Editorial April 11, 1914 Issue

"Our Father"

Archibald McLellan

What seems to be the chief stumbling-block in the minds of many people, when it comes to the acceptance of Christian Science, is an unwillingness to trust God, cut loose from all material dependences and lean wholly on the divine promises. Just as the little child who has been nurtured in love instinctively turns to father or mother for the supply of every need, for the quieting of every fear, for the soothing of every sorrow, why should not we, as professed followers of him who taught us to say "Our Father," turn to our Father-Mother God with the same confidence that He will hear and answer? Are we not His children, and have we not our elder brother's assurance, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things,"—need of health, happiness, and provision for daily bread?

Surely, if we may accept the apostle's declaration that "he is faithful that promised," there is no reason why we may not continually rest in the security of divine protection and guidance, always providing that we fulfil the conditions under which they are granted. Why should we be anxious or troubled about the future, if we can claim for our own the promise which reads, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed"? or that of the Master: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"?

What we most need, then, is an unswerving trust in God as veritably our Father, more loving and tender than any earthly parent could be, and one who bestows on us only good and perfect gifts. This is the trust which Christian Science teaches, and it is the fruit of obedience to that all-comprehensive commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." We are not to acknowledge or believe in any other power than God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent good, because it is when the door is opened to fear and doubt, when we have neglected to be clothed upon with "the panoply of Love" (Science and Health, p. 571), that we find ourselves in difficulties and remember too late our Leader's wise counsel to bar out these would-be destroyers of our peace.

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