Article August 22, 1931 Issue

Resisting Evil

BEATRICE CLAYTON

How unfailingly is a Christlike action recognized and remembered! After the lapse of many years one such incident stands out vividly in the memory of the writer.

An exceedingly unjust, unfair, and discourteous demand, which he had no power to enforce, was made by one man upon another. The other, a Christian Scientist, instead of resisting the demand, evading it, trying to make terms regarding it, or even remonstrating, simply complied—willingly, cheerfully, lovingly—with a complete absence of any sense of ill usage. An awkward situation was thereby redeemed, and this instance of obedience to the command of Jesus, "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil," survives in the thought of the single bystander as a rebuke and an inspiration. According to mortal standards it would have been pardonable to refuse the request, or at least to take the superior attitude that rather than dispute one would do what was asked. The manner of compliance was everything. Its good humor and graciousness, its absolute unawareness of injury, illustrated true forgiveness, and could have proceeded only from the recognition of there being in truth but one service, and that the service of God.

There is an attempted resistance of evil which opposes human will with human will. This always leads to disagreeable consequences, and can seem to succeed only temporarily. By opposing evil with the truth, its unreality—nothingness—is demonstrated. This correct method may involve outward submission, as indicated by Jesus both in precept and in example. It is written of him that on one occasion he "did not commit himself unto them, ... for he knew what was in man." We may assume, therefore, that Jesus discerned the treachery of Judas as soon as it was conceived, yet he allowed Judas to remain near him and to participate with the rest in the last supper. Jesus knew the folly of resisting mortal mind on the human basis. He neither pleaded with Judas to renounce his evil purpose, nor reproached him with it. He was willing that evil should attempt its worst, because he knew its utter powerlessness. His entire willingness to render outward submission, to drink the cup of suffering to the dregs, was evidenced in his words as Judas went out, "That thou doest, do quickly."

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