On God's Side

Duncan Sinclair

The Christian Scientist has a great task before him as he strives to be constant in his allegiance to God, faithful to his highest understanding of divine Principle, steadfast in the application of his understanding to the various problems incidental to human experience. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon," said Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. The Christian Scientist cannot be obedient to spiritual truth and to materiality at the same time. He cannot take the side of righteousness and condone the practice of evil. He dare not leave the pathway of good, narrow to mortal sense though it may sometimes seem, for the broad way of sinful thoughts actions. He whose understanding of real being is established abides in that understanding—remains on God's side.

Christian Science reveals God as the author of good, and of good alone. It discovers to men that since God is infinite good, evil has no real being, no reality. This means that Christian Science flatly contradicts the belief of mortals that sin, disease, death, and all other apparent forms of evil are real—teaching which is fundamental. It cannot be gainsaid, because to do so would be to deny that God is absolutely perfect. It is this teaching which the Christian Scientist has ever before him to be obeyed and demonstrated. It is obedience to this teaching which keeps him on God's side.

Mrs. Eddy writes on page 418 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Cast out all manner of evil. 'Preach the gospel to every creature.' Speak the truth to every form of error." That is what is expected of every faithful student of Christian Science. He must heal the sick and the sinning. He must wisely proclaim the truth to his fellow men when opportunity presents itself. He must declare the truth, silently or audibly, to every seeming activity of evil. What faithfulness, what consecration, this requires! But what a call there is upon him that it be done!

Christian Scientists are today engaged in the practice of healing the sick and sinful and comforting the sorrowful and the oppressed. They are doing great and good work along this line as they steadfastly remain on God's side. But a larger measure of spirituality is needed on their part to draw greater numbers of humanity to Christian Science and to ensure quicker healings. More of the Christ-spirit—more Christliness—is required in the sacred ministry of Christian Science practice. More self-abnegation, a greater degree of purity, a larger measure of compassion and love are required; for only thought imbued with these graces of Spirit, coupled with the understanding of the letter of divine Science, is capable of accomplishing the destruction of evil belief expeditiously.

The inspired knowledge that good alone is real demands of the Christian Scientist that the greatest care be taken by him not to voice evil or error, unless it be to expose its false claims for the purpose of destroying them. For what is one doing when one speaks or writes of evil as if it were real and to be feared? He is turning his back on the truth which Christian Science has made known, namely, that only good is real. He is virtually denying this truth; and in so doing is no longer on God's side. Our Leader says, very lovingly, in "No and Yes" (p. 8), "Avoid voicing error; but utter the truth of God and the beauty of holiness, the joy of Love and 'the peace of God, that passeth all understanding,' recommending to all men fellowship in the bonds of Christ." How splendid are her words in their Christliness!

As indicated, the only justification for voicing error is that its claims may be uncovered to human consciousness, in order that the Scientist may meet these claims understandingly as nothing. Thus, the Christian Scientist finds The Christian Science Monitor making mention of many of evil's ways, even of its criminal ways. It is his duty on reading about these quickly to deny them, the while he declares the truth of God's allness and omnipotence; quickly to deny that evil ever was or ever can be part of man—God's perfect idea. By doing so the Christian Scientist renders incalculable service to mankind.

Unless evil is regarded in this way; unless it is scientifically handled in this way, it may suggest itself to the thought of the Christian Scientist as real, find a lodgment there, and bring forth fruit after its kind. Surely Mrs. Eddy had this before her when she wrote (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 128), "Watch, and pray daily that evil suggestions, in whatever guise, take no root in your thought nor bear fruit." Evil suggestions cannot find a lodgment in the consciousness which is on God's side, the consciousness which is filled with good.

Duncan Sinclair

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