Article August 4, 1956 Issue

CONSENT ONLY TO GOOD

JOHN D. MINTO

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thess. 5:21, 22). In these stirring words the Apostle Paul gives us a rule, demonstrable today, for the proper and full enjoyment of all of God's precious gifts. Health, joy, peace, harmony—all His blessings are ours eternally.

We can suffer no seeming disruption of Love's care if we steadfastly refuse to admit anything but good into our consciousness. Christian Science shows us how to shut out error by revealing the fact that, in truth, there can be nothing in creation but good, because God made all, and all that He made is "very good."

Paul, who became one of the greatest exponents of Christ Jesus' teachings, had to learn through tribulation the insidiousness of consenting to evil. He first comes to our attention under the name of Saul in the Bible narrative of the stoning of Stephen. It is recorded that the witnesses who brought about the death of Stephen "laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul" (Acts 7:58). Farther on, we read, "And Saul was consenting unto his death." Beginning with this passive consent, Saul later became actively involved in the persecutions of the Christians. In fact, he was a leader of their opponents until his enlightenment and conversion on the road to Damascus.

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