Article August 8, 1970 Issue

Agreeing with the Adversary

ROBERT CARROLL PEACOCK

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of Christ Jesus' admonition, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him"?^{Matt. 5:25} A little dictionary work was helpful to the writer, for he found a definition of the word "agree" that read "to come to terms." Hence, to agree quickly could mean to accept the challenge promptly—and on terms of your own choosing.

If we were suddenly attacked, it would be quite natural for us to agree to engage the antagonist and destroy the threat. In Jesus' advice there is certainly no hint that we should ignore the enemy. He treated sickness, as well as sin and death, as enemies and consistently came to terms with them and overcame them, but he never ignored them.

Christian Science demonstrates that an understanding of God as Life, Truth, and Love, which the Scriptures say He is, and of man as His perfect image, destroys evil of every kind—disease, lack, hate, sensuality, envy, false pride, and fear. The Master destroyed such adversaries by his spiritual understanding and said that those who believed on him should do likewise. Having been shown the way, we are wise to follow it and be ready to apply our understanding whenever a challenge appears—and on terms as outlined in Science. If tempted to say, "I feel sick," we can know at once that sickness was never a part of God's creation, which He declared good. If a sense of weakness, age, or impotence seems evident, we can declare with the conviction of David and without hesitation, "God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect."^{II Sam. 22:33}

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