When a fellow member of my church told me that I was attending to the business of others and not minding my own business, I was surprised and chagrined. Silently I denied the accusation and in self-justification told myself that everything I did was for the good of the church, even those duties others had failed to do.
My fellow member's statement, however, was not to be so easily and so quickly dismissed. As a student of Christian Science, I knew there was something more for me to learn, and that I would find the lesson somewhere in Jesus' words and works.
I recalled that Peter, near the end of Jesus' stay on earth, was inquisitive concerning the future of a fellow disciple and asked, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus responded, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me."John 21:21, 22;
Many were the lessons Peter learned during his discipleship with Jesus. In modern language, "Mind your own business" was one that he learned well, and in his first letter to Christian converts he says, "Let none of you suffer... as a busybody in other men's matters."I Pet. 4:15;
Minding one's business, I learned, is not merely seeing that one does not interfere with another's business; it also implies that one must take good care of his own business.
Jesus was always about his Father's business. From the age of twelve—when his parents found him in the temple exchanging views with the doctors of the law— until his ascension he was constantly witnessing to the perfection, goodness, and allness of God.
No one followed the Master more devotedly than did Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Christian Scientists acknowledge Mrs. Eddy as their Leader in Christian Science, but they do not follow her blindly, nor would she want them to. Her statement in a message to The Mother Church gives her position clearly: "Finally, brethren, wait patiently on God; return blessing for cursing; be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good; be steadfast, abide and abound in faith, understanding, and good works; study the Bible and the textbook of our denomination; obey strictly the laws that be, and follow your Leader only so far as she follows Christ."Message to The Mother Church for 1901, p.34;
In Science and Health she concludes the chapter entitled "Recapitulation" with six Tenets, which are subscribed to by everyone who becomes a member of The Mother Church or of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. Here special attention may be called to the sixth tenet, which reads: "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."Science and Health, p.497;
This tenet is an epitome of Jesus' teachings and the teachings of Christian Science. It gives us plenty to do. It is our business. To "mind it" does not consist merely in the performance of some kindnesses which we would like to have reciprocated. We can endeavor to see man as Jesus saw him, as God's loved child, free from sensuality, sickness, hate, or any inharmony.
We can be compassionate toward all, ready to forgive and to overcome misunderstandings, refraining from voicing error and from unfair and often groundless criticism and condemnation. We can acknowledge the truth that quickly denies error, separating error from the true concept of man, and to this extent freeing another by seeing him now as God's perfect image or reflection. Is not this how we would like to be seen and understood?
How can we be true followers of Christ Jesus? We can love as he did. We can pray as he taught us. We can be watchful. And we can be obedient to his instructions. Thus we will be following him in thought, word, and deed, overcoming evil, lack and disease included. There is no better way to show our gratitude for what he did for us.
Christian Science shows us how to follow steadfastly in the footsteps of the great Way-shower. Those who follow closely do not lose the way. We may recall that it was just before Peter thrice denied Jesus that he "followed afar off."Luke 22:54. Where there is a full acceptance of Truth, there is no widening of the distance between oneself and the Christ. It may be well to pause often to determine how fully one accepts the Christ.
Much of what we hear and see is clearly our business—to accept or to reject. It is our business to deny every error with the understanding of why it is impotent and unreal and to affirm that God, divine Truth, is really the only presence and power. Our duty to defend ourselves against evil's lies and to live up to the Master's injunction, "Follow thou me," is our daily business.
