Editorial June 29, 1918 Issue

What Hast Thou Done?

William D. McCrackan

Every advancing Christian hears the searching question, Hast thou been jealous of thy brother's gift? Hast thou been wroth, and has thy countenance fallen because thou hast seen in another and hast not demonstrated in thine own life that which Abel typifies: "Watchfulness; self-offering; surrendering to the creator the early fruits of experience" (Science and Health, p. 579)? Human consciousness is exposed to the danger of harboring Cain. Merely naming the name of Christian Scientist does not master this inclination, but the spiritual understanding for which Christian Science stands does uncover it and provide the remedy.

On pages 540 and 541 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes: "Cain is the type of mortal and material man, conceived in sin and 'shapen in iniquity;' he is not the type of Truth and Love. Material in origin and sense, he brings a material offering to God. Abel takes his offering from the firstlings of the flock. A lamb is a more animate form of existence, and more nearly resembles a mind-offering than does Cain's fruit. Jealous of his brother's gift, Cain seeks Abel's life, instead of making his own gift a higher tribute to the Most High." The destructive criticism which Cain typifies spares not the oil and the wine, respects neither mother nor child, neither compassion nor joy. It takes the brother's nobler gift and tries to make out of it the worst; it condemns Mary for having chosen the better part; it ostracizes the repentant publican; it doubts the wisdom of Jesus in associating with sinners, and at his crucifixion, at the moment of his triumph over death, utters the ill-timed taunt: "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."

One can imagine this jealousy of the Cain consciousness prying into the sanctity of Jesus' struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane and seeing him fall on his face, and sweat "as it were great drops of blood," criticize this weakness of the flesh. Jealousy of spiritual progress is capable of calling woman's fidelity at the cross and the sepulcher both a waste of time and a delusion. What hast thou done? is the question which turns the light upon error.

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