Be a Law...

[Junebug]

"Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." S&H 442:30

How are you being a "law to yourselves?"
How does one "protect themselves" or guard thought against malpractice or animal magnetism?

It seems, lately, I feel like I'm being "attacked," mentally, at work. And, today, on the way home, I thought about the quote above, and felt the need to protect myself... but am wondering how to specifically go about this. I start with the Scientific Statement of Being... and that about covers it. Is that enough? What are some approaches that you all have?

I'd appreciate your input.

[ChristInAll]

One way to help your situation is to realize that because God is all good that your not being attacked in the first place. You however, believe that you are mentally at work that is. Whenever I am stressed, I try and feel close to God.


Sincerely, ChristinAll

[mhnlm]

Hi Junebug:
Sounds as if one "ghost" is fearing another "ghost" ):->

Mrs. Eddy reminds us:

"Can you see an enemy, except you first formulate this enemy and then look upon the object of your own conception?" (MW 8:11-13)

"maplpractice" is basically the "wrong practice" of beginning thought from the standpoint of "appearances" or "personal sense."

And, Mrs. Eddy tells us:

"This error in the premise leads to errors in the conclusion in every statement into which it enters." (S&H 277:27-28)


"For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there is no other existence," (S&H 492:3-5)

Dr. De Lange used to say, in essence, that if you are thinking of yourself as a person being thought of by other persons, you are doing enough malpractice on yourself that there's no need to be concerned about "others" .... );->

Perhaps that's what Jesus meant when he said:

"first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;" (Matthew 7:5)?

"Fret not thyself because of evil [men],
For there shall be no reward to the evil [man];" (Proverbs 24:19-20)

"for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

With ALL Blessings
Michael
):->

[LoraHoward]

Dear Junebug,

Here is a method to protect yourself.
First, understand that evil is impersonal. It is not person, place nor thing. Just as there truly is One God, all-good,from which all reality springs, there is a false suggestion of one evil, all bad,from which all wrong suggestions arise.Similarly, just as a musician uses notes, and a mathematician uses numbers, mortal mind (evil's lackey) uses people, places and things to symbolize/personify it's suggestions.

So, you don't deny or vilify the person,but attack the impersonal evil, reversing it's suggestions. Remember, the exact, precise opposite of evil is Truth.

Now, to do this first get a really good idea of what God is. The most efficient way is to use the synonyms. Take one at a time a consider all the qualities and attributes each synonym contains. EX: Love is power, presence, relationship. Love is kind, tender, benign, considerate. There is no power but Love, so the only events that can happen , that can be enforced by law, that have foundation,are from Love. And so on...
Then take Man and relate Man to each synonym, then say that you are that Man. There is no other Man.

Then, take each error--slander, hate, accusations, thought transference, whatever seems to be going on in your life--and reverse each and every one, by comparing each to it's opposite God-like quality or synonym.EX: hate has no Mind, so it cannot think, communicate or express itself. God is the only Mind and Mind is all good, benevolent intelligence, beautifully colored with wisdom. What appears as hate is simply an opposite suggestion with no life, foundation or Truth. It mimics reality and has no power. Love is all power.... and so on.

Then, during your day, and as much as within you lies, refuse to believe the bad stuff. Even if it is right in your face, say to yourself,"i see you and you are nothing. I cannot be hurt. You appear to cover Love, but you are less than a cloud on the sun. Only the love is there.
Keep all this up and do not give in to discouragement, which is yet another claim of evil.

This method works, sometimes quickly, sometimes longer.
I thought you might appreciate some concrete things to do .

--Lora

[nevergiveup]

Hi Junebug,

What's helped me throughout the years with this is oneness with God, divine Mind and obedience to the First Commandment.

The world tends to condemn us and judge us for being different or loving the things of Spirit and it's an absolute necessity to stick up for ourselves. Remembering that God, Spirit alone is our Judge and that's all we need listen to has been very helpful to me.

