DISOBEDIENCE TO THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

You've been given on the previous page, a sense of what the First
Commandment means in the teachings of Christian Science. Those of
us who follow Christian Science, learn that we must put into practice
what we are taught. We must watch our thoughts and actions to
avoid "breaking" the First Commandment. Then, we must also actively
seek to conform our thinking to the ideal of what the First Commandment
represents. This is done through daily prayer and demonstration.

Here are some citations from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, which
will give an idea of what we mean by "breaking" the First Commandment:

"Mortal man believes in, but does not understand life in, Christ. He believes
there is another power or intelligence that rules over a kingdom of its own,
that is both good and evil; yea, that is divided against itself, and therefore
cannot stand. This belief breaks the First Commandment of God."
(Miscellaneous Writings, pg 197)

"God is Spirit. Then modes of healing, other than the spiritual and divine,
break the First Commandment of the Decalogue, 'Thou shalt have no other
gods before me.' There are no other heaven-appointed means than the
spiritual with which to heal sin and disease. Our Master conformed to this
law, and instructed his followers, saying, 'He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also.' This is enough. (Mis. pg 221)

"Evil was, and is, the illusion of breaking the First Commandment, 'Thou
shalt have no other gods before me:' it is either idolizing something and
somebody, or hating them: it is the spirit of idolatry, envy, jealousy,
covetousness, superstition, lust, hypocrisy, witchcraft." (Mis. pg 123)

"It is plain that elevating evil to the altitude of mind gives it power, and that
the belief in more than one spirit, if Spirit, God, is infinite, breaketh the First
Commandment in the Decalogue." (Pan. pg 6-7)

"False pleasure will be, is, chastened; it has no right to be at peace. To suffer
for having "other gods before me," is divinely wise." (Mis. pg 209)

"God is not unable or unwilling to heal, and mortals are not compelled to have
other gods before Him, and employ material forms to meet a mental want. The
divine Spirit supplies all human needs." (No and Yes pg 42)

OBEYING THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

This is not easy. We can only take this step-by-step, moment-by-moment,
day-by-day. It is not enough to say, "I have only one God." This is a
universal principle that becomes real in our lives only as we apply it to
the problems that come our way, and to the concepts we hold in conscious-
ness of God's universe. In Christian Science, we might use this principle
in our daily prayers by pondering statements such as: "If there is only
one God, there is only one divine Mind. This Mind is infinite, eternal,
all-knowing, and all-powerful. There is no mortal mind separate from
the one divine Mind. There is no evil mind, hateful mind, insane mind,
immoral mind. I am man, God's perfect image and likeness. Therefore,
I reflect the one divine Mind. I cannot have a finite mind separate from
God. I express all the intelligence, comprehension, understanding,
memory, foresight, wisdom, and intuition that I need today. I cannot be
influenced by any other so-called material mind. I am influenced only
by God, good. Today, I am governed by the one God." And so on.

Here are some citations from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, relating
to obedience to the principle of One God:

"To have one God and avail yourself of the power of Spirit, you must
love God supremely." (S&H 167)

"Applied to Deity, Father and Mother are synonymous terms; they signify one
God. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost mean God, man, and divine Science. God
is self-existent, the essence and source of the two latter, and their office is
that of eternal, infinite individuality. I see no other way under heaven and
among men whereby to have one God, and man in His image and likeness,
loving another as himself. This being the divine Science of divine Love, it
would enable man to escape from idolatry of every kind, to obey the First
Commandment of the Decalogue: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me;'
and the command of Christ: 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' On this rock
Christian Science is built." (Message for 1900 pg 5)

"In the first chapter of Genesis, matter, sin, disease, and death enter not into
the category of creation or consciousness. Minus this spiritual understanding
of Scripture, of God and His creation, neither philosophy, nature, nor grace
can give man the true idea of God — divine Love — sufficiently to fulfil the
First Commandment." (Message for 1902 pg 7)

"To-day, if ye would hear His voice, listen to His Word and serve no other
gods. Then the divine Principle of good, that we call God, will be found an
ever-present help in all things, and Christian Science will be understood.
(Miscellany pg 152)

"The scientific, healing faith is a saving faith; it keeps steadfastly the great
and first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" — no
other than the spiritual help of divine Love. Faith in aught else misguides
the understanding, ignores the power of God, and, in the words of St. Paul,
appeals to an unknown power "whom therefore ye ignorantly worship."
(Miscellany pg 153)


For More on the First Commandment:

Practicing the First Commandment in Daily Life

First Commandment for Children