As a group of young people sat around the glowing embers of a beach campfire, the conversation turned to a philosophical and intellectual discussion of the problems confronting mankind. Pessimism and fear pervaded their talk of the atomic bomb because of the lack of adequate defense against this seemingly powerful force. At this point, one of the group calmly and confidently said, "I think Christianity is the only defense."
The one student of Christian Science present had been silently listening to the discussion and felt a deep sense of gratitude for this remark. It was but one of the indications that mankind is now, more than ever before, turning to God and acknowledging Him as the only power.
Truly, the only defense against any material force is the practice of the pure Christianity taught by Christ Jesus, the Wayshower. The Christ, the spiritual idea of God which Jesus represented, is the ever-present light unfolding to human consciousness in all ages the truth about God and His creation. The Bible clearly declares that there is but one omnipotent God, who created all like Himself, good; that God is Love, and that He makes man in His image and likeness. It logically follows, then, that all power and all creation proceed from God and must be good; and that the real man, reflecting his creator, can know, receive, and express only that which partakes of the nature of God, Love. This being true, a false sense of creation, including the belief of man as mortal, must originate in the one evil— the carnal mind, or nothingness.
This false concept of man, called mankind, is not the man of God's creating, for man in God's image is immortal. Believing that there is a power opposed to God and that there is a mortal, material creation, mankind disobeys the First Commandment and thus serves the false gods of fear, pride, selfishness, envy, and other phases of materialism; whereas an understanding of the oneness and allness of God, Spirit, brings forth the fruits of peace, love, purity, good will, and harmony.
Mary Baker Eddy foresaw the dangers that would threaten our nation, and all nations, as a result of serving false material gods. "But," she writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 129), "the spirit of humanity, ethics, and Christianity sown broadcast—all concomitants of Christian Science—is taking strong hold of the public thought throughout our beloved country and in foreign lands, and is tending to counteract the trend of mad ambition." How grateful we should be that the liberating activity of the Christ, "taking strong hold of the public thought," is not only rousing mankind to the imperative need for allegiance to God alone, but is also revealing the way out of darkness, out of ignorance of God and man! Christian Science points the way, and in diligence and humility each one may follow it. The light of Truth understanding' expressed by each individual lessens the sum total of seeming darkness.
Students of Christian Science realize their responsibility for consecrated obedience to the divine precepts of Christianity as taught by Christ Jesus and revealed to this age by Mrs. Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Their devotion to these divine laws of conduct finds fulfillment in their expression of love for God and their fellowman. The Apostle Paul says (Rom. 13:10), "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Persistently holding in thought Love's likeness as the only real identity of ourself and our neighbor, we show forth greater love in unselfish service, impartial kindness, and grateful obedience to the divine demands. Reflecting Love's qualities liberates us from false material laws. It makes no difference whether our labors of love meet with the depreciation and disapproval of those around us, as long as we see that resistance to good does not belong to man's real selfhood. It is but a sense of darkness, which the clear light of spiritual understanding will dispel.
We learn from our study of the Bible and the teachings of Christian Science that one Father-Mother God establishes the brotherhood of man. Knowing and demonstrating this fact, we shall not be misled by false material evidence to the contrary to believe in the existence of disruptive elements. Spiritual qualities cannot be confined within material boundaries; neither can evil qualities, which have no reality or identity, be found in God's perfect creation. The unity of nations will come to pass through obedience to the commandment which the Master said was "the first of all the commandments" (Mark 12:29-31): "The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. . . . And the second," he said, "is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." We have but to consult the writings of our Leader to see that she regarded the First Commandment and the Golden Rule as the very basis of Christian practice and the only method whereby war and strife will give way to universal peace.
Someone may ask, "How can we who are earnestly desirous of contributing to humanity's spiritual advancement dedicate ourselves to greater service to God and man?" We do this by devoting time every day to prayer and study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly and by consciously living each moment of the day in the spirit of the Golden Rule. We shall thus be prepared to detect and reject from our thinking harmful, selfish thoughts as unreal because not of God, good, and to receive into our consciousness only spiritual ideas— pure and harmonious.
Spiritual ideas, having the infinite God as their source, are real and eternal, and they unfold in our consciousness as we are receptive to them. Every spiritual idea we entertain and express counteracts the aggressive suggestion of a false power opposed to God; every loving thought lessens the seeming activity of evil. How important then for each of us to watch our thinking and to seek constantly a higher understanding of God, omnipotent good.
To better understand man, God's likeness, we need to learn more of God, Spirit. In the degree that the false concept of man as material is replaced in our consciousness with the true view of man's real, spiritual selfhood, we are bearing witness to eternal harmony. Our spiritual understanding and demonstration of God and man, as Father and son, cause and effect, awaken humanity to see the present perfection, unity, and immortality of God and His creation.
How often mortal mind tempts us to come down from our elevation of spiritual poise and to think captiously of certain individuals or situations! Is such thinking pleasant? Is it constructive? No! Usually accompanied by pride and a false sense of superiority, it leaves us with a leaden sense of self-condemnation and remorse. But refusal to indulge such thinking by steadfastly holding to the omnipresence of God, Love, and the true nature of man, Love's idea, as manifesting only loving and lovable qualities, brings us joy and inspiration.
As we daily renew our effort to discern man's true being, we increasingly express in our home, church, business, and social activities the selflessness, charity, and forbearance which characterize God s love. As we better understand that infinite Love cannot be confined, we shall include impartially in our loving thoughts all peoples and all nations.
There are in truth no national boundary lines, no divisions of race or creed, or other circumstances to separate man from his Father's tender care. This is true because the eternal oneness and infinitude of the perfect God and His perfect universe admit of no division, restriction, or partiality. God's kingdom is the only kingdom, His government the only government, His power omnipotent, and His law the truth that makes free.
Truth is God, supremely just, merciful, forceful, and constant. It is the power that releases mortals from false, enslaving beliefs of fear, disease, sin, and death. May our adherence to Truth expressed in enlightened understanding draw others to Christian Science, the light shining in darkness, so that universal acceptance of man's birthright of eternal freedom may be speedily realized!
Through the dark forebodings of mortal thought we now see evidence of positive spiritual awakening. There are unquestionable signs that the world, in its extremity of fear and doubt, is learning that the only way out of its difficulties is the Christianity which Jesus taught and demonstrated. This is not the way of fearful concern, apathetic unconcern, or mere human planning; it is the way of unceasing, fearless vigilance, active love, and spiritual understanding. Working and praying, we may tread this way confidently and joyfully, inspired by this radiant assurance of our beloved Leader (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 1): "The night is far spent, and day is not distant in the horizon of Truth—even the day when all people shall know and acknowledge one God and one Christianity."
