Christ's way is the only way
Divinely Inspired Leadership
At a United States naval air base in another country, where my husband and I were stationed, the commanding officer came to me saying there were many dependent children around who didn't have anything to do with themselves. They were bored, their morale was down, and their conduct not good. He told me several efforts had already been made to form a teen club for these youngsters, but without any success. And he added that because of my professional experience in working with children he wondered if I'd be willing to organize a club. I thought about it prayerfully for a few days, then told the captain I would be glad to help.
Very soon I selected two other people to assist me in writing the constitution for the group. The base legal officer promptly praised and approved it, and within one month the club was completely organized. The commanding officer was amazed at how swiftly the whole matter was completed. He asked how I had done it. I told him I had the help of the Bible and of another book, Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy, and that these gave me the understanding of the qualities of true leadership and how to express them. Mrs. Eddy says in her Message to The Mother Church for 1901, "Godliness or Christianity is a human necessity: man cannot live without it; he has no intelligence, health, hope, nor happiness without godliness." Message for 1901, p. 34 ;
The right leadership inspired by Christian Science involves morality and conformity to the standards of righteousness. It is a mental activity—the reflection of spiritual understanding, wisdom, and intelligence.
Such leadership evidences God's will and is manifested and controlled by incorporeal, supreme Mind. One who is following God's direction in his leadership of others exhibits Godlike qualities because, demonstrating the divine Mind, he is not deflected from what is right by mortal mind or the evidence of the material senses. Following God's leading makes one good, pure, and courageous.
As one adheres strictly to the divine laws of God, one's leadership does not breed corruption nor manifest it. God did not create a corrupt man. Corruption is unknown to God, also unknown to the real man, God's reflection and likeness.
Christ Jesus manifested divinely inspired leadership to the highest degree and he said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 ; He showed that true leadership includes morality. Its vital properties, or elements, proceed from God, divine Principle. True leadership expresses the integrity of immortal Truth and the kindness, impartiality, and loyalty that are derived from infinite Love. Self-love, self-justification, and self-righteousness have no place in it.
The leadership based on God's direction promotes peace and goodwill; it helps prevent frictions, confrontations, problems—even wars. Under the astute guidance of such leadership there can be a lessening of erosion in government, politics, business, industry, the economy, and other aspects of life.
In Science and Health we read: "The Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is honest and consistent in following the leadings of divine Mind. He must prove, through living as well as healing and teaching, that Christ's way is the only one by which mortals are radically saved from sin and sickness." Science and Health, p. 458 ; To follow the leadings of divine Mind unites individuals and maintains harmony and joy. The one infinite, incorporeal Mind does not know hate, criticism, or condemnation. There is no opposite to the infinite Mind; the carnal or mortal mind has no authority nor presence; its existence is only an illusion.
Divinely inspired leadership respects equitable jurisdiction because its basis is supreme Principle. Furthermore, it takes its direction from divine consciousness, which unfolds good and does not manipulate at all, nor counsel erroneously. To reflect the divine leadership is to exercise all-inclusive love, for in reality Christ's way is the only way.
Our understanding and demonstration of the Christ will make manifest progress, dominion, and blessings. Willingness to abide by the Christ-idea will generate divinely inspired leadership wherever we are called upon to lead. Christly thought is never dim, nor is it naive about error or evil. The Christ does not condone, tolerate, nor encourage lawbreaking, because lawbreaking is contrary to the nature of Principle.
Shady, underhand, degrading, degenerating activities are not in any way a part of the Christ-idea and this fact can be proved. Divinely inspired leadership has no fellowship with lies or cheating; the Christ sets forth honor and dependability—the leadership of morality. Our demonstration of these spiritual facts will result in a support of genuine civil liberties.
Radical reliance on this type of leadership will accomplish its purpose, as it did with the teen club. Those teen-agers learned to be more helpful and did all kinds of useful things. There was a complete change in their attitude. They were no longer bored. Their morale was much higher, their conduct commendable, and there were no discernible immoral tendencies among them, as there had been before.
The absolutely pure nature of the Christ, discerned as present and active, satisfies, blesses, and makes happy. There is no discouragement, discontent, nor impatience where Mind's leadership prevails. Furthermore, there is no dissension or unrest, because the Christ, the expression of Mind, is the administrator of justice.
Divinely inspired leadership fulfills uprightness because it reflects the one adorable Mind. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Advancing spiritual steps in the teeming universe of Mind lead on to spiritual spheres and exalted beings. To material sense, this divine universe is dim and distant, gray in the sombre hues of twilight; but anon the veil is lifted, and the scene shifts into light." ibid., p. 513 .
