A review of a current book relates a thoughtful comment made by pioneer news commentator Edward R. Murrow, who said of broadcasting: "It can become a powerful force for mutual understanding between nations. . . . [It] can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire."
The reviewer goes on to say, however, that "broadcasting ... is still perceived to have fallen short of its potential, still seen as being cavalier with its responsibility."The Christian Science Monitor, June 5, 1986, p. 28. Some programs are of course commendable, and the potential remains.
The state of the newspaper industry at the time when The Christian Science Monitor was founded was not unlike the state of the radio and television industries described above. And now that the Monitor has entered the field of broadcasting, the same positive influence that the Monitor brings daily to newspaper journalism is acting as a leaven in radio and television journalism through the expanding services of the Monitor. In fact, Mrs. Eddy's purpose in founding the Monitor may be effectively related to the Monitor's broadcasting enterprises. After spelling out the purpose of the other periodicals she founded, she writes, "... the next I named Monitor, to spread undivided the Science that operates unspent. The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind."The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 353.
To report the news without damaging those who make the news is a unique challenge. Nevertheless, Monitor reporting, while constructive in tone, is wholly factual. It does not exaggerate truth with optimism. Monitor reporting presents current events with the expectation and, where feasible, the designation of solutions.
All Christian thinkers look to the Bible for examples of useful reporting and of healing response to news. One such example is related by Luke, who tells of a report that came by word of mouth to Christ Jesus: news that a worthy centurion's servant was ill. While Jesus was on his way to the centurion's home, the officer sent word to Jesus, declaring his unworthiness to receive him under his roof and urging the Master, in substance, not to come personally but simply to exercise his God-given authority by healing the dying servant.
Jesus' response to the updated report was not a gush of wordy sympathy for the ailing man, nor was it a polite protest that the centurion's worthiness was vouched for by the original messengers. His response was direct and positive, an exclamation of marvel at the officer's faith. Jesus' words were empowered by his lifework of demonstrating the healing Christ, the divine message of Truth he exemplified, and they later proved to have marked the healing of the servant.See Luke 7:1-10.
This healing may be seen to illustrate how readily the negative reports of the illusive physical senses can yield to the positive reports of concrete spiritual sense. To spiritual sense, there is always evidence of good—of Spirit, God, and His spiritual, perfect man. And where some evidence of good can be credited, all evidence can be proved to be present. The method this healing represents is as applicable to meeting global needs as individual ones. Because God is altogether good, He cannot coexist with evil or negativity. The Bible calls Him "a God of truth and without iniquity."Deut. 32:4. So to God there is neither cause for pessimism nor need for optimism. Infinite good is the eternal reality.
Spiritual man, the image of God and the true identity of each of us, reflects the unadulterated positivity, the certainty of pure perfection, that is native to Spirit. But until we wake in God's likeness, we are confronted with choices between good and evil, trust and fear, love and hatred. Christian Science is God-sent to help people choose rightly and at every opportunity to strive to prove that there is only one universe and man— God's. The study and practice of this Science strengthen us to refuse to let the belief in a reality or power apart from God discourage our realization of the healing promise of divine good. In this work the reports we accept about ourselves and our world should influence us only to press toward healing.
The Monitor reporting we read and hear, because it is humanly factual, can be only as free from news of sin, conflict, inhumanity, crime, terrorism, disease, accident, disaster, war, as humanity itself is free from these ills. Nevertheless the truthfulness that the Monitor is pledged to uphold expresses in some degree divine Truth. And divine Truth has positive, healing effect because Truth is Spirit. Mrs. Eddy explains, "Spirit is positive."Science and Health, p. 173. And elsewhere, ". . . it is the Spirit that heals the sick and the sinner — that makes the heart tender, faithful, true."Miscellany, p. 158.
In proportion as factual reporting is anchored in the spirit and truthfulness of divine Truth, it supplies and demands a positive outlook. That outlook includes recognition of the true worth of individuals and nations. It is therefore healing and constructive. And this is how the Monitor teaches, illumines, and inspires. In its constructive fidelity to a healing spirit and a truthful approach lies its constructive effect. When so reported, news of mankind's struggles, losses, and gains includes a healing influence and invites a healing response.
The freedom of the airwaves allows the Monitor to enter more homes than ever before. And this month, the Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, and The Herald of Christian Science join their sister publication in contributing to shortwave broadcasting. In support of this expanded healing effort, we can strive to prove in some measure what was proved when Christ, the true idea of manhood that Jesus presented, was acknowledged and made evident in the centurion's faith and his servant's healing as well as in the Master's own pure life of exemplification. Because Christ was proved to be everywhere then, it can be proved now to be at the receiving as well as the broadcasting end of the new channel.
The Monitor's motto, "First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear," is continuously coming to pass. In this instance, truthful Monitor news reporting and newscasting for several years already on Radio Luxembourg has prepared the way for the gospel of Christian Science to be preached among many nations. Preparation is also under way for other shortwave stations that will enable further fulfillment of Jesus' promise "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations."Matt. 24:14.
Both the broadcasting media and the work of preaching the gospel are entering a new era. The positive power of truth is spreading the healing influence of divine Science, bringing teaching, illumination, and inspiration that are God-sent to unify people and nations.
