Editorial June 17, 1916 Issue

Quick Decisions

Annie M. Knott

It is very well known that attempts are often made to defeat the ends of justice by bringing about delays, when all except those vitally concerned lose their interest. Thus decisions are left in large measure to chance, unless there are some who hold steadfastly by the right until it is demonstrated. On page 463 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "To decide quickly as to the proper treatment of error —whether error is manifested in forms of sickness, sin, or death—is the first step toward destroying error." It is true that Christian Science has already wrought great changes in this respect in the thought of those who are its students, but it is not possible to be too keenly alert to the necessity for treating all the suggestions of error with prompt dismissal. Of old the requirement made of the children of Israel was, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." They were not to wait even until the morrow to decide whether it were better to serve God or mammon, Spirit or matter. No, they were bidden to "decide quickly," and we read that their prompt decision was, "We will serve the Lord."

No one would deny that a temptation to sin should be dismissed at once, on the ground that evil has no place in the consciousness of man as God's likeness, and no power over him. This is an eternal fact, whether it come quickly or slowly to the human sense. If it come quickly, the decison to abide by it is of tremendous importance to all concerned, for it means that the individual who has made this choice is standing upon the Rock of ages. It is however seldom seen by those outside of Christian Science that in the matter of sickness the individual decides his own case; that is, he either accepts the verdict of mortal mind, which is often hopeless and at best uncertain, or he accepts the supreme decision of the divine Mind, which reads, "Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom." This merciful and unalterable decision may be disputed by error, but it cannot be set aside, since it is the decree of infinite wisdom and Love.

The trouble with all material methods of dealing with sickness and sin is that mortal mind does not know reality, hence it judges by appearances, which are always deceptive, and then waits, forever waits to see what will happen. Physicians often advise delay until conditions develop which will enable them to decide upon a patient's chances for recovery, whereas a quick decision from the standpoint of spiritual law means more to a despairing sufferer than all the decisions that were ever handed down from earthly tribunals. Such a decision is authoritative, for it expresses the will of Him who said, "Why will ye die, O house of Isreal? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God."

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