Article January 27, 1945 Issue

On Refusing to Respond

JOHN ALEXANDER GRANT

In the Gospel accounts of the arraignment of Jesus before Pilate, we are told that in spite of the virulent accusations of his enemies "he answered nothing" (Matt. 27:12). Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes of this experience in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 48): "Judas had the world's weapons. Jesus had not one of them, and chose not the world's means of defence. 'He opened not his mouth.' The great demonstrator of Truth and Love was silent before envy and hate."

The effectiveness of his sublime defense was clearly apparent to Pilate, for according to Mark's Gospel (15:4, 5), "Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee;" and the account continues, "But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled." It is profitable to ponder the master Metaphysician's method of defense against this venomous attack of the carnal mind. The might and majesty of the Christ, Truth, so apparent in this intense human experience of Jesus, must appear now in some measure in our demonstrations.

Personal, corporeal sense insists that we must meet hatred with more bitter hatred, counter accusation with more vehement accusation. Shall we thus respond and, so doing, add fuel to the flames? Or shall we smother the conflagration by earnestly and steadfastly refusing it admittance to our consciousness on the basis of the omnipresence of Truth and Love? The Christian Scientist knows that this is no passive defense. It is the most vigorous prosecution of evil suggestions. We must steadfastly affirm the truth of being and refuse to identify ourselves or others with evil or matter. Then Truth will cause the lie of hatred, sin or sickness to drop of its own weight and vanish into nameless nothingness.

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"No Vacancy"
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