There is much being said and written today on the subject of defense. One question often raised is, "How shall the free nations of the world defend themselves against the growing military power of a threatened aggressor?" In answer to this question some individuals have proposed that a preventive war be waged against the nations whose evident purpose it is to conquer the world. Such a course of action does not take into consideration the basic teachings of Christianity and its fundamental proposition as revealed in Christian Science, namely, the allness—omnipotence —of God, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

The prophet Isaiah recognized God's omnipotent power when he wrote (31:5): "As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it." Not airplanes loaded with destructive bombs, but the ever-active Christ equipped with the swift pinions and power of divine Love furnishes the only true and enduring weapons of warfare and defense for all men and nations.

Christian Science teaches mankind how to wage preventive war. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the textbook, "Science and Health with key to the Scriptures" (p. 234), "You must control evil thoughts in the first instance, or they will control you in the second."

Our true warfare, therefore, is mental. It is not carried on with or against military forces armed with deadly weapons. It is a spiritual warfare which recognizes sin, sickness, war, and every human discord as the effect of the one evil, the lie which claims that there are minds many, and that material existence is the reality of being.

This one evil is ignorance, non-intelligence, impotence, because God, Spirit, fills all space, and His universe is wholly spiritual and at peace. It requires persistence, courage, spiritual understanding, and unselfed love to carry on this preventive warfare against the ills and threats of the flesh. And Christian Scientists seek to equip themselves more and more fully with these spiritual weapons, through faithful study and practice of the truths found in the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings.

At one time the Syrians waged war against the Israelites. They had surrounded, with a great host of horses and chariots, the city in which the prophet Elisha was staying. Elisha, however, was not dismayed, but his servant was terror-stricken. Then the prophet prayed that the young man's eyes, too, might be opened to the recognition of God's power. Immediately his servant saw countless horses and chariots surrounding the forces of the enemy. To his awakened spiritual sense, God's strength appeared in the form of material armament. But Elisha had already discerned God's angels—the pure thoughts of Love and Truth—as ever present to deliver his people from the threats of evil.

Then the Syrians were temporarily stricken with blindness and led before the king of Israel. Again divinely inspired by God, Elisha advised the king to give them food and send them back to their homes. And it is recorded that, as a result, "the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel" (II Kings 6:23). Thus, divinely directed, the Israelites had waged a preventive war, on the same basis which Jesus later set forth when he said (Luke 6:27, 28), "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."

Does this mean that, in the practice of this method of preventive warfare, the Christian Scientist should oppose material armaments and other weapons of defense? No! It is right to take human footsteps, but only as the result of consistent watchfulness and spiritual prayer. This includes the rejection of all material testimony which depicts a world in confusion and chaos. When materially-minded military men, journalists, and commentators write and speak fearfully or unwisely, our duty is to seek through the testimony of Spirit the assurance of God's unchanging, peaceful universe and eternally established government.

The false claims of evil, in whatever form, have no power to touch or injure men individually or collectively. Only when they are accepted into human consciousness as real do they become aggressive and result in war and human discord. Therefore one must always be alert to detect, reject, and replace with the truth of Christian Science the lies of mortal mind which clamor for attention. Then these material beliefs cannot take root or grow in consciousness. One grain of Truth, a simple spiritual thought, entertained by the Christian Scientist, can heal incurable disease, help to end wars, and prevent impending calamity.

Mrs. Eddy gives an important impetus in the waging of preventive warfare in the following statement from a message to The Mother Church (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p.6): "Finally, brethren, let us continue to denounce evil as the illusive claim that God is not supreme, and continue to fight it until it disappears,—but not as one that beateth the mist, but lifteth his head above it and putteth his foot upon a lie."

In these times, so disturbing to many, let Christian Scientists continue their preventive spiritual warfare, advancing toward that day of which the Revelator said (11:15), "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."

Harold Molter