The Bible Speaks to You March 15, 1969 Issue

[The above is an abbreviated, postproduction text of the program released for broadcast the week of March 7—13 in the radio series, "The Bible Speaks to You." Heard internationally over more than 1,000 stations, the weekly programs are prepared and produced by the Christian Science Committee on Publication, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 02115.]

RADIO PROGRAM NO. 362 - Making Sound Judgments

with contributions from Robert McKinnon, Jerome Franke

[The speaker is Jerome Franke. The questioner is Robert McKinnon.]

Questioner: In this computer age, knowledge and information are gathered faster and faster. But computers can't make judgments. Only people can do that. Many people try to keep well informed, and yet they continue to make serious mistakes in judgment. But, good judgment is something some people have and others don't.
Speaker:It may appear that way, but it doesn't necessarily need to be so. What would you say makes for good judgment?
Questioner: One important factor is to have a very strong grasp of the facts of the situation. Then there's an added factor of intuitive intelligence, which helps us choose the best facts and make the best judgment.
Speaker: I would agree. It's essential to have the facts at hand, to understand the depth of the problem. Now, we are actually talking about the area of intuitive intelligence, spiritually inspired qualities of thought—insight, discernment, and timing—which are available to each one of us, as are honesty or integrity.

The Bible indicates that wisdom, understanding, and insight, like honesty and goodness, have a divine source. We read in the Bible (Prov. 2:6), "The Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." The more we open our thought to the true source of wisdom and insight, the more we'll see good judgment expressed in our experience. We'll see what's genuine and sound—look on the heart rather than being swayed, for example, simply by eloquence.
Questioner: By true source I take it you mean more than mere native intelligence or common sense.
Speaker: Yes, we are talking about something more than the limited human view of intelligence. As Christ Jesus said (John 5:30), "My judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." The Master constantly looked to the one Father, infinite Spirit, divine Mind, as the source of all wisdom, insight, and discernment. His judgments always resulted in progress and healing, and the same source of good judgment is available to us today.
Questioner: As I understand it, there are great differences in the ability of various individuals to deal with judgmental decisions. Do our human faculties limit our ability to make use of this divine source in making judgments?
Speaker: If we live our lives bound by the human sense of intelligence, we're going to accept limitations. But if we are to take advantage of divine intelligence, we must break the bonds of the material sense of intelligence that restrict us. We must enlarge our concept of man, become aware of the man the Bible reveals, created in the image and likeness of God, spiritual in nature. And because God is all-intelligence, man, reflecting that intelligence, is not in any way hampered, limited, or bound by a human sense of his intelligence. It is God-derived, God-expressed, and God-directed.