It is commonly taught in Christian Science that evil is not real. Yes, it certainly appears real to the physical senses and humans worldwide experience the atrocities of evil every day. But in the long run, and from a Spirit-perspective, evil is not the power it claims to be. Its claims can be undone and reversed with the power of Good. Even Jesus Christ taught that the devil is a liar and the father of all lies.
So, how do you define the nothingness of evil without making it real?
Here’s one way shared with me last week.
“Evil is a 0 with the rim rubbed out.”
So, if there’s any evil making a show in your face today, “rub out the rim.” Erase its claims to identity and find nothing left to fear.
Thanks Evan for this reminder that the claims of evil = nothing a big 0. Yet at times we get so ensnared and seem to be overpowered by evil. But once we realize the dominion that God gives us, we can absolutely destroy the so called claims of evil – viz. fear, doubt, work tensions, relationship problems, financial burdens, etc. God has a healing answer to all types of fears and burdens that we carry. Only we need to turn away from the problem and look up to God who is our dearest friend and guide and seek His help. He alone can bring us gladness and freedom indeed. God will send us the right ideas to deal with all kinds of evil. God can lay a table in the wilderness. What can God not do? How simple it is to trust in His care just like an infant entirely depends upon its parents and is carefree. Thanks be to God now and forevermore.
Thank you for this. It is the answer I needed to hear to a prayer I had just written out asking for help with a tendency I’ve had to judge an error which only results in a very unsatisfying feeling.
Much, much , much better to simply erase the appearance of error and see the glorious truth stand forth.
Thank you for your constant stream of living waters here……….
I’m sorry, I don’t get this. Can you say it another way for me, Evan?I don’t understand what you mean by “rub out the rim”. I know you are not being “light” about evil. I really “get” what you mean when you say that although evil is unreal because not of God, it APPEARS real to the physical senses. But from a spiritual perspective it is not. Could you please help me out with the “Erase the rim” comment. Maybe if I don’t get it, someone else doesn’t either?Gratitude for your practical and loving support of spiritual thinking!
Hi Grace,
The “rim” is just referring to the pencil line on the paper that outlines a zero. Rub out the pencil line, and what is left? Nothing. And that’s what evil is to Truth.
I love to draw (tho not much time for it), and also love illustrations and analogies for spiritual teachings. I took my pencil, drew a circle (for zero!), called it
a rim-around-nothing, then erased it. Voila! nothing was left. Just like error, when we erase an erroneous belief from our thought and living, it becomes what it is: nothing. It never truly existed in God’s creation, for God made all and made it good. This premise must be accepted to be useful in our daily lives, yes,
but it is a correct premise! So, happy drawing, Grace, and others! :<)))
Thanks Evan. There is much mathematics in the one perfect science of Christian Science, or the Science of Christ, the Science of Truth. As I read the Bible and our textbook, Science And Health by Mary Baker Eddy I mark the mathematics.
So Grace, when we erase the rim of the zero (0) we have absolutely the following:
I am back again. Hope that helps. Have many and all good days. Rubbing out the rim of zero will
help explain this week’s Bible lesson and answers all our prayers. To God and in Christian Science, evil an error needs to first be rubbed out as mistaken belief and correctly replaced by that which is scientifically true, i.e., factual and rightly belongs in its rightful place in our consciousness.
A large blank space was to appear after the word “following:)
Evan – great! I love to read the definition of evil on page 500 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy!
this makes me smile thanks!!
Got it, thanks everyone…somehow I needed to have it explained again! Now it’s clear as a clear clean stream of water! And just as refreshing! Thank you everyone!
it helps me to remember the math principle (based in Principle, God) that even a billion zeros (i.e., 1,000,000,000 x 0 ) is equal to. . . ZERO.
I was with you Grace but kept reading hoping I’d get to the Truth. Thanks
everyone for making this very clear. Great supportive thoughts.
And nothing is nothing. I love this one. And so appropriate with this week’s lesson.
Thanks everyone. Thank you Evan for the lead. I like your explanation of rim as just the line, zero line. Zero is a tricky figure it appears to be something there although in value it is nothing and so is sickness and all error called evil.
And yes I do have a proof of the nothingness of fear just very recently. The task was to be able to file my Income Tax Return in the US while I am residing in Asia. There is no way I could travel to the US at the moment but my goal was to abide with the law. I started with that right idea “abide” and everything was completed exactly on time though it appeared to have been so complicated. I knew that to be able to reach my goal I had to see clearly that “every right idea has with it the supply [of good] and the supply [of good] is within the idea”. This is quoted from a book on how First Church Tokyo, Japan started. It was divine Love expressed by my Christian Science friends as well as non- members involved in the activity that made this beautifully carried accomplishment. And of course nothing is impossible with God.
As our Hymn sings,
He that hath God his guardian made,
Shall underneath th’ Almighty’s shade
Fearless and undisturbed abide;
Thus to myself of Him I’ll say,
He is my fortress, shield and stay,
My God in Him I will confide.
His tender love and watchful care
Shall free thee from the fowler’s snare,
From every harm and pestilence.
He over thee His wings shall spread
To cover thy unguarded head.
His truth shall be thy strong defense.
He gives His angels charge o’er thee,
No evil therefore shalt thou see;
Thy refuge shall be God most high;
Dwelling within His secret place,
Thou shalt behold His power and grace,
See His salvation ever nigh.
[page 99 of the Christian Science Hymnal]
There are two perspectives but only one Truth. At the last minute I remember to go Up when I am confronted with evil. I sometimes think of it as a shared nightmare that if you join the nightmare you are joining as a mortal and experiencing the material side of life ‘dependent’ on material laws. I know our salvation and the world’s salvation is aligning our consciousness with the Truth. But I can’t understand when innocents, such as little children and animals, seem to get hurt. They can’t reason this as I can. I suppose the best that can be done is to stand tall with the Truth, steadfast, and at least not add to the nightmare.