Article October 17, 1914 Issue

Day of Judgment

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK

THE student of Christian Science is not interested in a future judgment-day, as were those of an earlier period; his time is fully occupied in meeting the requirements of God in the present. He has learned from experience that the contemplation of salvation in another world does not constitute the worship of God "in spirit and in truth." To him, God is God at hand, infinite, unchangeable, all-loving, and obedience to His law brings peace, health, and happiness on earth.

"The great day of judgment is coming. Are you prepared?" These were essentially the words, painted in large letters upon a sign-board, which met the gaze of a traveler from his car window not many weeks ago. It might be interesting to know the thought of the one who was instrumental in placing this conspicuous and unique sign, whether it was intended as a note of warning to benighted mortals to prepare for some terrible future event, or as a loving reminder of the great joy of living in the ever-present now. The chances are that thought was trending toward a future event more than toward one which is already taking place, since the generally accepted religious teaching has to a large extent presented this view of the judgment.

This theology of the past has not inspired people as it should to live normally in the present; it has not offered as it should present spiritual rewards for righteousness; it has not emphasized the necessity of overcoming evil with good here and now, but has left practically everything pertaining to the kingdom of heaven for future or post-mortem adjustment. It has assured humanity that a final day of reckoning was sure to come, and that it would be a "day of wrath," a "dreadful day." Untold suffering, both physical and mental, has resulted from such teaching; diseases have undoubtedly been multiplied through the influence of the fear and morbidness thus awakened. This is no idle theory, for time and again has it been proven in Christian Science that when the belief and fear of death have been destroyed for patients, all manner of diseases have disappeared at the same time. The unchristian belief in evil needs no other license than to be assured that a death-bed repentance will be a sure passport to the heavenly kingdom. A final day of judgment, which has not yet arrived, would leave evil at large to defy the demands of right thinking and living.

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