As part of the war and postwar planning, many laws and regulations are coming daily into being. However, certain well-intentioned but misguided human efforts are leading people into bypaths requiring difficult retracing. In "The People's Idea of God" (p. 11) Mary Baker Eddy writes, "The legislators who are greatly responsible for all the woes of mankind are those leaders of public thought who are mistaken in their methods of humanity." There is a great need, therefore, for clear thinking on this subject and a turning to God in prayer.
The Bible says, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Ps. 127:1). The better world for which the Allies are fighting and planning will not result from human means alone. It will appear in the measure that God's law is unfolded in individual and universal consciousness. Because of his knowledge of divine Being, the Christian Scientist cannot leave world problems to be solved only by those considered expert on this subject. He cannot regard world planning in the same way as do those whose thinking is wholly material. He cannot be content with mere observance of existing laws; nor can he uphold those contrary to Principle. His thought must be filled with the understanding that spiritual law is forever operating; that the false sense of law must be repudiated, and the activity of spurious laws nullified. His is the important responsibility of praying that the law and government of God be made manifest in human affairs.
In the present conflict, individual nations and the Allied councils have found it expedient to combine and centralize control of certain interests, activities, and supplies. Paradoxically, this causes increasing subjection to the very things against which we are fighting—regimentation and subordination of the individual and limitation of his initiative. This situation must not confuse or cause us to relinquish our scientifically correct thinking about righteous law and government. One might reasonably ask: "How shall I know what is correct or spurious; what I must uphold or what reject? The problem is so complex."
