Editorial October 28, 1961 Issue

"A two-edged sword, guarding and guiding"

Ralph E. Wagers

The Christian Science Sentinel has a twofold value: what it does for us and what it encourages us to do for ourselves. The word "sentinel" pertains to guarding, protecting. It connotes care, watchfulness, alertness, staying awake for some good purpose; and in the final analysis our protection from the false claims of evil is to be found in our own watchfulness, in the care we devote to guarding the unfolding of the spiritual idea in our consciousness.

Prominently displayed on the cover of each issue of the Sentinel is the command of Christ Jesus to his disciples (Mark 13:37), "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." We have Christianity today because the Master took each progressive spiritual footstep in obedience to God's demands as they were revealed to him. Likewise, Mary Baker Eddy carefully followed the leadings of divine Principle in establishing Christian Science. Spiritual alertness was an outstanding characteristic of these two religious leaders. It is our responsibility to guard both Christianity and Christian Science in our individual lives that others, as well as ourselves, may enjoy, and continue to enjoy, their benefits.

A dramatic account of spiritual alertness is given in the Master's wilderness experience (see Matt. 4:1-11). The intent of the devil was to have Jesus abuse his God-derived capacities. To use his spiritual power in the interests of all men, Jesus had to protect it from abuse. What we understand of the true nature of being is of increasing value only as it is protected from the machinations of a supposed evil power bearing in Scripture the title of Satan, or devil.

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