Editorial July 2, 1932 Issue

Meeting Adverse Circumstances

W. Stuart Booth

Skillful handling of a sailboat results in making progress against adverse winds; in fact, the proper set of the sails and the right use of the rudder by a skipper enable him to employ seemingly adverse winds to his advantage. Likewise, Christian Science instructs its students so that they are not disturbed or distressed by any suggestion of delay or defeat when adverse circumstances arise in their experiences. For in their textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 419), Mrs. Eddy sounds a rousing, definite call in these words: "Meet every adverse circumstance as its master." The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science was able to write those words because she had proved by her own Christian Science demonstrations of God's power that conditions or circumstances adverse or contrary to God, Principle, and His good law, are devoid of reality.

Christian Science not only heartens us by telling us to "meet every adverse circumstance as its master," but it also enlightens us with spiritual understanding so that the way to realize this God-bestowed mastery is available to all. Did not Christ Jesus, the master Christian, prove his spiritual power over all manner of disease by healing it; over the claims of sin by annulling them and freeing the sin-bound; and over the fear of death by demonstrating the continuing presence and power of Life? And did he not say, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also"? The condition imposed in connection with this prophetic promise is to "believe," the Greek of which implies trustful understanding. This requisite spiritual understanding is supplied by Christian Science.

Humanity is beset by many conditions which are so obviously adverse to good, to harmony, purity, and justice—to God—that Christian Science enables us to recognize them as being from the "adversary, the devil," and therefore utterly false and powerless. For this also we have the irrefutable authority of Christ Jesus, who defined the devil, or evil, as a liar and the father of falsities, and verified his definition by overcoming sin, sickness, and death.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Items of Interest