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."

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