Editorial April 11, 1936 Issue

"Overcome evil with good"

Duncan Sinclair

Two passages of Scripture, both by St. Paul, stand out boldly and significantly to the student of Christian Science. One is, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21), the other, "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (I Thessalonians 5:15). They demand that the Christian shall not condescend to the methods of the evilly-minded, but shall hold to good and master evil by righteous thinking and righteous doing. The words of the apostle allow of no exception.

It may seem difficult at times to see how evil can be overcome without resort to its own weapons, so strong is the general belief in evil's reality and power. When it appears to vaunt itself loudly, to be violent and persistent, one may be tempted to believe that his only defense lies in being even more aggressive along evil lines. That, indeed, has too often been the attitude of men. But it is not the Christly attitude. It is not the attitude which Christian Science urges upon its followers.

If one considers Christ Jesus' teaching and example, what does one find? That he repeatedly exposed and denounced evil, as, for example, when he censured the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, or whipped from the temple the traffickers in materiality. He did these things because he abhorred evil. But it is highly significant that even while he rebuked error, his heart was aglow with love for mankind. Jesus knew that the real man is the son of God, sinless, perfect. He knew that evil, being unreal, is unknown to God, and therefore is no part of man. It was this understanding that enabled him to rebuke error, even while love reigned in his thought. It was this understanding that enabled him to overcome the belief of death, proving life to be eternal. "He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate," as Mrs. Eddy puts it on page 44 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."

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