ON first coming into Christian Science, one feels a great sense of uncertainty as to the correctness of his own judgment in deciding what is right and what is wrong. At this point he is in danger of adopting some other person's sense of what is right before he has become so impregnated with the truths of Christian Science that he has learned in some measure to be sure as to what Principle demands.
There seems to be a challenge from mortal mind whenever one is sure he is right, and we should not be made inactive through fear of being thought self-righteous by those who do not understand. The three wise men did not return to Herod, who had employed them to find Jesus, showing that good does not keep us in bondage to the judgment of others, even of those who seem to be in authority, unless right demands it. Joseph did not take Mary and Jesus into Judea (because "he was afraid to go thither"), and Jesus did not cast himself down from the pinnacle to please Satan. So we too must learn to decide for ourselves; study for ourselves; practise for ourselves, and turn more and more to the Bible as interpreted in Christian Science for instruction, being most careful not to be led aside through indolence, through material interests, or through the desire to shift responsibility. We must have some consciousness of our "power to think and act rightly" (Pulpit and Press, p. 3), or we shall fail to bring out that which Mrs. Eddy demonstrated in her own healing work.
When one is right he is not dealing with any question from a personal standpoint. If he is working for his church, he works against impersonal error and for universal good. If the reading in his church seems to him inadequate, he does not criticize or treat the reader, but works to realize the full manifestation of intelligence and the expression of love; and he can be sure he is right in so doing. If the music in his church is not absolutely perfect to his sense, he does not permit himself to dislike the singer or abuse the music committee, but he prays for perfect harmony. When one is right this spirit will actuate all his thinking, in his church, his business, and his home.
