the culminating sin of Pharisaism. It rent the veil of the temple. It revealed the false foundations and superstructures of superficial religion, tore from bigotry and superstition their coverings, and opened the sepulchre with divine Science,—immortality and Love." Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection rent the veil of the temple because they proved the nothingness of evil and exposed its elements of self-destruction.
In Science and Health is this statement (p. 569): "The dragon is at last stung to death by his own malice; but how many periods of torture it may take to remove all sin, must depend upon sin's obduracy." In fighting the claims of evil, the individual must follow the example of Jesus by cultivating a knowledge of his own indissoluble sonship with God, good, and by refusing to admit into his consciousness a belief in the reality of evil. This calls for constant spiritual alertness on his part, but this is the way to victory over evil.
