Editorial May 15, 1909 Issue

OBEDIENCE TO LAW

Annie M. Knott

In reading the Old Testament, one cannot help being impressed by the emphasis laid upon the necessity for obedience to divine law, and no less upon the need of understanding it. In Deuteronomy Moses tells the people that the keeping of God's law means life to them, and he calls upon them to awaken to the blessedness of having God so nigh unto them "in all things that we call upon him for;" then he goes on, "And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" Again and again are the people bidden to teach the commandments "diligently" unto their children, and to keep them ever before their own mental vision, for thus alone could they "go in and possess the land." Long centuries after Moses' day the great Teacher said, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven;" and then he went on to show that obedience to the commandments must begin in mind, and include every thought, word, and deed.

It is not necessary to remind Christian Scientists of their Leader's insistence upon obedience to God's law, at every point, and her wise provision that the children be taught to understand and reverence this law. The older students of Christian Science see very clearly the reason why the Decalogue should be "diligently" studied in our Sunday Schools, namely, because it is founded upon justice and right and is the basis of all human codes which aim to maintain law and order. It is a mistake to suppose that any one on the human plane does not need to study the Ten Commandments, for even admitting that one might not be tempted to break them, he would still need their protection from the evil beliefs of the carnal mind,—its hatred of Truth and of justice. Our children need to know the might and majesty of God's law. To the one who understands and obeys it, divine law is both sword and shield; as the prophet has said of him who obeys it, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper."

A few years ago, a Jew was tried for murder in one of the middle western states. The evidence against him was very damaging, but his counsel made a strong point for the defense in showing that almost none of his race were to be found in the penal institutions of the country; that they were law-abiding citizens, and that this was due to the fact that through the long centuries of their history the children had been taught the absolute necessity of obedience to the Ten Commandments. It was also shown that obedience to parents and resultant love in the home were characteristic of Hebrews, and with this virtue in childhood the commission of crime in later years would be well-nigh impossible.

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