Righteousness

Duncan Sinclair

IT is heartening to observe how righteousness is extolled in the Bible. In Psalms it is said that "the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." In the book of Job it is written, "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." And in Proverbs it is stated that "righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." The Bible is the great upholder of righteousness, uprightness, goodness; and this makes it most precious as a companion and guide to mortals struggling with unrighteous or evil beliefs in themselves and others.

The Hebrew prophets regarded themselves as peculiarly set apart by God to bear witness to Him, to denounce the sins of the people, and to endeavor to bring back the evildoers to the path of righteousness. These men had a keen sense of what was upright, and were equally alert to detect evil thinking and evil doing, to point out where these led, and to denounce them as heinous in God's sight. The prophets still stand, after long centuries, among the world's greatest benefactors; for not only did their message aid those of their own generation, but all who since then have heard it understandingly have benefited. The Bible preserves the God-inspired messages of the prophets of Israel, and this by itself makes the Book of books of incalculable value to mankind.

But a greater prophet than any whose words are chronicled in the Old Testament came in the fullness of time; and he also was an advocate of righteousness. Christ Jesus upheld every appeal for righteousness made by the Hebrew prophets who preceded him, and added to that appeal his own declaration of the need and value of uprightness along with the example of his own righteous life. What a life of goodness was that of the Master! We think of him as always about his Father's business, always doing the will of God, always thinking and acting righteously. Consider his denunciations of materialism, lack of spirituality, and hypocrisy, and his appreciation of goodness! Jesus uncompromisingly condemned evil; and his condemnation was meant to awaken the evildoer and to turn his thoughts to good.

Christian Scientists revere the name of the great Way-shower because they esteem what his life means for the world. And they are close students of that life. As they study it they notice that Jesus was greatly endowed spiritually. At the age of twelve he actually debated on spiritual questions with "the doctors" in the temple at Jerusalem. At the age of thirty he began his ministry among the people; and for three years his life was a continuous endeavor to bless mankind. His honesty, his goodness, his unselfishness, his loving-kindness, were constantly being manifested, and his spiritual understanding—his knowledge of God, of God's creation, and of divine law—was demonstrated in all manner of good deeds. He healed disease and sin; he relieved sorrow and suffering; he met the needs of the hungered; he restored the dead to life—all the time teaching his followers of the love of God and pleading for their allegiance to righteousness.

Jesus could do all these things because of his understanding of the Christ, Truth. To him God was the perfect creator, and God's universe the perfect universe. This enabled him to be the master of so-called matter and material law and the perfect example of righteous living. Referring to him on page 166 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy writes: "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiæ of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified." In the life of the Master the spiritual idea was always the determining factor.

Christian Scientists never cease to be grateful for the light which Christian Science has shed on the Nazarene's life, and for the understanding it has brought to them of the Christ. For what is happening to them to-day? They are being redeemed through this understanding. They are beholding the perfection of God and of His idea, man, sometimes with marvelous clearness; and this perception is enabling them to reject the errors of material sense, the sins which beset mortal existence, and so to live more righteous lives. What cause for rejoicing, that the revelation has come that the destiny of all men is good, since God is infinite good, and evil in consequence unreal! But what a call there is for all to whom this revelation has come to consecrate themselves to the service of God, striving prayerfully to have good reign supreme in their lives! "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."

Duncan Sinclair

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