IT is revealed in the Scriptures and emphasized in the teachings of Christian Science that God is Love. It follows then that man, who is made in God's likeness, is by nature loving and lovable. Unloving traits, which seem to inhere in mortal mind, are not overcome through dwelling on faults and shortcomings as realities nor through self-condemnation, but by turning one's thoughts frequently and understandingly to man's already established perfection in Mind, and by claiming the loving qualities which eternally belong to God's ideas by virtue of reflection.
In the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer, given by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," occurs the declaration (p. 17), "And Love is reflected in love." As we go about our daily affairs, each of us may with profit ask himself or herself: Am I reflecting God, divine Love, continuously and impartially, through the expression of loving qualities in all my human activities? Am I watchful to manifest loving-kindness in small matters as well as in the seemingly more important ones?
One who is earnestly working to overcome in his thinking every trace of such erroneous qualities as malice, criticism, envy, resentment, irritability, and self-righteousness is little inclined to talk about love; he is too busy endeavoring to live it. The presence of love need not be heralded by words, for love is self-expressive. John admonished the Christians of his day (I John 3:18), "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Loving thoughts inevitably find their expression in loving words and deeds.
A student of Christian Science was impressed by the spirit of Love which was manifested towards her one evening by a Christian Science lecturer whom she was privileged to introduce. The two were standing quietly behind the scenes just before it was time for the lecture to begin, when the student unthinkingly made some trivial remark. She instantly regretted doing so, realizing that the speaker would doubtless wish to remain in thoughtful meditation before going on the platform. The latter, however, turned to her with quick interest, and answered her in the most loving manner. The student felt the presence of consideration and love and said to herself, "Here is a truly loving Christian Scientist." The simple incident has remained an inspiration to her, and it has also served as an object lesson.
In the endeavor to reflect Love clearly at all times, one does not find it difficult to express love to those who are pleasant and well-behaved. The test comes when one is confronted by rudeness, officiousness, selfishness, inconsiderateness, willfulness, or stubbornness. Do we respond to these errors with aloofness, self-righteousness, and contempt, or do we express kindness, forbearance, patience, and charity towards the offender? If a rebuke seems necessary, is it administered with a sincere desire to heal, or does it merely express resentful disapproval? We must remember that our beloved Leader says in the article, "Taking Offense," in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 224), "It is our pride that makes another's criticism rankle, our self-will that makes another's deed offensive, our egotism that feels hurt by another's self-assertion." Stressing the need for patience and charity in regard to human frailties she adds, "Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities; with an equanimity so settled that no passing breath nor accidental disturbance shall agitate or ruffle it; with a charity broad enough to cover the whole world's evil, and sweet enough to neutralize what is bitter in it,—determined not to be offended when no wrong is meant, nor even when it is, unless the offense be against God."
Should we become aware during some period of honest self-examination that we have a tendency to sit in judgment on the actions of those with whom we associate, whether in the home, the church, or in the business world, it may be time to ascertain how nearly our own knowledge approximates the faultlessness of the all-knowing divine Mind. Each of us must discard the conviction that his personal judgment concerning his brother and his affairs is infallible. Human judgment is apt to be superficial, for, as a rule, we know little of the struggles and heartaches of even those with whom we may feel well acquainted.
Christ Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, admonished (Matt. 7:1), "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Then he asked (v. 3), "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" As, when a grimy windowpane has been cleaned, the objects we view through it present a more pleasing aspect, so, when we behold our fellow men through a purified consciousness, we see more to admire and love in them and less to criticize. There is nothing to condemn in the real man, since he has never been less perfect than his Maker.
The student who is endeavoring to be a clear reflection of Love at all times, meets with another severe test when he is unjustly or cruelly treated, and when little respect is accorded to his sensibilities. He may be tempted to respond to wrong treatment with resentment and retaliation and to exhibit his hurt feelings to others. Needless to say, such a reaction to error is not in keeping with the teachings of the Bible and of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy writes in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 19): "The Christian Scientist cherishes no resentment; he knows that that would harm him more than all the malice of his foes. Brethren, even as Jesus forgave, forgive thou. I say it with joy,—no person can commit an offense against me that I cannot forgive." Our Master left us the supreme example of forgiveness when he prayed from the cross in regard to those who had crucified him (Luke 23:34), "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
The loving Christian Scientist does not find it difficult to be forgiving towards one who has mistreated him, because he has learned that error is impersonal and unreal, having no dominion over him or his affairs. He knows that he cannot be harmed by the erroneous beliefs entertained by others unless he gives them reality in his own consciousness. As he advances spiritually, the student is less affected by the error manifested by those with whom he comes in contact, for he realizes that as his own thoughts are filled with spiritual love, peace, and good will, he cannot be harmed by aggressive evil of any kind, but enjoys his God-given superiority to it.
In his reflection of God, Love, the alert Scientist does not ignore error or condone it; on the contrary, he is prompt and decisive in his denunciation, though not always audibly, of evil's false operation wherever he observes it. He does not condemn those who seem to be evildoers, however, for he is aware that to be consistent in his demonstration of divine Love he must acknowledge that all men are, in reality, Mind's perfect ideas, incapable of evil.
A merely human sense of love based on personal likes and dislikes may be variable, emotional, partial, and unreliable; not so the love which emanates from divine Love. Love, which has its basis in spirituality, is invariable, impartial, peaceful, sincere, and pure. It blesses him who entertains it, and, through his expression of it, all with whom he associates.
The exercise of loving qualities coupled with wisdom and purity enables the progressive Christian Scientist to attain and maintain a clear reflection of God, divine Love, in his consciousness. As a result, he wins freedom from fear, friction, and strife and enjoys in an ever-increasing measure peace, harmony, health, and happiness in his daily experience.
