Article October 25, 1947 Issue

THE EASY YOKE

RAY H. OLIPHANT

Almost everyone is engaged to a greater or lesser extent in work of some kind, for work is the effort to accomplish something worth while. Those who take up the study of Christian Science have a special call to useful activity, for Mary Baker Eddy writes in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900 (p. 2), "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work—work—work— watch and pray.'" However, a study of her writings does not permit the assumption that she was advocating mere human activity.

Just what is the real work of a Christian Scientist is sometimes a question in the minds of students. This is not a new question; it was presented to Christ Jesus himself. Inquirers asked him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" He answered, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:28,29). The answer is the same today: Believe—understand the Christ. This is the father's business. It is the fundamental task of the Christian Scientist. All of his activities are properly subservient to gaining and proving an understanding of the Christ, which Jesus came to demonstrate.

Again Jesus said (Matt.11:29, 30): "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me .... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." In a figurative sense a yoke is often a symbol of bondage. There is, however, a kind of yoke which is a light frame of wood laid across the shoulders to aid in carrying loads. This yoke is not enslaving or burdensome; it makes the work easier. Does not the understanding of the Christ do just this?

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