Editorial August 18, 1934 Issue

Charity in Thought and Deed

Duncan Sinclair

The student of Christian Science does not pursue his study long before he becomes aware of the absoluteness of the idealism which it teaches. Likely enough, he had previously been aware, in some degree, of the idealism of Christianity, but had felt as if it were impossible to live in accordance with it. The command quoted by Jesus he was familiar with, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;" but how could that be done? The writings of Paul on charity, or love, in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians, he was acquainted with—the charity which "never faileth"; but how difficult it had seemed to practice that charity! And John's words, too, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God"—the thought they expressed, had it not seemed to him sometimes well-nigh beyond the power of a mortal to render practical? But all of that idealism is set forth in the New Testament, and it constitutes the essential nature of Christianity!

Throughout the whole of her writings Mrs. Eddy, who was a devout follower of the Master, holds to the lofty idealism of pure Christianity. Time and again she declares herself whole-heartedly on the side of the moral law as it is set forth in the Decalogue, and urges obedience to that law upon all students of Christian Science. And always in doing so she makes it plain that this obedience results in better health and greater happiness. Purity of thought, love to God and man, steadfast adherence to the truth concerning real being—these, she taught, are essential to the well-ordered lives of men. Not in a single particular did she set aside as impractical the idealism of Christ Jesus and of those who so heroically sought to enlighten mankind regarding it.

Jesus' words, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," ideal as they are, Christian Scientists understand to be entirely scientific. God, Christian Science declares, is the perfect creator or Father, and man is His perfect image or reflection. This relationship between God and man is unchangeable, eternal. As it is discerned by us we apprehend what is meant by the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and perceive that this teaching gives a thoroughly scientific and practical basis for human conduct.

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