AT a time when the world is, so to speak, at the crossroads, when international affairs have reached the stage where a right sense of direction is greatly needed by statesmen and others entrusted with matters of government, it is of the utmost importance that they be guided by divine wisdom, rather than by selfish national interests or mere human expediency. This is a time when all who are desirous of promoting the best interests of humanity may recall with profit the words of the Apostle James, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Human wisdom is not of itself sufficient for the right guidance either of men or of nations. Policies conceived humanly, and promoted by means of propaganda, often result in failure and disappointment. Righteous peace, and true progress in the direction of mutual understanding and good will, are not forwarded by threatening gestures or by imposing military maneuvers. Worldly wisdom may indicate that they are thus promoted, but experience often proves that they are not. The Apostle Paul wrote the church at Corinth: "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God."
Christian Scientists, in considering world problems and in working and praying for the maintenance of peace and the establishment of better conditions, need especially not to be deceived into accepting anything less than divine Love and its spiritual law as being adequate permanently to solve the problems of government. To government officials and others, acting up to their highest sense of right, it may seem that a display of force, or even the exercise of force, is a lesser evil than to submit to aggression without resistance. Even so, it must be admitted that aggression, coercion, domination, injustice, cruelty, and so forth are, primarily, traits of the so-called human or mortal mind, and that they must, therefore, ultimately be dealt with entirely in the realm of thought. Strictly speaking, the only enemy is enmity. Bombs and bullets do not correct erroneous thinking or the practices which grow out of such thinking. It is only the understanding of divine Truth and Love that can do this.
