These days we find religious literature sometimes coming into our hands that is reminiscent of Christian Science. Words, phrases, whole sentences, provide a surface appearance similar to the style we find in Mrs. Eddy's writings—authors even using some of her carefully-thought-out technical terminology and capitalization. These publications might "deceive the very elect." Matt. 24:24; They might make even longtime members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, believe that these writings are issued by The Christian Science Publishing Society, or at least that they are promulgating a message similar to Christian Science as Mrs. Eddy discovered it.
But this is not always so, and while we may see in these publications a hint of inspiration and genuine Christliness, we are wise to consider them with discrimination. Lest we be deceived, we would do well to heed the warning given in one of John's epistles, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." I John 4:1;
For our own and other people's protection it is vitally important to read and circulate only literature on Christian Science that is absolutely correct and pure. Mrs. Eddy lovingly emphasizes this to her followers in a By-Law in the Manual of The Mother Church, which, if obeyed, will prevent members from being misled—and from misleading others. It reads in part: "A member of this Church shall neither buy, sell, nor circulate Christian Science literature which is not correct in its statement of the divine Principle and rules and the demonstration of Christian Science. Also the spirit in which the writer has written his literature shall be definitely considered. His writings must show strict adherence to the Golden Rule, or his literature shall not be adjudged Christian Science." Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 11;
