Editorial August 28, 1915 Issue

Choosing

Annie M. Knott

In all human experience we are confronted by the necessity for deciding or choosing what we shall do. Some may say here that they have no choice at all; that what seems a hard fate decides all things for them. This is not true, however, for freedom is man's birthright, and freedom necessarily implies choice. Again, others might say that oftentimes the choice is only between two evils. Even if this were admitted, it is clear that the right choice, which is that of the lesser evil, would tend to lift one to the plane of thought and action where good is supreme.

At the dedication of the extension of The Mother Church our Leader's message was entitled "Choose Ye," and many times since then have Christian Scientists been aroused from the lethargic tendencies of mortal mind by pondering its stirring appeal, as found in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 5). The command to choose between God and the false gods of mortal mind is familiar to all Bible students, as it marked oftentimes a crisis in the history of the Hebrew people, when enslaved by sensual and cruel idolatry. We read that Joshua made a stirring appeal to the people, reminding them of the blessings which had been showered upon them, and of the wonderful manifestations of divine power which they had witnessed. He entreated them to put away "the strange gods" which were among them and to turn with all their hearts to the God of Israel. It was then that he said, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

It would seem that this appeal of Joshua was not in vain, for we read that "Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua," and also during the time of the elders who were associated with him in the work of spiritualizing the ideals of the nation. We find, however, that five hundred years later the people were steeped in idolatry, so that Elijah mournfully declared he was the only one left to serve God. We nevertheless read that there were seven thousand who had not "bowed unto Baal," but they had apparently done nothing to stem the tide of wickedness, or to let their light burn brightly enough to outshine the error of their time.

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