Editorial May 28, 1932 Issue

Alertness

Duncan Sinclair

It would be difficult to state more cleary the nature of the race which the Christian Scientist is called upon to run than do Mrs. Eddy's words on page 324 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." She writes: "Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter,—certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God." Watchfulness, sobriety, vigilance—all are needed by the Christian Scientist in his battle with materiality. He must be ever on guard, ever alert to protect his thought against the inroad of error, if he would attain to a measure of victory over those enemies to happiness and peace—sin, sickness, and death—which Mrs. Eddy enumerates.

The Christian Scientist has a great advantage over those who have not had the benefit of the teachings of Christian Science, for he has learned from these the true nature of God and of reality, and he can, in consequence, distinguish between the real and the unreal, finding himself free to accept the former and to reject the latter. God is infinite Spirit or Mind, and His creation, which is infinite, consists solely of spiritual ideas. In reality, therefore, there is no material creation; hence, material sense, which argues for its existence, must be false. Further, since God is infinite good, what men call evil must be unreal. But sin, disease, and death cannot possibly be regarded as good. They must, therefore, be classed as evil; and so as unreal.

These fundamental truths stand revealed to us through Christian Science; but it is one thing simply to acquiesce in them, another to demonstrate them. The Christian Scientist acknowledges them whole-heartedly and is earnest in his endeavor to demonstrate them; and that is why he is alert continually—"watchful, sober, and vigilant." His thought is constantly supported by the truths of being, and he is able because of this to deny and overcome the errors of material sense. Paul was convinced of the necessity for watchfulness in the Christian warfare. He told the Colossians to "continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." It is highly significant that in his request he associated thanksgiving with vigilance. Paul himself could do this because of his profound gratitude for the goodness of God—God whom Christian Science acknowledges as infinite good.

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