Article November 1, 1922 Issue

Necessity of Wisdom

ROBERT L. GREEN

Jesus, on several occasions, refused to enter into detailed explanations of his statements, knowing it to be unwise to provoke argument with those who, having little or no knowledge of his teaching, were eager to distort and misrepresent his meaning. No doubt, he considered it wiser to correct or destroy an inharmonious condition by an application of the truth, trusting it to find lodgment in some human consciousness, with the consequent progress and unfoldment of the divine idea; for he knew the truth could never be lost, or diverted from its mission. All Christian Scientists should carefully profit by the wisdom of Jesus.

Overzealousness and human emotions, sometimes mistaken for spiritual understanding or revelation, together with that which may be classified as sensitive imagination, often lead to conclusions or estimates which will not stand the test of true spiritual understanding. Such a state of thought is a form of animal magnetism, since it leads away from Christian scientific apprehension, and ranges far into the midst of theory and speculation. If persisted in, this mental condition may result in narrowness of vision and distorted thought, into which intolerance may creep, accompanied by an unwarranted assumption of superior spiritual attainment, which usually incites a strong tendency to belittle the progress or works of others.

So-called mortal mind is not slow to make use of such an opportunity. It claims to be subtle, and tries to strike from the angle best calculated to conceal its real purpose, which, of course, is to lead thought far afield, until it is lost in a maze of doubt, fear, resentment, and discouragement. One such method, in its attempt to impede or thwart the purpose of Christian Science, is to induce the Christian Scientist to offer his services in the capacity of an adviser, proclaiming good intentions and presenting evidences of his unselfishness. It may be remarked that, generally speaking, unsolicited advice is not a pronounced success in the approach to confidence and friendship. Almost always it is unsympathetically received; therefore, it is unwise to urge its acceptance. There is also the liability of arousing resentment, which may ripen into anger, followed by acrimonious argument, criticism, and condemnation, unless the situation is quickly understood and properly dealt with.

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