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"COOPERATE WITH THE DIVINE POWER"

From the March 1921 issue of The Christian Science Journal


NOT a day passes but that, in reading the news of the world, one sees some evidence of "getting together," of more closely cooperating. This need is apparent in every field of human activity, industrial, political, economic; and students of the world's problems agree that this working together can come only through a better understanding of those causes that have tended to separate men rather than to unite them in a common effort to make this a better place to live in. This end can be attained in but one way, — through education, through acquiring a definite knowledge of the underlying origin of existing conditions, and by adopting measures that will draw mankind into a closer sympathy through a removal of these causes. Now this does not mean that all have not witnessed a substantial measure of cooperation, for all are familiar with the many splendid proofs of helpful working together that could be offered. A mere mention of the great war recalls countless means that were adopted to unite millions of people in one common purpose.

Yet, while fully appreciating all that has been accomplished through cooperation, both in war and in peace, it is only too evident that the dominant motive in all human endeavor, whether conscious or otherwise, until animated by divine Principle, is fundamentally and necessarily selfish in the last analysis. Mrs. Eddy has explained this state of mind in two brief sentences in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 186): "Mortal mind is ignorant of self, or it could never be self-deceived . I f mortal mind knew how to be better, it would be better." While recognizing the measure of good that has been attained, yet it is undeniable that humanity has probably never passed through deeper waters than during the last few years. Instead of certain elements being banded together solely to insure greater self-protection and self-preservation, men are at last gradually becoming educated to take a loftier view, and are bending every energy in cooperating with others in the one and only practical manner, through the love which Christ Jesus taught and practiced daily as he mingled among the multitudes, many centuries ago. He entreated his followers to take no thought of their lives, nor any of their merely personal needs, but to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness,—that is, a right understanding of life as spiritual and of man as eternally dwelling in God, the. divine Mind, in whom man lives, moves, and has his being. This Christ-way of true protection and loving cooperation with all of humanity is beautifully described by Mrs. Eddy on page 518 of Science and Health: "God gives the lesser idea of Himself for a link to the greater, and in. return, the higher always protects the lower. The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good. Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality,and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud. All the varied expressions of God reflect health, holiness, immortality—infinite Life, Truth, and Love."

Now the Bible makes it very clear that "all things work together for good to them that love God." And Christian Science demonstrates the fact that love for God is only to be measured by one's obedience to His commandments. That is to say, cooperation with God, the infinite Principle, is manifest through the power that the Master proved to belong to man, by virtue of his reflecting the divine Mind. It is thus that man is forever reflecting Principle, by proving that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus." He is manifesting the Mind of Christ. Man could reflect no other. He possesses no mind of his own, but he is consciously and everlastingly cooperating with divine Mind, doing God's will. Thus poor humanity is being delivered from the strange beliefs of an existence apart from God, who is infinite Life. Man reflects God as naturally and as uninterruptedly as the light and heat emitted by the sun manifest its nature.

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