Making Right Decisions

Human experience is fraught with the constant necessity of making decisions. Though these range from the simple to the complex, they all present a challenge to one's sense of peace and harmony. Everyone is desirous of making right decisions, and considerable time, effort, and concern are devoted to this end.

When faced with the need of making a decision, the student of Christian Science readily accepts the challenge but not the anxiety that tends to go with it. He knows from his study of this great Science that infinite intelligence, the divine Mind, is ever near and ready to help, guide, and point the way. The light of spiritual understanding is never for an instant separated from God's spiritual ideas. Furthermore, there is no material law, or belief of mortal mind, no suggestion of ignorance or doubt, no condition, time, or place, that can prevent the illumination of thought with the wisdom and understanding necessary to reach the proper conclusion. Christ Jesus was so conscious of this fact—the allness of God and the perfection of His creation—that under all circumstances he was able to make right decisions.

The key to Jesus' success was his embodiment of the Christ, the power of God to heal and save. Accordingly, he could not be misdirected by any material claim or suggestion or thwarted by any problem. This is the ultimate for each of us: so to manifest the Christ that all problems of the flesh and material laws will be revealed for what they actually are—lawless, causeless, powerless suggestions of the carnal, or mortal, mind.

The Christian Scientist knows that there is but one Mind, and is alert not to accept into consciousness the general belief of many minds having varying degrees of intelligence. He realizes that in God's kingdom there are no problems, solved or unsolved, but only perfection and harmony. He approaches any material problem knowing that, scientifically speaking, it does not exist in the realm of Spirit.

But understanding the unreality of a problem does not mean ignoring or neglecting it. Instead the alert Scientist takes active steps to solve his problem immediately. The old remark, "Thinking without information is dangerous," cannot be made of him. Knowing the true source of his intelligence to be God, Mind, he applies that intelligence to the situation at hand. He looks at the problem from various angles and strives to gather accurate information from the most reliable sources.

For example, suppose a Christian Scientist has to decide how to vote in a state or national election. He will undoubtedly turn to The Christian Science Monitor for factual information, knowing that he will find there an objective and fair treatment of the issues and candidates. He will observe the facts as reported by other news media and weigh their significance. Further, and of great importance, he will remain alert to guard his thinking against indifference, erroneous statements, and propaganda, and not be influenced by prejudice, hysteria, or any false ideology. Constantly he will ask himself, Am I thinking my own thoughts or am I being mesmerized by personality, tradition, or party affiliation? What are the true facts? Which decision will result in the greatest good? Who will best carry out and further the due processes of a righteous government?

The guarding of thought from false leadings and the discernment to ask and answer significant questions are vital in making a right decision. Aware of this, the Scientist will continue his metaphysical work, praying for wisdom and understanding. Mrs. Eddy's words in her poem "'Feed My Sheep'" will express his purpose:

In proportion to his humility and sincere spiritual desire to "listen for Thy voice" and to follow only Truth's direction, the Christian Scientist will find unfolding in his thought the ability and intelligence to evaluate properly the issue or candidate in question. Right decisions and the ability to make them will open up in direct proportion to his obedience to Principle, God.

Someone may say: "This procedure is well and good when you have the time to gather the necessary facts, pray, and wait for guidance. But what about the numerous quick decisions that have to be made daily, even hourly?"

Christian Science teaches that man is never for an instant separated from God. In reality he is God's own likeness, the perfect expression of the one infinite intelligence, the divine Mind. Since Mind is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, there cannot be anything anywhere, be it a situation, object, or idea, the truth of which is unknown to Him. In the degree, then, that we recognize and claim our at-one-ment with God as His reflection, we too shall be able to exercise complete dominion, control our environment, and solve our problems readily and decisively.

Our constancy and consistency in standing for Truth and thinking through situations scientifically, when the time element is not a major factor, enable us to react correctly and quickly when required. In other words, as we try always to express the highest degree of intelligence, to do only that which is good and divinely directed, our response becomes more or less spontaneous on the side of good—the right side for a right decision. Then in the moment of emergency we are ready to hear Love's assurance: "You are not alone; God is right there with you; go forward, 'for the battle is not yours, but God's.'^{II Chron. 20:15;}"

In all our decision-making we have Christ Jesus' example to follow. The Master acted instantly and decisively to resist and overcome with the truth all suggestions of evil that tempted him. His decisions, in their magnitude of import, are without equal in human history, and a study of them will inspire and encourage us.

Consider Jesus' instant decision in the dismissal and destruction of the three temptations of the devil during his wilderness experience (see Matt. 4:1-11); or his decision to feed the five thousand with but five loaves and two fishes instead of sending the multitude away as recommended by his disciples (see Mark 6:35-44); or his decision to journey to Jerusalem to eat the passover, knowing that the crucifixion awaited him (see Luke 22). In none of these was he deterred from making the God-directed decision. His obedience enabled him to become the Way-shower, to demonstrate the nothingness of matter and material laws and to show the infinite power of Truth to destroy sin, sickness, and death and of Spirit to sustain man eternally as the perfect child of God.

Jesus' great works are also convincing evidence that when a decision is the result of spiritual demonstration there can be neither fear nor doubt as to the final outcome, only joyful confidence that it can and will bless all involved.

Christian Science makes plain the words and works of Christ Jesus, explains the spiritual significance of his far-reaching decisions, and shows how we can follow him today in word and deed. He proved for all time that divine Love is always at hand to guard and guide us in our times of decision. Mrs. Eddy, as the result of her spiritual understanding of God and of the ministry of Christ Jesus, expresses it this way: "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love."
Pulpit and Press p. 3.