Obedience is a spiritual quality of man. It is the divine response of God's idea to the demands of Life and Love. Christian Science declares that the all-prevailing spiritual law, which governs man and the universe, operates perpetually in maintaining order and harmony. Man is obediently embraced in this law. This is absolute truth.
From a relative standpoint human beings must learn what obedience is. They must learn the divine relationship of idea to its Principle. Christian Science clearly teaches that the understanding of the Science of being is made manifest in obedience to divine law, which removes fear, ignorance, doubt, and disloyalty and ensures harmony. One must work to understand this law, else he cannot love it or obey it.
Throughout her writings Mary Baker Eddy stresses the vital importance of obedience. Indeed, her entire address before the Christian Scientist Association of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, delivered in 1893, was on the subject of obedience. This address may be found in "Miscellaneous Writings," beginning on page 116. How grateful we are that it is preserved for our study and guidance. We might profitably ponder it every day, for it sets forth clearly the great value of strict obedience to the law of Love. To the degree that one lives in conformity with this law, the claims of every phase of materialism are subdued and ultimately will be destroyed.
