Editorial September 11, 1926 Issue

Standing for God

Ella W. Hoag

Men have always agreed that to stand for anything has meant to remain fixed and steadfast in loyalty thereto; that whatever the opposition or resistance might be, to stand must imply an immovable maintenance of allegiance. In his epistle to the Philippians Paul wrote, "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." And when testifying his love for the Thessalonians he declared, "Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord."

Paul understood full well that there is only one safe place to stand, and that is "in the Lord;" and how impossible it would be to "stand fast in the Lord" if the desire were for any but the unselfish and unselfed purpose of standing for God! No selfish aim could be sufficient to hold one firmly in such a stand, since selfishness always gives way under stress of temptation and trial. No one has ever stood firmly and effectively against evil unless actuated by the purest, holiest motive, the love of God, good. To consider what standing for God includes one must of necessity first of all understand something of God Himself; and Christian Science is here revealing the entire truth about Him. It is therefore through its teaching that we are to gain that comprehension of God which will enable us to express unfaltering devotion to Him.

Christian Science reveals the truth that God is infinite divine Mind—is all-intelligence; that He is all-pervading Spirit; that He is all Soul, including all spiritual sense; that He is all Life, Truth, Love. We therefore see definitely that if we are to stand for God we can admit no other intelligence, presence, and consciousness but that which is the all-living, the all-real, the all-loving.

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