Editorial January 19, 1929 Issue

Obedience

Violet Ker Seymer

Obedience has usually been thought of as relating solely to one's actions, and not primarily to one's innermost thinking as required by Christian Science. On page 118 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy states, "Honesty in every condition, under every circumstance, is the indispensable rule of obedience." Only in proportion as one desires honestly to surrender all erring thoughts and motives can spiritual obedience be discerned and attained. The approach to this summit of devout obedience entails many indispensable footsteps.

The first footstep in this ascent obviously is the consistent resolve to be unconditionally obedient to the demands of divine Principle, as far and as fast as we discern them. Like every other spiritual quality, obedience is progressive, forever unfolding fresh demands and blessings. How, then, is one to acquire this indispensable quality? By realizing that obedience is an integral quality in spiritual man, God's image, of whom the beloved disciple writes, "He cannot sin, because he is born of God."

God's image knows naught of disobedience, naught of any conflict with the will of God; for he reflects only the omniscience of God, good. There is no opposing element in the infinitude of good, and no duality in God and His reflection. In the light of absolute Truth, therefore, the mortal belief in disobedience must be unmasked as a false claim of the carnal mind, and resisted as such. Our heavenly Father has erected no barriers between Himself and His own manifestation, and man in God's image is conscious only of the demands of good. The supposition of disobedience can never prevent man for one moment from being conscious of divine Mind. The understanding of the omniscience of God and the demonstration of this understanding satisfies every desire, controls every motive, guides every decision and action.

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Among the Churches
January 19, 1929
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