Article March 15, 1952 Issue

CONCERNING ZEAL

RAYMOND MANSBRIDGE BROCK

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy defines "zeal" as "the reflected animation of Life. Truth, and Love" (p. 599); and she defines the false human counterfeit of this true spiritual zeal as "blind enthusiasm; mortal will."

Zeal is a quality of Mind, God, a quality which man possesses by reflection, for man is God's image and likeness. In the measure that we understand this and claim zeal for ourselves we shall express it in all our activity. It is expressed in energy, ardor, earnestness, vivacity— to give a few definitions of animation; and it is based on the understanding that God's kingdom is here and now, and His government supreme. The only true basis and motive of all action is Love, God.

In our continuous endeavor to put what we understand of Christian Science into practice in all our varied activities, including the obligations of church membership, it is pertinent to keep watch over the quality of zeal, to see that we entertain it and nourish it. It is necessary to detect the claim of error to impose upon us the counterfeit in place of the true conception, in order that the counterfeit may have no more value for us than the counterfeit coin whose falsity has been exposed to us.

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