Editorial January 31, 1925 Issue

Helpfulness

Duncan Sinclair

HELPFULNESS is always associated with Christian character. It might be said that the extent of one's helpfulness to one's fellow-men is the measure of one's Christianity. That Christ Jesus very definitely demanded it from his followers is clearly implied in the parable of the good Samaritan; for he makes the Samaritan the kind comforter and sympathetic helper of the one wounded by thieves, whom he found lying helpless by the wayside,—thereby fulfilling the law, "Love thy neighbour as thyself."

The writings of Paul, which have been preserved for us in the New Testament, contain many admonitions on the practice of helpfulness. For example, he writes to the Colossians, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness;" to the Thessalonians, "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do;" and, further, "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." Each and all of such passages simply radiate the graciousness of the Christ-spirit. Take that charity, that helpfulness with its effects out of Christianity, and what would be left? Nothing but the parched letter.

Christianity should be aflame with love. Christian Science shows how it can be. And how? Christian Science maintains that God is Love,—infinite Love; that God's creation is therefore the creation of Love, and as such must be lovable and loving. And man—the real man—is God's creation; consequently, man is lovable and loving. The material senses deny these facts, seeking to convince us that divine Love is not infinite,—that evil exists in many forms, opposing Love, and that as a result a constant conflict is going on between good and evil. But Christian Science, firm in its adherence to the truth that Love is infinite, maintains that there is no real opposition to Love anywhere, at any time.

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