Editorial May 13, 1922 Issue

A Willing Obedience

Albert F. Gilmore

The teachings of the Bible on the necessity for willing obedience to the will of God, as expressed by His prophets and lawgivers, are numerous and explicit. With the older prophets it was a constant theme; while with Christ Jesus and his disciples this necessity was emphasized in no uncertain terms. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land," declared Isaiah. Christ Jesus and no less definite in his admonition. "If ye love me, keep my commandments," demands proof of discipleship in terms of the highest demonstration—love. Paul, apparently with no less assurance, told the Romans the results of disobedience: "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." Here, then, are found no provisions for partial obedience, for a loyalty half-hearted and halting between doubt and assurance, but a call for the acceptance of God and His Christ, of Principle and its expression.

Mrs. Eddy, in an inspiring address to the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in 1893 (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 116), effectually pointed out the lesson of willing obedience in these words: "Obeying the divine Principle which you profess to understand and love, demonstrates Truth." Not obedience to personality or human opinions, but to the everlasting Father, the all-wise and all-present good, who is infinite Love!

When Mrs. Eddy founded the Christian Science movement, to disseminate truth wherever throughout the length and breadth of the earth mankind should be found receptive to the Christ-idea, she confronted the problem of establishing channels through which the healing message might flow. To carry afield the word which regenerates and makes free she established various activities, all with special functions, but all to the same general purpose; all related to one another and to the whole. These included The Christian Science Publishing Society with its weekly, monthly, and quarterly periodicals and, later, a daily newspaper,—all for one end and purpose, namely, to carry to the needy everywhere the redeeming and regenerating truth.

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May 13, 1922
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