Article November 13, 1920 Issue

"Who did hinder you?"

VIVIAN WILLSON WHITMAN

There may be many and varied beliefs about Christian Science in the universe, but there is only one truth. Individual students of this truth are often persuaded that opposition to their exposition of it is opposition to Truth, whereas Truth has in reality no opposition. Whatever seems to be opposition to Christian Science is merely opposition to a misunderstanding of Truth. Very often this misunderstanding is aided and abetted by those of whom it may be said "that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge."

The belief in opposition is, of course, a belief in other gods, and so cannot exist where omnipotence is acknowledged. Whenever we make a reality of opposition, we deny the allness of God, since reason tells us God did not create a power to oppose Himself. Mrs. Eddy's clear statement: "There is no power apart from God. Omnipotence has allpower, and to acknowledge any other power is to dishonor God" (Science and Health, p. 228), leaves no room for misunderstanding. It points plainly to our ignoble state when we attempt to serve other minor and seemingly harmless and necessary gods for a season, always owing to our peculiarly trying environment, as we explain volubly to drown the "still small voice" of Truth.

Sometimes we explain our own lack of progress in Christian Science by painting a sorry portrait of our family group. Jesus recognized this possibility and told us how to meet it. He said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." If Jesus had heeded the mere reprimand of his mother, when he remained in the temple about his Father's business, the world would be without a Way-shower. If Mrs. Eddy had placed the seeming criticism of family and friends above Truth, we might still be without Christian Science. There is a vast difference between the meekness of might and right, which is that indicated in the dictionary definition, "submission to divine will," and the so-called meekness which is merely a weak concession to human will, a sacrifice of good motives to placate false gods.

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