Editorial September 8, 1917 Issue

God Governs

William P. McKenzie

The thoughtless will admit that God governs, but even the thoughtful sometimes fail to see the corollary that it is not then man's business to govern. Much of the sorrow of men on the earth is due to their endeavor to work out a fulfillment of the promise of the serpent, "Ye shall be as gods," in the attempt of some to govern others. It is clear, however, that if God governs, man as the likeness of God is the expression of government. The kingdom of heaven is not an assembly of dignitaries and common folk, of subjects and princes, wherein some are subdued by others and obey the will of others. The kingdom of God is the reign of righteousness, and when that which governs is obeyed, "as in heaven so on earth" (Science and Health, p. 17), then the kingdom is come.

Jesus especially desired to keep his followers free from the temptation to govern. He knew that, because of the wisdom and insight they had gained, other human minds would try to make lords of them. Therefore he said, "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." When Christ is recognized as the one Master, or Immanuel, God is being presented for man to know. The practical apostle James says: "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation [or judgment]. For in many things we offend all." Just the acceptance of the fact that that which governs must be perfect, makes it clear that it is not man's place to govern. Indeed, when each individual is governed by God there is manifestly no need for one to think of governing another.

It is wise to come back always to the fact that God governs. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." One wishes that all burdened business men could know this and recognize that they are not called upon to be responsible for the government of employees as persons, but for bringing about metaphysical directing—setting business in the right way—so that all may unite in demonstration. It goes without saying that God's way is the right way. When any one says that God governs, he means that upon goodness is laid the burden of governing man, and upon nothing else. In order to establish a young prince in what his Oriental teachers believed to be the right sense of authority and power, the child was taught every day to slay a kid, and was excited into a frenzy of bloody cruelty, in the belief that thus he would become so inured to frightfulness that he would be able to control his millions of subjects through fear. How entirely different is the Christian conception of life, which in declaring where the government shall rest, says of him upon whose shoulders it shall be, that "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

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