Editorial November 4, 1961 Issue

"The weapons of our warfare"

Helen Wood Bauman

Christ Jesus must have startled his listeners when he said to them (Matt. 5:38, 39), "Ye have heard that it hath been said. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Here was a new conception of defense, something that called for a different kind of weapon than that which the world was accustomed to. This weapon was love, the spiritual love that loves enemies as well as friends, the love that sees perfection as the fact of being and rejects evil as a lie. Later on, the Master gave full proof that love is the mightiest power that can be employed in the defense of innocence. On the cross he appeared to suffer defeat. But love was working out its dominion even in the dark hour of crucifixion.

Speaking of the world's weapons, which had been employed against the Master, Mary Baker Eddy says, "Jesus had not one of them, and chose not the world's means of defence" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 48). The Saviour knew well the words of the Psalmist (Ps. 7:10), "My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart." He placed his full trust in the protection of divine Love and came forth from the tomb in evidence of the power of Love meekly practiced.

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