Article March 18, 1985 Issue

Responsibility begins at home

CAROL CHAPIN LINDSEY

If God is All, as the Bible implies and Christian Science corroborates, can't we just lean on that and let go all personal responsibility for our health and well-being? Sometimes new students of Science are tempted to take this view. This may be a necessary but soon-to-be-outgrown step toward the recognition of the difference between true and false responsibility.

Christ Jesus was aware of both kinds. Speaking of the tendency to assume false responsibility, he said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."^{Matt. 7:1.} In regard to our legitimate accountability, he declared, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."^{Matt. 5:16.}

It's not always easy to separate true responsibility from false. Spiritual discernment of our motives provides a start. Self-questioning speeds the process. Am I attributing all power to God when I think of friends or family or situations that seem troublesome? Am I listening to divine Mind's prompting or to human will? Am I voicing truth or error?

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