Throughout her writings Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has much to say on the subject of obedience. She lovingly demanded and expected the obedience of her students and followers because she knew that in absolute conformity to the law of God lay the certainty of all spiritual progress. She also saw that unwillingness to accept her teaching fully would necessarily prevent its successful demonstration in healing the sick and sinning. For this reason it is clear that for the earnest student there can be no divided allegiance—no dependence upon both Spirit and matter—and no mental reservations about her teachings.

If one would demonstrate success in healing himself or others, he naturally must obey the rules which Mrs. Eddy lays down in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," rules by which she herself demonstrated the truth of her discovery. Complete reliance upon Spirit and joyous submission to the will of God are the substance of all spiritual devotion and obedience. Referring to this, Mrs. Eddy writes in her textbook (p. 183): "Divine Mind rightly demands man's entire obedience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength. Submission to error superinduces loss of power."

The lives of Christ Jesus and our beloved Leader present striking examples of selfless obedience to the will of God. Indeed in that very selflessness lay the secret of their great accomplishment for mankind. The sincere Christian Scientist is constantly endeavoring to conform his thinking to the will of God, not merely because it is desirable or advisable, but because he loves good, loves God, because he is demonstrating that good is the only real attraction. Spiritual love and obedience to Principle go hand in hand. The Psalmist must have gained a clear perception of that fact when he wrote (Ps. 119:97–112): "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.... I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.... I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end."

The obedient child is always the happy child when he is being taught to live in accord with right. Parents who are Christian Scientists learn to instill obedience in their children, not because they want to exert human will, but because they know that obedience to good means conformity to the will of God and lays a basis for harmony and happiness in every unfolding future experience of the child.

In helpful counsel our textbook says (p. 236): "Children should obey their parents; insubordination is an evil, blighting the buddings of self-government. Parents should teach their children at the earliest possible period the truths of health and holiness. Children are more tractable than adults, and learn more readily to love the simple verities that will make them happy and good. Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right. While age is halting between two opinions or battling with false beliefs, youth makes easy and rapid strides towards Truth." If divine Love is governing, there is no insubordination.

In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy furnishes the members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, with a set of By-Laws and Rules. Their intent is clear. Comparatively simple and direct in statement, they fortify, dignify, and strengthen the organization which she founded. These Rules, if obeyed, ensure the progressive harmony of every loyal Christian Scientist.

If mortals collectively and individually are living in disobedience to the law of God, they should not be surprised to find themselves confronted with continued and unsolved difficulties. Broken moral laws, dishonesty, greed, and corruption are not the mental elements which find expression in happy and peaceful lives. The children of disobedience wittingly or unwittingly separate themselves from all that means heaven and perfect being.

In Christian Science we learn that the spiritual incentive to live in accord with divine Principle is a steppingstone leading to the understanding and demonstration of the perfect oneness of divine Mind with its idea. Christian Science points out that in the demonstration of obedience will be found the answer to every so-called problem that confronts humanity today.

Science reveals the spiritual fact that in the truth of being every idea of Mind is inevitably fulfilling Mind's intention and is therefore always joyously obedient to the divine will. In the universe of Love's creating, each idea is intelligently and happily fulfilling the divine purpose. An understanding of this fact lifts thought above the material hopes, wishes, and desires of personal sense. It uncovers the futility and unreal basis of mortal strivings, longings, personal ambitions, and recognizes the certain and blessed destiny that Love holds for each of its ideas through all eternity.

Man, in the highest and truest sense, is the very evidence of obedience to the Mind conceiving him. Inevitably he fulfills God's purpose and in so doing shows forth the inseparable oneness of Principle with its idea.

In an address, entitled "Obedience," which Mrs. Eddy gave before the Christian Scientist Association of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in 1893, she lovingly urges the students to let their lives be an expression of complete obedience to the law of God. She indicates that this obedience is not mere outward conformity to the rule, but that our lives must exemplify and show forth what true obedience means. She says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 120): "The professors of Christian Science must take off their shoes at our altars; they must unclasp the material sense of things at the very threshold of Christian Science: they must obey implicitly each and every injunction of the divine Principle of life's long problem, or repeat their work in tears. In the words of St. Paul, 'Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?'"

Richard J. Davis