Article October 12, 1981 Issue

Genuine zeal

JEANNE STEELY LAITNER

Regardless of the personal or national crises biblical poets encountered, they often expressed steadfast trust in God: "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord." Ps. 104:33, 34. Such words, denoting a genuinely zealous attitude toward God and His goodness, are a recurring theme in the psalms.

Webster defines "zeal" as "eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something: fervor." How we need this intense interest in learning to understand God and our relationship to Him!

The metaphysical interpretation of "zeal" in the Christian Science textbook, written by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gives both the spiritual meaning and its opposite, mortal connotation: "The reflected animation of Life, Truth, and Love. Blind enthusiasm; mortal will." Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 599. Genuine zeal comes from God and is steadfast and consistently good. The false version suggests an unwise impetus that differs from zeal's conviction and tends to wax and wane in its commitment.

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October 12, 1981
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