Article March 4, 1911 Issue

BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM

A. B. FICHTER.

In the Gospel of Luke we read that Jesus commanded his disciples, on the day of his glorious demonstration over the power of death and the grave, "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Sometimes one hears the view expressed by Christian Scientists, that they feel hindered in their best efforts and endeavors to demonstrate their understanding, on account of the opposition or indifference of those about them. They say that they feel isolated, that they are disheartened because some members of their circle are not receptive, and they are tempted to feel that they might render better service to the cause if in some way they could separate themselves from their old environment and find pastures new, where receptivity and more apparent needs might offer ampler opportunities for the outpouring of the truth and bring greater results to earnest and faithful endeavor.

Jesus' command to his disciples, however, was that repentance should be preached, "beginning at Jerusalem." When one considers that the people of Jerusalem had just witnessed his crucifixion (his ignominious defeat, as it must have seemed to the world); that this was the seat and stronghold of pharisaical pride and rabbinical prejudice, it hardly seemed in keeping with common prudence for the disciples to undertake the establishment of his kingdom in such a place. Yet fifty days later, on that memorable day of Pentecost, Peter was able to deliver his sublime speech before multitudes of people from all over the known world, with the result that about three thousand converts were added to the number of the faithful. What an encouraging lesson is this to all of us, an incentive to be obedient, to use what we have of understanding right where we are, to live it without reference to discouraging surroundings, and never to mistrust the heavenly guidance nor the power of Truth over error.

In Science and Health (p. 589) Mrs. Eddy gives the spiritual definition of Jerusalem as "mortal belief and knowledge obtained from the five corporeal senses; the pride of power and the power of pride; sensuality; envy; oppression; tyranny." And are not these the attitudes of thought which many Christian Scientists meet and complain of in their immediate surroundings, perchance in their homes? And are not these the conditions which most evidently need the gospel of repentance and the promise of the remission of sins in his name? What hope is there of ever overcoming these beliefs which are opposed to the understanding of Christian Science, unless right among them the truth is poured in "through flood-tides of Love" (Ibid., p. 201)?

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