I once overheard a fellow church member say of one party’s candidate, “I don’t know how anyone can be a Christian Scientist and support them.” It wasn’t long after that another church friend questioned how a person could be a Christian Scientist and support the other party’s candidate. Political opinions can lead us to the conclusion that anyone who disagrees with the ideology we favor is wrong—that only our preferred ideology is correct. Of course, this is intellectually impossible. Political viewpoints belonging to various parties can include ideas that are intelligent, useful, and important. 

So what causes us to take it personally when we disagree with others’ ideas or makes us attempt to influence another to think the way we do—and if they don’t, to consider them an enemy or, at least, less of a friend? What causes family members to separate themselves from each other based on these differences? 

Aren’t extremes of political opinions really based on ignorance of the nature of God?

Human opinions find their source in external influences such as social media and left- or right-focused journalism, as opposed to spiritual inspiration, which is strictly a divine influence. Aren’t extremes of political opinions really based on ignorance of the nature of God as all good and all powerful, and of God as providing all good to His loved sons and daughters? This ignorance can cause us to fear factors that seem to be out of our control. For instance, fears about not having enough money to sustain one’s family—or conversely about losing what one already has—may be driving stormy emotions about a candidate’s stance regarding the economy. But through Christian Science we can gain a higher view. We can depend on a loving God as being in charge of our good, our health and safety, and our freedom, and prove that understanding prayer can bring that good into our experience. Then we won’t be afraid or angry about someone we didn’t vote for taking office. 

Much discourse on the internet promotes anger and fear through algorithms that lead many users to receive and share a constant diet of division-mongering. That reinforces one-sided opinions, whereas spiritually inspired thought comes directly from our divine source, God, and promotes progress and unity of spirit.

Of course, this divisiveness is nothing new. We need only look to the Bible history of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. According to Britannica.com: “The Sadducees and Pharisees were in constant conflict with each other. . . . The Pharisees emerged as a party of laymen and scribes in contradistinction to the Sadducees—i.e., the party of the high priesthood that had traditionally provided the sole leadership of the Jewish people.” Christ Jesus provided a higher and more thoughtful model, turning people to God as the source of solutions in all human affairs and rebuking whatever error was present. 

We can depend on a loving God as being in charge of our good; then we won’t be afraid or angry about someone we didn’t vote for taking office. 

Today, in like manner, Christian Science comes to the rescue of our current political discourse. It does not preach a conservative, a liberal, or any sort of human approach to policymaking but a spiritual righteousness that blesses all. It lifts us from a rebuke of each other to a spiritual interpretation of the word rebuke—the kind Jesus employed when he rebuked violent winds and waves on a lake. He would not be brought down to the disciples’ fear of being in a storm. Instead he lifted them to a holy calm by rebuking the raging of material-mindedness. “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26).

Referring to “a rest in Christ, a peace in Love,” Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, “The thought of it stills complaint; the heaving surf of life’s troubled sea foams itself away, and underneath is a deep-settled calm” (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 19).

Webster defines rebuke as “to check or restrain; to calm; to heal.” When Jesus rebuked someone, he demanded through God’s authority that something that was erroneous within them cease and desist. Mrs. Eddy counsels us to “draw no lines whatever between one person and another, but think, speak, teach, and write the truth of Christian Science without reference to right or wrong personality in this field of labor. . . . 

“We should endeavor to be long-suffering, faithful, and charitable with all. To this small effort let us add one more privilege—namely, silence whenever it can substitute censure. . . . 

“. . . let your opponents alone, and use no influence to prevent their legitimate action from their own standpoint of experience, knowing, as you should, that God will well regenerate and separate wisely and finally; . . .” (No and Yes, pp. 7–9).

With regard to politics and journalism, The Christian Science Monitor brings light, not heat, to political situations. It doesn’t tell the reader what to think but allows readers to think for themselves and spotlights Principle over personality. It does not assume a political position but a higher view where all can come together in civil discourse and mutual respect. It calms the troubled thought.

Lines from a hymn describe how the political waters can be calmed:

In other words, God is saying, “I am in control. I, not a political party or leader, will save you.”