Article October 23, 1926 Issue

Authority

DOROTHY MARY HUTCHINGS

In the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew we are told that the people were astonished at Jesus' doctrine, "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." In this short sentence the difference between the mortal sense of authority, represented by the scribes, and the divine power, manifested through Jesus, is brought out. Speaking of this incident, our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says in "Retrospection and Introspection" (p. 58), "With our Master, life was not merely a sense of existence, but an accompanying sense of power that subdued matter and brought to light immortality, insomuch that the people 'were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

It is helpful in all our work in Christian Science to gain a right understanding of the word "authority"; and perhaps this is particularly the case in regard to teaching in a Christian Science Sunday School. In the old way of thinking we may have supposed, as did the scribes, that authority was vested in the teacher; but in Christian Science we learn that it is vested in God, for God is the only power, and His power is reflected by His ideas. Jesus stated this very clearly when he said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do." The Master's clear sense of reflection was never dimmed or defaced by belief in a material selfhood; and it was this conscious unity with God which caused him to speak and teach with authority. In our Sunday school work we, too, must know that we reflect God's power, and that He is forever bestowing upon man an abundance of spiritual ideas, which are always beautiful, interesting, and satisfying. There is no lack of these ideas, no lack of inspiration or of joy; for God never ceases to give. But we need to listen patiently, quietly, and humbly for these ideas to be revealed to us in order that we may consciously reflect them; for in the turmoil of fear, self-satisfaction, or self-depreciation the "still small voice" of Truth will scarcely be heard.

In the account of the healing of the centurion's servant, given in the Gospel of Luke, we find the words, "I also am a man set under authority." In this sentence the reason for the centurion's faith in Jesus' power to heal is made plain. It is clear that he recognized authority as something that did not emanate from persons, although it was apparently manifested through them. To him disobedience was evidently out of the question. Those to whom he gave orders obeyed—not the person, but the authority which he represented. In like manner, he realized that the power behind Jesus' healing work was something which would be implicity obeyed. So, in our Sunday school teaching, we can see that the children, "the spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love," as our Leader defines "children" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 582), are always obedient to their divine source.

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