Article January 1, 1927 Issue

Rebuke or Explanation?

JEAN E. CARTH

"When error confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explanation which destroys error. Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it." Mrs. Eddy, out of the richness of her experience, wrote these words of admonition in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 452). When the extension to The Mother Church was built, these lines were inscribed in stone over the Readers' desks. A companion plate bears in apposition the Bible statement, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." The substance of these inscriptions was considered of vital import by our Leader, else they would not have been given this prominent position. Worthy of repeated consideration, they appear before each congregation that gathers in the vast auditorium.

Logically considered, an explanation capable of destroying error necessarily brings proof with it. Clearly also, as Christian Science teaches, no rebuke has any right to be voiced, or even mentally focused upon another, unless the one who considers it his duty to admonish remembers that error has nothing to do with the real man. When this is done, no lurking sense of resentment or rebellion can remain to express itself or to retaliate.

Students of Christian Science may sometimes be too exacting and unpacific toward people with whom they are associated. Through their untempered efforts to help in establishing the kingdom of heaven here and now, they may be overzealous. At this point of experience it were well to consider prayerfully the phrase "which destroys error." This turns the searchlight of Truth on one's own spiritual ability to cope with the circumstance. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 288) we read: "Even your sincere and courageous convictions regarding what is best for others may be mistaken; you must be demonstratively right yourself, and work out the greatest good to the greatest number, before you are sure of being a fit counsellor. Positive and imperative thoughts should be dropped into the balances of God and weighed by spiritual Love, and not be found wanting, before being put into action."

With this clear warning before him, the student is reminded to weigh his thoughts of criticism or disapproval in the balances of divine Love. If the motives for wishing to admonish another are found, in any particular, wanting in divine intelligence and love, it were better to restrain the cautionary word until all thoughts of censure are eliminated. The whole condition is mental; so the error as it confronts us should be made to submit to the spiritual analysis that inevitably sweeps away the fog of mistaken judgment. In this light of revelation it will be clearly seen that the first rebuke must be given, not to any person, but to the wrong condition of thought that has disturbed us. Frequently the mental denial or rebuke to the error is all that is necessary.

One should "mind his step" before he marches out boldly with a "Don't do that." The time has passed when, even to young children, such a command may go forth unchallenged. This is a thinking age, and our present-day children often rebel against merely blind or traditional obedience. It is a part of our educational system that whenever possible the child be given a reason for the reproof or caution that may be dealt to him. Not out of rebellion comes the appeal, "Why should I not do that?" It is a part of the child's training to know the reason why, in order that similar mistakes may be avoided in the future. Usually when a sensible explanation is given, the child sees the point and no discipline is necessary. Even grown-up people may not always be grateful for rebuke; yet who does not welcome the kindly explanation that carries with it a clear, revealing reason?

Frequently when some phase of error challenges us, it merely affords a test of our own strength. A quiet interview with one's self will disclose why we have wished to utter reproving or cautionary words to another. By knowing that we cannot be made the mouthpiece for habitual faultfinding, we are freed from any undue tendency to be corrective of others. Our mission in life is not to wound any one, but to disarm the enemy—error.

When "demonstratively right," through having cleared our own mental atmosphere, it becomes easy to offer, when really necessary, the true explanation to one who appears to us as being in the grasp of some condition of wrong thinking. Then, with the grateful thought of both, there will be nothing but clear happiness remaining, because the error has been scientifically dealt with and destroyed.

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