Article January 22, 1955 Issue

SPEAKING WITH AUTHORITY

DORIS LAMBERT KELLER

The understanding of any subject enables one to speak with authority on it, and any challenging opposition will yield before the force of one's statements. On page 506 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy is this commanding statement of authority: "Understanding is a quality of God, a quality which separates Christian Science from supposition and makes Truth final." Those who profess an understanding they do not possess are ultimately betrayed by their failure in practice. They cannot honestly speak with authority, and their words, no matter how well chosen and convincing, lack that inner conviction that rests on understanding. Therefore, to quote from Paul (I Cor. 13:1), their words become "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

When one speaks with authority, his words are weighted with an assurance and finality that brook no interference. Centuries ago Jesus of Nazareth was approached by a certain centurion, who sought him for the healing of a sick servant. When Jesus offered to go with him to his home, the answer of the centurion was, to Jesus, the most gratifying acknowledgment of faith he had found in all Israel. Simply, the man assured Jesus that he did not seek his personal favoritism, of which he felt most unworthy, but rather "the word," which he knew carried the weight of authority and power.

As though in explanation of his faith in that authority, he added (Matt. 8:9): "For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." And we read, "His servant was healed in the selfsame hour." Jesus was sought because he understood and proved the law of God, and the centurion never questioned its operation; he expected a perfect healing and went on his way.

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