Editorial August 14, 1948 Issue

THE JOY OF INFLUENCING RIGHTEOUSLY

John Randall Dunn

In the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), under "A Rule for Motives and Acts," its inspired author, Mary Baker Eddy, writes, "The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously." Occasionally one finds a student of Christian Science who interprets this By-Law as warning against all prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, and influencing. But is this consistent with Mrs. Eddy's teachings?

Cannot one prophesy good and the coming of happier days for the sons of men, when Christly obedience is enshrined in human hearts? Should not one strive daily to follow the Biblical injunction to judge righteous judgment and not acknowledge as reality that which is evil and discordant? Should not the follower of Christ Jesus ever condemn sin, but save its victims? And as for counseling and influencing, should not this always be undertaken under the guidance and inspiration of good, Principle, and unselfed love? The By-Law warns against erroneously judging, condemning, influencing, and so on.

Take for example the question of influencing. A most profitable method of study for a Christian Scientist would be to trace in the Concordances to our Leader's writings many of her statements under the word "influence." Here we find a remarkable sidelight on this word in its main phases. The baneful influence of the carnal mind is recognized and boldly dealt with; but our Leader has much to say about the heavenly influence of divine Love, Truth, Spirit, and Soul.

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