The former conversation.

[spencel]

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4

From last week’s Forum – Mary Baker Eddy wrote six Footsteps of Christian Science, see page 14 of Collectanea. This is the 5th step. “5. Less Talk Matthew 5: 37” (Corresponding Bible citation, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5: 37)

Click on this title to hear all six discussed during, “The People That Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light — Sunday, August 30th, 2020 Roundtable“. Each step corresponded to citations from the Sermon on the Mount – and beautifully blended with this week’s Lesson which has part of the Sermon on the Mount. During the Roundtable talking less was discussed. It was instructed to practice concise language, the importance of simplicity, to talk less so that you can listen, and one participant said, “You are not going to find peace in a whole lot of arguing discourse – Why, why, why? Peace is found in simple understanding and accepting simple truths for example, ‘This right. This is kind.'”

Having been a talker most of my life I am coming to appreciate the importance of listening, most importantly to God. My former conversation was negative human thinking with no time spent with God in a meaningful way and the result was, “these cometh of evil.” Now I am learning to talk less both verbally and mentally, keep my conversation in heaven and I take time to be quiet with God. This has been a life changing practice that I only learned here through the practical correct teachings of Christian Science.

[spencel]

“You are always talking to yourself, and much of the time, if not careful, you are saying what is not true — how old you are getting, how useless you are, how discouraged you feel, and how much you suffer. Every time you think or declare one of these untruths, you add to the mesmerism which is already weighing you down. You would not make another person have any of these distresses, and surely, God would not. Stop telling yourself these lies. Refuse to think or argue this way, because every time you do so, you take into mentality that which will work against your welfare.” How Can You Help Yourself? by Peter V. Ross

[Susan]

Thank you for this post, and for the article reference. It is very helpful.

This also reminded me of Bicknell Young’s article “Death Overcome.” He says “ …I heard a sinister, diabolical, insidious “voice,” which began to talk to me in a more or less bored, yet masterful way….

Only the fact that I was developed mentally, spiritually, and could “argue” with the “voice,” is what saved me from being forced into oblivion.”

I was not aware of this “voice” until I started listening to Plainfield Church broadcasts. I thought this voice was me. I feel reading Science and Health fills consciousness with Truth and drowns out this voice.

[parthens]

The Bible teaches that living on earth is successful to the extent I reject or turn off wrong thinking and give place to right thinking. The wrong-thinking side of the scales of thought must always be lighter than the right-thinking side, and it should be growing lighter, more insubstantial, every moment, every day.

To the extent that I engage in right thinking, I have attained that state of being which Mrs. Eddy described — in very plain terms — in an 1886 edition of Science and Health.

“At present, we know not fully what we are, but this is certain, that we shall be Love, Life, and Truth when we understand them.”

Wrong thinking is like the mist or fog that blocks the sun’s ray while right thinking is like the sun’s ray itself. These two cannot in the least mingle with one another, ever. “The carnal mind is enmity with God” (Rom. 8:7).

The Bible designates right thinking as “God”, “the Word” (“Logos”), “the Spirit of Truth”, etc., and wrong thinking as “the adversary”, “the accuser”, “satan”, a non-existent talking serpent, etc. These two are more distant from one another than east is from west, or as somethingness is from nothingness..

To Christ Jesus as the Son of man, wrong thinking was felt as something immediately discordant, and he never failed to correct it, to rebuke it, to cast it out — instantly and forcefully — as something not his own.

God grant that I be as dedicated to right thinking and as sensitive to wrong thoughts as Christ Jesus was.

[Author]

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