Article November 4, 1911 Issue

GIVING NO OFFENSE

NAPOLEON ROSS

As the Christian Scientist studies the writings of St. Paul and reads the Biblical records of the apostle's steadfast devotion to the cause of Truth under conditions that to human sense were sometimes beyond endurance, he is drawn to that great exponent of righteousness, and learns to love him with the love that unites in the bonds of fellowship all those who work unselfishly to lessen evil in the world, whether in the past or at the present time. Paul proved by his works that he possessed the spirit of Christ Jesus' teachings in large measure. At the same time he insisted upon obedience to the letter and wasted no words in telling his followers their shortcomings and how to correct them. In this connection, it is interesting to note what he says in his second epistle to the Corinthians. There he writes as follows: "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ... Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed." He then, with rhetorical splendor, exhorts the Corinthians to measure their acts by the standard which he had given them, and thus to reflect only credit upon the cause for which the Master went to the cross, and for which Paul himself is said to have later suffered execution at the hands of the Romans.

The phrase quoted should be indelibly impressed upon consciousness of every one identified in any way whatsoever with the Christian Science movement. The truth has always existed, but few have lived close enough to it to prove to the world that men can be pure, upright, unselfish, and free from the so-called law which says that they are subject to sin, disease, and death. Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." We cannot afford to deviate a hair's breadth from the fine high standard established by him who spoke and acted as none had ever done before. If we are tempted to indulge in habits that are not salutary, in frivolity, in idle gossip, in questionable business transactions; in fact, if we are doing anything that is open to criticism, we owe it to our cause and to her who founded it to "touch not the unclean thing," but to come out and be separate. We should be willing to do this, if not for our own sakes, then for the sake of those who would be freed from care and suffering, that they may know there is indeed a divine Principle, by living in accordance with which men can attain to a free and happy life.

In her wonderful chapter on Prayer, every line of which pulsates with divine Truth and Love, Mrs. Eddy says: "The Divine Being must be reflected by man,—else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One 'altogether lovely;' but to understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire" (Science and Health, p. 3). The world knows that our beloved Leader and the cause which she founded stands for something higher and purer than most people are willing to accept; hence it expects more and insists upon more from Christian Scientists than it does from others. Naturally enough, outsiders judge Christian Science by Christian Scientists. They watch us in our every movement, and we must therefore have the standard of "the high calling of God" always before us, and so live that our lives will be above criticism, "giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry [our cause] be not blamed."

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