Article March 2, 1918 Issue

Consistency

LUTHER P. CUDWORTH

Perhaps no human tendency is more usual than the faculty of being inconsistent. Experiences with our friends or relatives in the home, in social, business, or church activities, too frequently reveal this human weakness, and too seldom do we recognize this subtle argument of evil in our own thinking. Expression by word or deed is but the result of thinking, and if that word or deed be erroneous, not in accord with the one right standard, it of course is due to the process of wrong thinking.

It will no doubt be granted that most of us have set a certain idealistic or high moral standard for ourselves, and we deflect from it only through the influence of temptation, from the seeming attractiveness of sin. Often this sin may be of so common a form as to be hardly recognized as such by ourselves or others, and though it be but the selfishness that loves ease and comfort in the flesh, yet it nevertheless is sin. Now sin or evil is not in accord with good, and being at variance with God, divine Principle, is inconsistent. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 354): "Sin should become unreal to every one. It is in itself inconsistent, a divided kingdom." In the home, mental laziness after the day's work may prompt the parent to let down the bars of discipline at a time when rigid rules should be enforced, or a sense of irritation may impel a selfish or domineering demand in place of the usual loving request. Consistency, adherence to Principle, is no part of such experiences.

The business man may be tempted to alter slightly his regular policy in an important transaction, allowing more or less leeway such as may result favorably to himself, or taking advantage of an ignorance of right values, to gain his own profit. Here is inconsistency which when found out exhibits itself as business dishonesty. The fads and foibles of social life are nothing but the inconsistencies of human frailty, deceitfulness with its full quota of mental penury. In religious organizations the accusation of hypocrisy is sometimes made, and unfortunately this may be not without cause. Job wrote: "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?" After all, does not the hypocrite simply place himself in the same position as the individual who may be inconsistent in the application of his knowledge of mathematics? One who consistently follows the correct rule does not add when he should subtract, nor does he calculate three plus seven as ten in one part of his problem and as nine in another.

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