Editorial July 12, 1919 Issue

Just Judgment

Ella W. Hoag

Perhaps nothing has added more to the burdens of mankind than a mistaken sense of one's personal responsibility to correct the faults of his neighbor. With educated beliefs in many minds, many interests, many obligations, all human in nature, there follows a large sense of the importance of a correct adjustment of these varied and varying concepts. Immediately men feel themselves confronted not only with a demand for self-protection, but also with a necessity to play a controlling part in all the concerns of their neighbors as well as in their own. If one will stop and consider, he will quickly see how impossible is such a situation. To expect from the standpoint of minds many to work out a proper adjustment of human affairs is certainly to build one's hopes on the shifting sands of false belief. Little else than disagreement could be expected from such a mistaken starting point.

On the contrary, Christian Science places all reliance on God, the one infinite Mind. Starting with this perfect premise it ever maintains it and must, in consequence, always arrive at perfect conclusions. It is the duty of the Christian Scientist to solve all his problems in accordance with this premise; and as he undertakes to live in obedience to this demand he quickly discovers that in order to do his own work properly, he must attend strictly to his own business. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 18) we read, "He [Jesus] did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,—to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility." Then one sees clearly that if such was the necessity of Jesus, the immaculate, no mortal may imagine that he has time to do the work of another. Jesus said: "Judge not, that ye be not judged," and again, "I judge no man." Were these sayings of our blessed Master understood they would relieve men from their false responsibility concerning their neighbors' sins. Christian Science, in revealing the infinitude of divine Principle, God, and the perfect government which He exercises over His universe including man, unfolds the basis for this teaching of Jesus. It indicates that an understanding of this truth in regard to divine Principle and its perfect control, frees one from the sense of any necessity for working out his neighbor's problem. It shows that it is possible to learn so to trust all to God that one may be left entirely free to do his own work in obedience to the divine Mind, at the same time leaving his neighbor free to do the same.

To one who has been falsely educated into the belief that he must be constantly watching his neighbor lest that neighbor commit some wrong, what joy must be his when the light of Christian Science dawns upon him, bringing the glad word that he has only his own consciousness to guard; there is where he is to stand in judgment, watching that no evil be allowed to enter or control. Then he begins to thank God that he does not have to entertain judgment against his neighbor, neither is it necessary for him to expose his neighbor's mistakes and wrongdoings, or to punish him. Jesus never once said to anyone, Be on your guard against Judas. Although Jesus knew from the beginning who it was that would betray him he never once whispered it even to his beloved disciple John. We remember, when he spoke of the one who was to be false to him, each disciple asked in turn, "Lord, is it I?" Showing plainly that no one but Judas himself knew to whom Jesus referred.

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