Editorial February 20, 1926 Issue

Obedience to Authority

Ella W. Hoag

Perhaps there is no question more important for every one to answer properly than, What constitutes right obedience to authority? All the world is considering it from one standpoint or another, and most of the difficulties among individuals, families, nations, are brought about because the concepts in regard to both obedience and authority are so multiplied and so varied that the question is generally left hanging in the air, to be buffeted back and forth by all sorts of mistaken notions. As a consequence, peace is lacking where it should be most in evidence, and discord and dissension reign in many unexpected quarters.

Christian Science is here to solve this difficulty as it solves all others, by revealing the absolute truth. It explains where all authority rests, and what constitutes implicit obedience to that authority, as well as how such obedience is always to be realized and maintained. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p.295) Mrs. Eddy has written: "God creates and govers the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which he evolves, and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them." Here, then, is the truth which all the world must finally accept and must bow in submission to; for Isaiah proclaims God Himself as saying: "I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."

There is no one who professe to be a Christian Scientist who does not accept these statemets from Science and Health and from the Bible as being the revealed truth in regard to both obedience and authority. All, no doubt, are declaring them prayerfully and earnestly in their secret sanctuaries, trusting that they may thereby be brought into such unity therewith that they shall never fail in exemplifying their demands. They know that those to whom this truth has been given through Christian Science must adhere to it perfectly before the world can be won thereto. They also know that only as the world is thus won will God's kingdom—His universal government—be known on earth as in heaven. Then this perfect obedience to perfect divine authority is the sum total of what every Christian Scientist is striving to demonstrate.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

The Basis of Harmony