Article May 30, 1942 Issue

Finding Good

CARL WALTER GEHRING

"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live," is the admonition given by the prophet Amos under God's directing. It was sound advice spoken in those days of long ago, and today that guiding counsel for successful living is useful in healing all the ills of mankind because of the spiritual and practical understanding of the Scriptures which has been gained through Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, established a revolutionary revival of Christian thinking through her writings and teachings. She turned thought away from the contemplation of evil to the study of good. She found among men a common agreement on the undesirability of evil, but no effective means of destroying it. On page 325 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she says, "He who has the true idea of good loses all sense of evil, and by reason of this is being ushered into the undying realities of Spirit."

Good, naturally, is of God, and what is of God is infinite and immortal. Good cannot be separated from God. The understanding practiced by Christ Jesus is the demonstrable understanding of God and man which Christian Scientists strive for, and they approach that goal along the roadway of expressing good. In the beginning only a little good may be found and applied, but that little will do much to benefit him who applies it. "The true idea of good" has nothing to do with things material. In "the scientific statement of being" Mrs. Eddy begins by saying (ibid., p. 468), "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter," which explains why we cannot find good in matter, since good is substantial. And in the next sentence in this statement she continues with, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all." This makes it clear where the seeker for good must look. It must never be in the dream world of matter, but always in the infinite creation of Mind, Spirit.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians said, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." False beliefs of evil claim reality now as in the time of Paul. As men accept the simple doctrine of the reality and power of good, in the way revealed by Christ Jesus and Christian Science, the present age will experience peace and good will as a natural result of spiritual understanding.

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