The battle to free mankind from sorrow, sadness, poverty, sin, disease, and death, waged so valiantly by Christ Jesus and his apostles, is continued in some degree today by earnest Christians everywhere. Joined in that battle is the army of loving, courageous men and women known as Christian Scientists. These soldiers of Christ are armed with spiritual weapons.
Christian Scientists accept in full the promises of the Bible which declare the right of each individual to complete liberty through the power of God not only from sin, but also from discord, sickness, and death. Christian Science explains and demonstrates how one may gain that freedom.
In waging battle for the rights of the individual to a more abundant and harmonious life, Christian Scientists unite in moving against imposing but impotent odds. Every soldier is needed for the task of lovingly demonstrating to mankind that happiness, health, and purity can be gained by spiritual means.
It seems strange that there should be any opposition to this Christly message of comfort and salvation. Why should any individual hesitate to choose Christ and relinquish discord when by that very choice earnestly made he gains new hope, improved health, and happiness? The promise of eternal life is for all who choose Christ as their only guide, who abandon sin, animality, hate, fear, and ignorance for Christly paths.
Early in her missionary work of encouraging mankind to accept the liberty offered through full reliance upon God, Mary Baker Eddy established this periodical, The Christian Science Journal. In the first issue, published in April, 1883, and in all subsequent numbers the Journal has carried as its motto a Biblical statement from II Corinthians. It reads (10:4), "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." This verse is also quoted in every edition of The Herald of Christian Science.
The battleground for the earnest Christian Scientist is in the heart of humanity. His weapon is Christ, Truth, presented to human consciousness through reason and spiritual revelation and proved by demonstration. The battle does not involve mortal force, only spiritual persuasion. The blessings of God begin to flow to one in need as soon as he chooses to accept the truth. And these blessings continue to flow as one increases his understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him.
Speaking specifically to The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 248), "You go forth to face the foe with loving look and with the religion and philosophy of labor, duty, liberty, and love, to challenge universal indifference, chance, and creeds." She also gives them this advice: "Let your watchword always be:
'Great, not like Caesar, stained with blood,
But only great as I am good.'"
This counsel applies equally to all who are busy promoting and extending the beneficent message of Christian Science.
Every Christian Scientist is a soldier of Christ when he offers the truth to others. God is present to protect and direct the humble giver and the willing receiver of the truth. When an offer of help, given in love, could benefit a friend in need, the willful withholding of it is not a Christian act.
In our battle let us use the weapons of love, wisdom, confidence, expectancy, spiritual understanding. Christ always walks with those who are in need, though they may not acknowledge or understand Christ's presence. When we in prayerful trust walk into the presence of one who is groping along in affliction or turmoil, we walk with and into the presence of the Christ, not of pain or discord, for Christ is ever present.
Truly "the weapons of our warfare" are mighty. "No power can withstand divine Love," Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 224). "The weapons of our warfare" effectively pull down the strongholds of error. How is this toppling of error accomplished? Through the power of God, divine Love. God is supreme over all other so-called forces. He is ever present.
To the degree that the Christ, God's ever-present, ever-available, ever-operative manifestation, is accepted and understood, we can utilize it in meeting every human need, whether that need is for health, happiness, or security. The power of divine Love is expressed through the Christ, and when this power is accepted as supreme in our lives, we cannot hate or fear. As hatred and fear are conquered, defects in one's human experience attributable to those errors are canceled.
Christian Science, in accordance with the Bible, teaches that God is Love. Divine Love cherishes and cares for every idea, every identity in Love's infinite creation. God loves His ideas. God presents man as His perfect image or expression, as spiritual, complete, eternal. The recognition of perfect being acts as a corrective of the false belief in human consciousness that man is imperfect and mortal.
Do we crave peace, health, security? Then let us seek these desirable qualities by the Christ way, the sure way. One in need of help should not league himself in battle against the truth, but he should reach out to the loving hand of the ever-present Christ. The battle waged by Christian Science is not against persons, places, or things. It is a battle against sin, disease, and death. The battle is for humanity and against carnality, for the truth and against error.
Whether an individual accepts Christ, Truth, or rejects it, the battle will continue on behalf of mankind. We shall gain a victory here and there in the destruction of evil, but the entire victory will not be won until all error is destroyed by Truth.
Let us, then, prepare ourselves more effectively each day to do battle. Let us gird on our spiritual armor of Truth and Love and with loving look and wise intent pull down the strongholds of error and reveal the man of God's creating.
