"Study to shew thyself approved unto God"

Duncan Sinclair

In his epistles to Timothy, his "own son in the faith," Paul gives a great deal of very valuable advice. The faithful Apostle to the Gentiles had sown the seed of Truth in widely separated fields, and he was very tenderly solicitous of its growth. And well he knew the necessity that those who professed the Christian faith should be worthy of their high calling, if that faith were to increase and bear fruit. His words to Timothy were the natural expression of his desire that the unbelieving world should have Christianity presented to it by those of sterling character. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God," he therefore wrote, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth;" and again, "But thou, O man of God, ... follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

What a powerful appeal Paul's words make to the students of Christian Science to-day, and especially to those of them who are in official positions in the Christian Science movement! This is not difficult to understand; for are not practitioners and officers in Christian Science churches and societies standing, in the eyes of the world, for Christ's Christianity, as scientifically presented by Christian Science? Mrs. Eddy states the position exactly in a brief but pointed sentence on page 450 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death," she writes; "and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good." Was ever trust so important as this? Could ever task in its accomplishment mean so much for the world? But to carry it out, what consecration of thought, what purity of motive, what constancy, patience, humility, faith, and spiritual understanding are required!

Now every Christian Scientist knows how necessary it is to remain close to God in his efforts to bring the saving truth of Christian Science to his fellow-men; that is to say, every Christian Scientist is aware that unless his own thought is reflecting the qualities of God, good, and his own life is patterning that of the great Exemplar, Christ Jesus, he will signally fail in his duty. The world is not long in detecting worldliness; but on the other hand those desirous of escaping its paralyzing hold are quick to detect its impostures. And the contrite in heart respond readily to the thought that has lost much of its materiality, eagerly laying hold of the truth which the spiritualized consciousness offers. Our beloved Leader understood so well what deluded humanity was in need of and the manner in which its needs could best be supplied. A letter of hers to a First Reader, to be found on page 247 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," bears striking testimony to the fact. At the beginning of her letter she says: "Christ is meekness and Truth enthroned. Put on the robes of Christ, and you will be lifted up and will draw all men unto you." And in the third paragraph she writes, "Do you come to your little flock so filled with divine food that you cast your bread upon the waters? Then be sure that after many or a few days it will return to you." Beautiful, simple words of kindly admonition and encouragement!

It has been the experience of many a Christian Scientist that a testing time came to him on his assuming an office to which his fellow-members had appointed him; for it was then he realized his responsibilities better than he had ever done before, and that he had to show himself "approved unto God." Then, perhaps, a struggle took place within him as to what should be his attitude toward the world. And the question would present itself, Could he continue to associate himself with its frivolities, its banalities, to say nothing of its ways—sometimes very subtle—which tended toward laxity in morals? Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 451) probably came to him in his difficulty, giving him clear guidance and leading him to security and stability: "Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate. They must renounce aggression, oppression and the pride of power. Christianity, with the crown of Love upon her brow, must be their queen of life."

No one knows better than the Christian Scientist how insidious are the temptations of evil; but at the same time no one knows better than he how these temptations should be met. Christian Science has revealed to him that since God is infinite good, evil is unreal, and has taught him that if his thoughts are filled with Truth and Love, no belief of evil can find a lodgment there. And thus he has been instructed in the method of completely frustrating the attempts of evil to prevent the carrying out of his great mission to lessen sin, sickness, and death in the world. To be faithful to the trust placed upon him, he studies to approve himself unto God, to be an accomplished workman with the weapons of spiritual Truth, able and willing to demonstrate that Truth in the office which he occupies, and indeed in every exigency of life.

Duncan Sinclair

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