Among the many invaluable lessons given us by our Leader, that on "Obedience" is a chart and compass to the worker in Christian Science at whatever stage of his progress he may be. In it she says, "Obedience is the offspring of Love; and Love is the Principle of unity, the basis of all right thinking and acting; it fulfils the law." Also, "Insubordination to the law of Love even in the least, or strict obedience thereto, tests and discriminates between the real and the unreal Scientist" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 117, 119). With Truth as our guide, persistent mistakes are inexcusable, and we should see clearly that inasmuch as obedience is a product of mature intelligence, our advancement in Christian Science must be measured by it. Obedience is a spiritual quality, while disobedience is a characteristic of mortal mind,— the Adamic race which is referred to in the Bible as the "children of disobedience."
In family life, and in that larger family, the human race, there is perhaps nothing which so aids in maintaining harmony as ready and intelligent conformity to recognized law and authority, but we may not immediately see just why obedience is so essential to happiness and prosperity. We must surely obey something; either the blind instincts of sense, or the illumined requirements of that moral and spiritual law which can never be wholly shut out from consciousness, else we should cease to live. Paul says, "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
Law presupposes obedience, and together they establish order and harmony. The habit of ready obedience aids in the development of character, and it alone makes great achievements possible. This will be readily conceded in relation to education, to the discipline of armies, and to the direction of men engaged in large enterprises. The reason for the enforcement of obedience in the home lies in the fact that the discipline of life which inevitably comes with maturer years, will seem like a cruel fate to those who have not learned to obey in childhood, for law cannot be set aside nor thwarted by obstinacy or caprice. It is also true that no one is ready to command who has not learned to obey.
