THE enduring love of Jesus is an example for mankind, whose affections are often unstable. On the night of the Last Supper, when the disciples were gathered together, the Master gave parting instructions to the little band of followers who were to continue his mission by taking Christianity to the world. John, who fully appreciated the love which Jesus was expressing, wrote in his Gospel (John 13:1), "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
There was an enduring affection beyond anything the world could conceive. Although the Saviour realized that the love his disciples held for him would waver, that they would be scattered and would leave him alone, he chose this intimate occasion to strengthen the good they were capable of rather than to upbraid them for the faithlessness which he knew remained latent and undestroyed in their hearts.
Christian Science inspires its adherents to search the hearts of mankind in order to strengthen human affection, not belittle it. It does this by revealing the source of true affection to be divine, limitless Love, which never ends. In proportion as affection includes purity, helpfulness, faithfulness, and solicitude for others, it endures; it survives the influence of animal magnetism, or evil mind, which would make affection falter and grow cool. Enduring love opens the way to take spiritual power to the ills of the world.
Mary Baker Eddy says in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 8): "The life of Christ Jesus, his words and his deeds, demonstrate Love. We have no evidence of being Christian Scientists except we possess this inspiration, and its power to heal and to save. The energy that saves sinners and heals the sick is divine: and Love is the Principle thereof."
Much of the world's misery comes from a breakdown of love. Many people grow tired of each other, give offense and are offended, or they turn their emotional preference away from one individual to another. In other words, they do not love "unto the end." Their concept of love being personal, it does not endure.
A true friendship, one based upon the mutual recognition of unchanging Love as the Principle of affection, endures. So does the genuine affection expressed in marriages or in families. Perhaps more important than any other affection is the impersonal goodwill and loyalty which is necessary for the fulfillment of the purposes of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist.
Of all people on earth, members of a branch church should best be able to demonstrate the government of divine Love in church affairs. The moment a sense of coolness toward either the church or its members appears in a member's heart, he should begin to search his thought for its cause. Is his love the kind that fades quickly once his will is crossed? Can his affection for the church endure when error attempts to scatter the sheep of this generation?
If the member is mature in his understanding of evil's unreality, he will not tolerate a breakdown of genuine, warm affection for all of his fellow members. He will perceive the possibilities of good in everyone. He will stand firmly on the scientific definition of "Church" given by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."
There is no waning affection in the church member who is conscious of this sublime structure; no apathy, no indifference, disdain, or malice can enter the thought of one who knows the atmosphere of Love's spiritual temple. The truths of being, constantly held before the members through the Lesson-Sermons, given in the Christian Science Quarterly, the lectures on Christian Science, the authorized periodicals of The Mother Church, and other avenues of enlightenment, are vital and actually revolutionary in their effect. Spiritual truths are constantly doing their work of searching the human mind and stirring it to its depths.
In this stirring, the undestroyed animal elements often come to the surface to be seen in their iniquity and abandoned. In the church false theological beliefs, still clinging to members, struggle to survive the overwhelming cleansing which revealed Truth brings. The belief that man is a mortal; that sin is personal and that good is too; that God is conscious of evil; that there is a limit to good until death is experienced; that there are many little minds instead of the one infinite Mind—these and many other fallacies take their toll of affection until they are obliterated by the demonstration of Love's intention to make its offspring loyal.
Because the real Church proceeds from Principle rather than from people, the institution which best represents it on earth is capable of overcoming the enmity that would cause the love of some members for their church to grow faint. The realization that Love is the source of Church reduces to nothingness the instability that would lessen the devotion of the members to the tasks outlined for the church.
Divine Love is asserting its presence and its truth through the Church of Christ, Scientist, and because Love is irresistible, the affection for the human institution which expresses Love will survive all attacks of materialism. Through the demonstration of the truth of Church, many members will be faithful in their love. Their devotion to God and His idea will increase with use. "The energy that saves sinners and heals the sick" will grow more active, and there will be no slackening of obedience to the will of Love, which demands that affection endure and that loyalty to church and mankind never fail.
In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" our Leader says (p. 189), "The government of divine Love derives its omnipotence from the love it creates in the heart of man; for love is allegiant, and there is no loyalty apart from love."
