Understanding premarital sex as a form of adultery, I'd thought that perhaps for some the seventh commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery" Ex. 20:14; might seem difficult to keep. But as a married woman, happy mother, and progressing Christian Scientist, I felt that for me the temptation of committing adultery would be out of the question. My arrogance on this subject was due to receive a rude shock, and I learned a valuable lesson—one that included many lessons.
I suddenly found myself in the situation of being attracted to a man who, with his wife, was a friend of our family. The wife, who was interested in astrology, had (unknown to me) charted both her husband and myself and found that according to astrology a "natural attraction" existed between us. This seed, planted and tended in his consciousness, presented itself to mine when he told me of his attraction to me.
At first I was confident. I knew such an attraction was obviously not in accord with what Christian Science had helped me learn about fidelity. Not only was I learning my completeness as God's perfect child, but I was becoming aware that the manhood and womanhood of God's creating are expressed by all. Though we may think of ourselves as in this human drama, we are in reality the perfect idea, man. Because Mind, or God, is the source of man, man does not know perversion; and as we understand this, we can prove it, so that to stray morally is not inevitable, desirable, or natural.
Initially I met the magnetic suggestion with human will. And I felt triumphant. But after some months of not seeing this individual, still literally obedient to the seventh commandment, I found myself almost overwhelmed by my attraction to him. Temptation is always presented in a form attractive to the material senses and to human consciousness; otherwise it would not be a temptation. Mrs. Eddy perceptively states, "It is easier for Christianity to cast out sickness than sin, for the sick are more willing to part with pain than are sinners to give up the sinful, so-called pleasure of the senses." Science and Health, p. 138;
Nothing in my background justified this attraction away from my goals to progress in spiritual understanding and the practice of Christian Science, away from my happy, useful role as wife and mother. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes in the chapter entitled "Marriage": "Marriage should improve the human species, becoming a barrier against vice, a protection to woman, strength to man, and a centre for the affections." ibid., p. 60;
My husband was aware of my struggles, and, providing quiet support, he left me free to work things out. A practitioner was employed from the time of my first awareness of the challenge. Still, the pull was unreasoning and persistent.
I finally replaced the human will to struggle against a seeming force with a humble turning to God, saying: "I want to be obedient. And I know You expect that of Your child. But I cannot battle this, so if I am not to succumb to this temptation, it's up to You." This was a turning point. Attempts of human will to set the stage for even a smallest breaking of the moral law were rendered impossible by Love's guiding care. In retrospect, the foiling of this false sense— the counterfeit of Mind, God—seems almost amusing. It certainly showed God's control to be present, as is always the case.
The final destruction of this temptation occurred, without the effort of human will on my part, but with a clear decision finally made and the determination to abide by it. I had known all along that I would eventually have to decide to put aside this attraction, but I had continued putting off that decision. As a follower of Christ Jesus and a Christian Scientist, I knew my goals would not coincide with committing adultery. Intellectually I could see this, but I needed to know it and feel it—to make it my own conviction.
My answer came in a Bible verse used as the Golden Text in one of the Bible Lessons in the Christian Science Quarterly: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Josh. 24:15; "This day," I thought, "that's my instruction!" I made my choice then and there, and I was ready to live by it.
Shortly thereafter I saw clearly that there could be nothing to gain from satisfying such a temptation—that the claim of promised pleasure was an empty one, because it nested in the false claim that I already lacked something. That was impossible, for as God's image, what could one lack? Lack can only be suggestion, unable to prove itself. As the reflection of Mind, I could lack nothing good—for I included all good.
In this struggle I was protected from breaking the seventh commandment until I was free mentally. God's presence was felt in a practical way. This experience blessed everyone. It showed the lie of astrology to be nothing but suggestion and belief; it furnished a proof of man's reflected dominion so aptly stated by Mrs. Eddy: "The planets have no more power over man than over his Maker, since God governs the universe; but man, reflecting God's power, has dominion over all the earth and its hosts." Science and Health, p. 102.
I have since had further social contact with these friends and have found not a vestige of the old temptation—only a genuine spiritual love in my consciousness for both. But the real healing has been the joy of spiritual progress and the happiness in my home, touching all its members.
The Ten Commandments are as modern as tomorrow!
