Freedom Through Obedience

Albert F. Gilmore

The common tendency of the human mind is to oppose restraint. The thought of restriction, of submitting self-will to another power or will, even though it be that of God, engenders lively opposition on the part of the carnal mind, which often finds expression in anger and resentment. Analysis of the situation reveals that the basic difficulty lies in the belief that the mortal selfhood is something; that it is a reality or entity, and must be recognized and catered to in order to establish its identity. This attitude is disobedient, rebellious, and, given rein, leads to grave difficulties, even to final disaster.

The Bible is replete with examples of calamity following disobedience to the will of God; yet mankind has gone its heedless way, preferring apparently to exercise what it calls its own sweet will, even though such course should result in distress and failure. Paul stated to the Romans the results of his disobedience briefly and to the point; he also made clear the way of escape,—"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous;" that is, through the unparalleled obedience of Christ Jesus to divine law he became the Exemplar for all mankind.

The larger sense of freedom, which is the common desire, is never gained by disobedience, even in a human sense. The familiar example of traffic regulations conveys an excellent lesson. One of the most congested streets in the world, probably, is Fifth Avenue, New York city; yet, by the use of signal towers at suitable intervals, the traffic north and south is so related with that moving east and west that, by strict obedience to the regulations, travel is carried on with rapidity and little inconvenience. Here, by subordinating the will of the individual to the general rule, freedom in movement, even for the individual, is greatly enhanced.

One of the lessons learned by Christian Scientists is the need to obey; and this necessity, it must be known, is first divine rather than human. Learning that God expresses Himself in perfect ideas, which are governed by His unchanging law; that all His ideas are unfolding in strict obedience to His will, each in its own orbit; and that these ideas constitute man, is to understand that divine law demands obedience. Mrs. Eddy says of this in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 256): "Who is it that demands our obedience? He who, in the language of Scripture, 'doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?'" Yet it is learned that, notwithstanding this seemingly restrictive government, God's ideas express perfect freedom, unrestrained and unlimited in their activities, reflecting the divine qualities in the joy of perfect liberty.

Is not mankind's problem, then, in order to gain the largest freedom, to bring the human will under restraint,—that is, into submission to God's will,—thus progressively unfolding His purpose for man? Here, however, is where mortal mind objects. Knowing that restraint foretells final elimination and destruction, it opposes, rebels, and obstructs, until it destroys itself through exposing its own nothingness. Like an engine which has lost its governor, it beats itself to pieces through its own willfulness. On the other hand, the good and lasting results of obedience are manifold. Whoever strives to conform to divine law in obedience to the will of God as expressed through the teachings of Holy Scripture, acquires freedom proportionate to the degree of that obedience. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land," declared Isaiah, adding, "But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword." The reward for obedience and the penalties for disobedience could scarcely be more vividly stated. The Scottish novelist, George Macdonald, found himself so imbued with a desire to obey God's will that he could declare in the "Marquis of Lossie," "I find the doing the will of God, leaves me no time for disputing about His plans." That he found a great sense of freedom in this very obedience, one readily believes.

Obedience, then, signifies conformity with the divine law of the universe, the will of God. How to learn His will, and how to obey it, are important questions which confront us. Christian Science points the way whereby an understanding of God and His ways may be had; and by no means is it the impossible task the uninitiated might think. Through the development of the spiritual sense, which Mrs. Eddy has so perfectly described as "a conscious, constant capacity to understand God" (Science and Health, p. 209), progress is made in the line of obedience. As the restricting claims of materiality are put off, every step is accompanied by a new sense of freedom, and obedience is found to be conformity with the divine,—a process of unfoldment of spiritual consciousness, by which all imitation is lost: it is knowing God and doing His behest.

Our Leader leaves us in no doubt as to the importance of obedience in demonstrating man's true selfhood. On page 82 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she says: "Man is the offspring and idea of the Supreme Being, whose law is perfect and infinite. In obedience to this law, man is forever unfolding the endless beatitudes of Being; for he is the image and likeness of infinite Life, Truth, and Love." This obedience finds expression in terms of freedom; for the real man is unencumbered by the restrictions of materiality, and his freedom is perfect and harmonious.

Albert F. Gilmore.

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Holy Expectation

September 9, 1922

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