Article March 9, 1946 Issue

Obedience through Love

MAX J. SIMON

The Mosaic Decalogue is the basis of Christian law. The spiritual essence of these Commandments was given to us by our Way-shower. Christ Jesus. As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 22), when questioned as to "the great commandment in the law," Jesus stated that the first and great commandment is, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." He continued: "And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The loyal student of Christian Science strives to obey the teachings of Christ Jesus and to emulate his mighty works. He loves God and obeys His commandments. He does this not merely because he feels it a duty, or through fear of sinister consequences should he fail to live up to this divine standard, but purely because of his love and gratitude for the good that has been bestowed upon him through the study and practice of Christian Science.

Mary Baker Eddy, in speaking of Jesus, says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 54), "Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love." God is Love, and the Christian Scientist, reflecting Love and demonstrating pure affection, is enabled to see the qualities of love, compassion, honesty, tenderness, and tolerance expressed by his brother man. He avoids the temptation to gossip, to condemn, or to criticize his neighbor. Such criticism is of no benefit to him. On the contrary, it may, if not ejected, become so indelibly impressed on his consciousness that it is found hard to erase.

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