Article March 14, 2016 Issue

Moral courage to stand for what’s right

Barbara J. Presler

Few things are as important to society as moral courage. “From lack of moral strength empires fall,” Mary Baker Eddy writes on page 268 of Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896. The good news is that we all have the God-given ability to face the enemy of self-doubt, to conduct our daily business with intrepid bravery, and to be unafraid of evil’s claims to overpower good.

To better understand and express our inherent moral courage, as opposed to animal courage, we need to understand that God, Spirit, is good, and that spiritual good is the only real power. This understanding gives us the ability to resist an “eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” mentality, and to express the courage taught by Christ Jesus, who did good in the face of evil, taught us to return kindness and love for hatred, and to face down negativity with hope, expectation, and healing.

Expressing this spiritual dominion denies power to immoral and sinful behavior by proving it to be powerless. Jesus said: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38, 39).

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