Article March 14, 1970 Issue

The Command to Love

BRUCE ALAN LUDGATE, JR.

Two commandments permeate all Christianity. Christians often quote them but too often forget to obey them. The first is to love God. The second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Bible tells us that glad observance of these commandments is more essential than form and ritual. And Christian Scientists remember the words of Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health, "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 113;} Obedience to these two laws is requisite for daily Christian living and consistent healing. It supports all genuine progress toward ascension, final freedom from material limitations.

At the bottom of our hearts, we all desire to be obedient to these laws. But what does it mean to love as Christ Jesus and his follower Mrs. Eddy use the term? Few words in the English language show a greater variety of usage than this word "love," whose meanings range from lust to the purest spiritual sentiment, insight, understanding, and tenderness.

Our example in loving is Jesus' glorious life and works. Mrs. Eddy states, "Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love." ^{p. 54;} Affection has been described as settled goodwill and kind feeling. Jesus' goodwill never wavered. To Zacchaeus, regarded as a sharp-dealing, callous, and dishonest little tax collector, he said, "To day I must abide at thy house." ^{Luke 19:5;} Zacchaeus welcomed him and in the presence of the Christ experienced radical regeneration. The untouchable leper, an outcast from society, Jesus touched with a loving hand, cleansing the leper's concept of himself as being an untouchable, diseased outcast. He, too, was healed. A woman taken in adultery received his words of forgiveness: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." ^{John 8:11;}