Editorial July 10, 1915 Issue

"Overcome evil with good"

Archibald McLellan

For ages mankind has believed that evil is real and always impending, and in this belief is the foundation for the fears which so largely influence the thought and actions of humanity. If Mrs. Eddy had done nothing else but convince a large number of men and women that "evil is neither quality nor quantity: it is not intelligence, a person or a principle, a man or a woman, a place or a thing, and God never made it" (Messages to The Mother Church, p. 48), she would have earned a large place in the record of the world's benefactors. She has, however, done much more than this, for her teachings go to the root of all being, the true exposition of what God is and what His creation is.

In her revelation of Christian Science Mrs. Eddy has clearly set out the proposition that God is by His very nature incapable of creating that which is not good, and that because He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, there is no other creator and consequently no reality to the belief that evil is an entity and capable of controlling or even indirectly influencing the affairs of mankind. This might, of course, be called the negative side of Christian Science, and to those who believe that positive statements of good are all that is required in stating this Science and in applying it to the help of those in distress, the discussion of evil and its unreality may seem a waste of time. It is, however, quite apparent from Mrs. Eddy's discussion of this subject in the Message above referred to, and throughout her writings, that those who would dismiss evil with a wave of the hand have not entirely mastered the teachings of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

It will not be found by an examination of these writings that Mrs. Eddy ignores in the slightest degree the false claims of evil, but it will be found that she has ever been alert in counseling her followers to "be watchful, sober, and vigilant" (Science and Health, p. 324) in denying and mastering these mistaken beliefs. To be consistent Christian Scientists, therefore, we must faithfully demonstrate the falseness of the claims of evil, and thus prove their nothingness. The Master admonished his followers to beware of evil and not to allow themselves to be overcome by it, and the apostle Paul also counseled that we "be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Overcome evil with good"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access