Editorial May 11, 1935 Issue

Formidableness

Violet Ker Seymer

When Goliath challenged the armies of Israel, he regarded himself as exceedingly formidable on account of his massive stature, encased in armor for protection. His pride and defiance were shallow and his menace futile. Young David was spiritually formidable because he was fighting with righteous weapons in a righteous cause. His defiance was potent because matter is no match for Mind and its representative. David allowed no fear of defeat to shame his faith in God. His spiritual trust maintained him at the high level of confidence and expectancy of victory. Fortified in the present hour by the remembrance of past protection, he anticipated the triumph of the God of Israel over the representative of the Philistines.

What, then, of the Christian Scientist whose faith in the power of God is strengthened by spiritual understanding? Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 317), "The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death." Through spiritual understanding, love of good, and loyalty to divine Principle, one is endowed with initiative and invincible courage.

All discord centers on the personal sense of self, in whose defense humanity uses every kind of material or falsely mental weapon, and in the end there is always failure, for the one defense against evil is the armor of Godlikeness. Truth imparts to the true thinker stanchness, courage, spiritual conviction, which triumph in brief or prolonged testing times, because the sustaining power of God is tireless, everlasting. There is no cause for alarm or dismay in any situation. Divine Principle is formidable beyond all that mortal mind can devise or suggest. Resentment, jealousy, envy, friction, disease—the bevy of boasters—are compelled to surrender to the sublimity of divine Love reflected in love. "Error is a coward before Truth" (Science and Health, p. 368). The Christian Scientist cannot be a coward, for there is no cowardice in Christian Science. The triumph of Spirit is undebatable.

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