Article May 19, 1923 Issue

Loving Rebuke

ETTA D. DALE

In spite of the need of recognizing one's faults, there are very few who do not suffer under the rebuke of a friend. Sometimes we resist the friend, and deny him the right to judge us. If we have reached the point where we are so far separated from the love of self that we can bear loving rebuke, then only are we ready to judge the "righteous judgment" which helps others. Are we willing to submit ourselves to the scrutiny to which we would subject another? Are we willing to have our acts tested by the same standard we apply to him? Are we willing to accept the same judgment we pass on him?

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 571), "It requires the spirit of our blessed Master to tell a man his faults, and risk human displeasure for the sake of doing right and benefiting our race." Those who have yielded to the rebuke of a friend given in the spirit of the Christ have seen self go down and the light of Truth shine in their hearts. The rebuke is then without pain; and it is seen that it is only a belief of self that suffers. If there be a sense of suffering when we are rebuked, there should also be a sense of rejoicing, since we are passing through a process of purification of self. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 276), "When a false sense suffers, the true sense comes out, and the bridegroom appears."

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend" are the words of the wise man who asked of God an understanding heart. Mrs. Eddy writes (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 118), "However keenly the human affections yearn to forgive a mistake, and pass a friend over it smoothly, one's sympathy can neither atone for error, advance individual growth, nor change this immutable decree of Love: 'Keep My commandments.'" The loving rebuke which Jesus gave to Martha was given with the desire to relieve her of the false sense of material burdens. It needs an enlightened spiritual consciousness like unto the Master's to sit in judgment on another's understanding of good. We can correct another only as we ourselves are knowing and demonstrating Truth. The surest way to help, at all times, is steadfastly to affirm the truth about man's real selfhood, and to reflect omnipresent good in our own lives in thought, word, and deed.

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