Article August 17, 1929 Issue

Rebuilding the Walls

ANSON C. BUSHNELL

WHEN a Church of Christ, Scientist, is taking steps to build a suitable structure in which to worship God, the members naturally turn for inspiration and guidance to the Scriptures and to the writings of their beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. The story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, as recorded in the Bible in the book of Nehemiah, is an illuminating exposure of the arguments that arise to prevent the work from going forward; and it also shows the necessity for being ever on guard against these erroneous arguments.

It is interesting to note that when Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem, he made a quiet investigation by night to determine the extent of the work to be done. Then Nehemiah took the Jews into his confidence, told them of God's direction that the walls be rebuilt, and enlisted their support, so that with united purpose and steadfast resolve they all said, "Let us rise up and build."

As soon as the plan became known, however, mortal error, as expressed by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, brought scorn and ridicule to bear upon the builders, even charging them with rebellion against the king, although Nehemiah had been careful to obtain the king's permission before coming to Jerusalem. But Nehemiah refuted these arguments and carefully organized the workers in groups, each with a head and each with a specific work to do. These groups worked side by side in unison to fulfill the tasks before them, no group interfering with the work of another group, but each steadfastly adhering to the particular work to which it had been assigned.

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