Every student of Christian Science accepts the impersonal nature of evil, and is taught to see evil for what it is,—nothing. It is equally true that wisdom and intelligence are also just as impersonal as evil, that, as Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 13), "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals;" therefore, human personality does not give wisdom any more than it gives goodness or love. Wisdom is an individual spiritual inheritance; and no personality has any special claim to infinite Mind any more than he has to the sunshine. One need only step out of shadow, or, possibly, wait for a passing cloud to disappear, to receive all the sunshine needed. So, also, by looking beyond the mortal veil of material belief, which seems at times to dim the vision of unlimited good, it is possible to realize at-one-ment with divine Mind, just as surely as with Life or Love, and thus obtain sufficient light for any decision.
In this connection our Leader considered it wise and necessary to give a By-law (Church Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 1) in which she instructs us that "the members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously." Influencing another to accept a personal viewpoint is an undertaking fraught with danger. We know so little of the education, environment, or variety of experience that has tended to form another's mentality that we are ill-fitted to judge what is best for him. No person is infallible. Few have taken care of their own problems so perfectly—with never an error of judgment—that they can feel qualified to be a "Daniel come to judgment," thrusting opinions unasked upon another. The argument may be presented that it is one's eagerness to serve that prompts this; but often this zeal is the perpetration of selfish human will only. A desire to influence may be instigated by an inclination to rule others; or it may be due to fear that the other cannot manage things for himself. This is a misconception, either of self or of others. We need not fear, nor endeavor to manage. Divine Love and wisdom are omnipresent, caring for all as well as for one.
If evil by the name of some specific claim of disease attempted to attach itself to a brother, we would immediately deny the material evidence; for we well know, as Christian Scientists, it would be erroneous not to do so. It is equally erroneous to believe man has only a limited degree of wisdom, or that another is not so able as ourselves to gain strength and greater understanding by trusting God to guide him in making his own decisions. It would be a false sense of kindness which induced a father to solve a child's arithmetic lesson from day to day, saying the problems were too difficult for the child. His intended kindness would be an injury rather than a help, depriving the child of the opportunity to gain understanding suitable not only for the moment but for future use.