"Coming out from the world and being separate" and living a Christian life is not harmful, but we have to make sure we're listening to God alone and not being in sympathy with the world and its judgements. Then we're only open to thoughts that are good, peaceful, loving, etc and anything to the contrary has no effect or ability to touch us.

To me, being a law to oneself, means being under the law of God, good, divine Mind and not being swayed or effected by the so-called laws, traditions, and culture of the world or by mortal mind's idea of things. Mortal mind can pose as quite the authority and lawgiver, but "The Lord our God is one Lord", the only true power, and that's all we need listen to or be influenced by.

All the best to you!

[Junebug]

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughtful responses. You've all given me some helpful ways to approach this.

[Caron]

"Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." S&H 442:30

How are you being a "law to yourselves?"
How does one "protect themselves" or guard thought against malpractice or animal magnetism?

It seems, lately, I feel like I'm being "attacked," mentally, at work. And, today, on the way home, I thought about the quote above, and felt the need to protect myself... but am wondering how to specifically go about this. I start with the Scientific Statement of Being... and that about covers it. Is that enough? What are some approaches that you all have?

I'd appreciate your input.

Dear Junebug,

As I've read the Christian Science Bible Lessons over the past several weeks, I've thought of your post, because there are so many pertinent passages contained in our Lessons this month -- particularly the first three weeks. Do you have the study edition (full-text) for this month (June)? If so, you might want to keep it and refer to it as an excellent source of instruction and inspiration. (If you don't have it, I can send you one if you get in touch with me.)

This week's lesson has a passage in the responsive reading that says, "Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually." That might be helpful in your situation at work. Keep looking for the face of God in each person you interact with. And seek God's strength in maintaining your spiritual poise. He is a present source of help each moment.

Besides observing my thoughts to see if they're in line with Truth and Love, the other thing that I feel is important in defending myself from mental malpractice is to make sure my actions are also in line with Truth and Love. The Christian Science textbook says, for example, that "Honesty is spiritual power." It seems to me that the way we live and think make us either safer or more vulnerable, depending on our choices. Honesty is one way of humanly expressing Truth. Integrity is an expression of Principle. Compassion and forgiveness are expressions of Love. I could go on -- but you get the idea!

[joshuaniles]

There are such full and wonderful answers here. I'll just add another line from Science and Health that has helped me think about and work at being a law to myself.

As you said Junebug, on page 442 line 30 of Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy says, "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake."

A few pages farther on page 458 line 23 of the same book she says, "The Christianly Scientific man reflects the divine law, thus becoming a law unto himself."

This second line has helped me think about how I already reflect the divine law and goes just beautifully with the first statement.

Best wishes.
Josh

[shelly]

I have been praying about this very issue. Wondering what Mrs. Eddy wanted when she asked us to pray for ourselves.

For along time I thought I was protecting my "self". But lately I'm coming to understand that I am protecting my own concept of who I am. I am, in obedience to the Lord's prayer, acknowledging first and formost that God in my Father. That I am spiritual, have authority, love goodness, and trust that Good is all and All is good.

I'm starting to believe that the greatest evil is that thought that we are not spiritual. Others may think it. My best protection is to daily agree to my spiritual identity. My only identity. Jesus was the master. In the face of all opposition he kept clear about his identity. That must be a model for us. That we are the son's and daughters of the "living God"

[Do Go Be Man]

Has anyone considered the Biblical context of being a law to yourselves?

Romans 2:12-16 (English Standard Version) (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%202:12-16%20;&version=47;)
"For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."

[Junebug]

I really appreciate the Biblegateway.com link! That's great!
So, are you saying the Bible says, "doing" is more important than just "hearing" the law; and those who do the law naturally, without really having been taught the law, are a law unto themselves? Thus, malpractice cannot hurt while asleep or awake when we "do" the law.
What's your take on "the law" and how one "does it?"