Editorial March 21, 1936 Issue

Childlike Receptivity to Truth

Duncan Sinclair

Jesus paid a wonderful tribute to the thought of the child when he said to his disciples, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Children were greatly beloved of the Master; and it was his love that drew them to him. Once when young children were taken to him for his blessing, his disciples rebuked those who brought them; but Jesus reprimanded the disciples, saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). It was the purity, the love, the receptivity to good of the children that Jesus loved. How could anyone prohibit such as they coming to him for his benediction!

Mrs. Eddy loved the children. Like the Master, she understood them, knew of their purity and love, knew of their receptivity to spiritual truth and good and the readiness with which they put into practice what they learned. In her Message to The Mother Church for 1900 (p. 6) she writes: "A child can measurably understand Christian Science, for, through his simple faith and purity, he takes in its spiritual sense that puzzles the man. The child not only accepts Christian Science more readily than the adult, but he practises it." What a fine analysis that, of the child's, and the adult's, attitude to Christian Science and the practice thereof! It is the child's faith and purity which make him receptive of revealed truth, and enable him to put the latter into practice. If, therefore, the adult would also be receptive to spiritual truth, he must attain to a measure of childlike faith and purity; and, retaining them, he will then be able to practice the truth successfully, even as does the child.

Knowing as she did the spiritual receptivity of children to spiritual truth, and loving them greatly, our Leader planned to have them taught this truth as Christian Science reveals it. Accordingly, she established the Christian Science Sunday School, concerning which instructions are given in Article XX of the Church Manual. It is to be noted in connection therewith that "the instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their textbook" (Sect. 3). How careful was our Leader of the instruction given these dear ones! She knew how easy it is for mortals, when unalert and off guard, to deviate from the straight line of Principle. Hence her admonition that those who taught the children should be watchful to conform to absolute Christian Science in their teaching.

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