Article March 8, 1930 Issue

"Citizens of the world"

HENDRIK JAN DE LANGE

One of the developments of modern democracy is the growing number of international conferences and congresses. The subjects intrusted to these bodies for discussion and decision increase in scope and importance. Treaties and decrees resulting from such gatherings are ever becoming more vital for the participating nations, and for all their citizens. The present conference in London for the reduction of naval armaments offers a striking instance of the significance of such meetings, not only for the five powers directly taking part in the discussions, but also for almost every other nation, big or small, on the globe.

As "citizens of the world" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 227) Christian Scientists have here a duty to perform, the moment of which should be more fully and generally realized. They are, as a rule, well aware of the necessity of being freed from the bondage of ills pertaining to the body physical. The equal need of taking care of the body politic seems not always so evident. The result is that most of the mental work is directed to the healing of individuals. But far less prayerful activity, it would seem, is being exerted in behalf of the healing of national and international conditions. Although the moral regeneration of the individual is of the greatest value for the improvement of economical and political conditions in general, these latter being vastly influenced and determined by the conduct and thought-standards of the individual, there is undoubtedly a persistent need for directly dealing with these collective phenomena.

How interesting to note that Mrs. Eddy, when exhorting the students of Christian Science to accept the "glorious liberty of the children of God," addresses them as "citizens of the world"! It may be presumed that unless we are really "citizens of the world," we shall not be able to attain this fullness of liberty which alone is worthy of the Pauline epithet "glorious." It is not possible for us to arrive at a general freedom if we neglect to include certain phases of human existence in the Christianly scientific realization whereby we are doing our individual part in the regeneration of mankind. In particular, a narrow and egotistical sense of nationalism has to be replaced by the spiritual understanding that everyone is a citizen of the city of God, wherein everyone's real interest and desire is to promote the welfare of all others. Expanding our vision and sphere of interest, we thus become in a greater degree the light of the world. The light of Truth leavens all the minutiæ of individual existence. Those whose vision is widening find that, in proportion as they make their views of the truth more all-embracing, and their denials of error and evil more impersonal, the healing of particular cases is greatly helped. The reason for this is clear: such realizations approximate, to the extent of their wider scope and impersonality, the Christ-consciousness, whereby Christian Science demonstrations are taking place.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Citizens of the world"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access