Editorial February 17, 1923 Issue

Watchfulness

Duncan Sinclair

THE very fact that evil is unreal, a fact revealed by Christian Science in the light of the truth that God, good, is infinite, necessitates watchfulness on the part of those who have accepted it. Christian Scientists, those who are endeavoring to prove in their lives that no form of evil, be it called disease, inharmony, or sin, has any reality, are called upon to exercise the greatest vigilance lest they be deceived by the suggestions of the lie which they are denying. The world in general still believes in the reality and potency of evil, and so many are engaged in practicing it that it requires one to be ever on guard lest he be taken in by its false claims, and himself fall a victim to its wiles. Mrs. Eddy in her writings has repeatedly warned students of Christian Science as to the danger, and at the same time has given them advice as to how to protect themselves from it. Thus, on page 114 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she says: "Christian Scientists cannot watch too sedulously, or bar their doors too closely, or pray to God too fervently, for deliverance from the claims of evil. Thus doing, Scientists will silence evil suggestions, uncover their methods, and stop their hidden influence upon the lives of mortals."

The day should be past for men to plead extenuating circumstances for the committal of deeds of evil,—long past for Christian Scientists. The words of James come readily to remembrance: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." It is all the other way,—God, good, is the deliverer, not the tempter. It is through the understanding of the omnipotence and ever-presence of good that one finds himself leaning more and more towards the side of good, and increasingly able to resist whatever temptations of evil may come to him. When one has clearly seen that good alone is real, and therefore that good alone is worthy of his desires, he has commenced scientifically to protect himself against the false beliefs of evil. And as he continues to study Christian Science, he learns what are the methods of evil suggestion, the subtle forms they sometimes assume, their seeming activity through so-called human personalities, the manner in which they appear to act through hypnotism; and he handles every one of these beliefs successfully in the exact ratio in which he knows that good alone is real. "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"

In church work, where one finds himself closely associated with his fellow-men, how necessary it is always to have before him the high aims of Christian Science! Mortal mind delights in nothing more than to see a human catastrophe. The moral law is a plainly written law. No people in the world have greater regard for it than Christian Scientists generally; and it were well for them to retain that regard, keeping every relationship with one another unstained. Are not they all engaged in the endeavor to make the world a purer, a better, a happier place in which to dwell? Then how necessary to be on guard to protect in every way the purity of human relationships by being ever watchful to preserve the glorified vision, the spiritual understanding of man, the image of God, perfect and "altogether lovely," which Christian Science has taught them! And have not all Christian Scientists who are members of The Mother Church or of a branch church or society of the Church of Christ, Scientist, pledged themselves to the Tenets of The Mother Church, which may be found on page 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," one of which reads: "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure"?

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