Editorial November 3, 1928 Issue

Divine Guidance

Albert F. Gilmore

How certain were the saintly men of the Bible that God was their sure deliverer from all untoward circumstances; that if they but listened for His voice He was their safe guide into the ways of peace and well-being! In the incomparable twenty-third psalm, the sweet singer declared in full faith, "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Surely the same divine guidance is available to-day for all who will look to God with equal assurance and with the same childlike simplicity. Furthermore, divine guidance is available in all the activities in which mortals engage; except from choice they are never without it. From their habit of daily communion with God, Christian Scientists are firmly convinced that the "still small voice" of Truth may be heard directing them into the paths of righteousness and peace.

The familiar declaration which Mrs. Eddy makes on page 454 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" relative to healing the sick, is no less pertinent to every situation where one's first desire is to conform his acts to the divine will. "Love," she declares, "inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." Surely, the same guidance of divine Love is available in every situation where there may be doubt as to the right course.

In civic affairs, as in the conduct of branch churches, Christian Scientists are called upon to make choice as to the course of action they will pursue, and to determine the persons to whom they will accord support as officials to execute the will of the people. Democracy is based upon the idea of the rule of the majority, and in order to determine the choice of the majority, elections are held. The earliest example of what may be termed Christian democracy appears in the first chapter of Acts. The disciples, visited again by the resurrected Jesus and instructed by him as to their duty to spread the gospel "both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth," desired that their ranks should be full before undertaking this holy mission. Accordingly, they set about the choosing of a successor to Judas, no longer their comrade. But before they made the choice, they sought divine guidance through prayer. We read that having selected two as candidates for the position, they prayed, saying, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this minstry and apostleship." And we are told that they "gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

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