Article November 6, 1948 Issue

"A PATIENT GOD"

RALPH C. LEE

Throughout the Scriptures, which Christian Scientists love and daily study, God is designated in terms of almightiness, unchangeableness, and endurance or patience —an everlasting God, without beginning or end. Paul speaks of Him as "the God of patience and consolation" (Rom. 15:5). In Peter's résumé of qualities which promote spiritual understanding (II Pet. 1:5–8), patience is associated with faith, godliness, virtue, brotherly kindness, charity, Christly knowledge, and temperance.

Christian Science accords with the Bible by teaching that patience is a Godlike characteristic, one of God's mighty attributes, as continuously expressed by man as honesty, fidelity, or justice. In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 242), "In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor to dissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant of error,—self-will, self-justification, and self-love,—which wars against spirituality and is the law of sin and death."

According to Christian Science, divine Love is patiently, eternally, infinitely revealing itself to and through its own idea, man. Divine Mind reveals itself in our human experience in right decisions, wisdom, and intelligence. Perseverance and industry continuously flow from Life. The steadfast, law-ordered spiritual qualities which bring opportunity and success are characteristics of Principle, while Truth confers upon its idea trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity. "In patient obedience to a patient God," we have only one activity or occupation: to reflect consistently and fully these spiritual, enduring qualities.

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