Being Rightly Active

LINA ROOS SCHRADER

It has been said that Christian Science is not for a lazy person, because a devoted Christian Scientist needs to exercise constant watchfulness and an untiring interest in demonstrating the truth.

With the desire to be rightly informed concerning world conditions, and because of the skillful methods of disseminating news today, a Christian Scientist finds that, in order to maintain his spiritual freedom through loyalty to Truth, and do his Christianly scientific work for himself and all mankind, he is compelled to be busy. With so much distressing information coming from all sides, were it not for the shield of spiritual thinking he would be tempted to admit fear and dismay.

Happily, however, in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy we have a bounteous store of good from which we may draw to protect ourselves from fear. When one is tempted to become alarmed, one can hold steadfastly to the allness of good. This positive procedure provides heavenly inspiration to maintain in one's consciousness a perfect and an impregnable defense. Why be afraid? Stanchly knowing that God, good, is All gives one sovereign power to overcome belief in evil.

Every person in the world, whether he knows it or not, is engaged in a warfare. This warfare is in his own individual consciousness, and it is between the belief of life in matter and some measure of faith in Life as God. Proportionately as spiritual thinking gains ground, is the victory won. In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 118), "The warfare with one's self is grand; it gives one plenty of employment, and the divine Principle worketh with you,—and obedience crowns persistent effort with everlasting victory." This statement is a spiritual oasis of refreshment.

We are reading much in the newspapers today of strategic bases. The basic fact in Christian Science is the allness of God, Spirit. This grand truth, understood and utilized, meets our needs in times of danger. To meditate upon this fact lifts thought higher; and one is helped thereby to conquer belief and faith in matter. It gives him comfort and confidence to know that his victory over error depends upon his steadfastly maintaining the truth of his oneness with God. No material condition has power to bar his spiritual progress. Furthermore, in the ratio that he works with God, good, he is helping the whole world.

In conjunction with the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we have also the Manual of The Mother Church, given us by our Leader, to help us conquer every obstacle to spiritual progress. Every member of The Mother Church is aware of the By-Law entitled "Alertness to Duty" (Art. VIII, Sect. 6), which reads: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned." It is readily discerned that this rule provides for no halfway position. Could there be a better way of gaining ground in the warfare which is taking place in each one's consciousness than through compliance with this rule? In such adherence we recognize and acknowledge our Leader as continuously leading us, through her writings, out of a material or suppositional sense of existence into the spiritual understanding through which mankind will be eventually liberated and united.

What an ennobling purpose these By-Laws hold—to enable us to heal the sick and the sinning and bring comfort to the sorrowing! One whose thinking is consecrated to observance of these By-Laws is on holy ground, safe, working out the purposes of good. These rules provide a spiritual fortification, whence to meet every challenge of error and spontaneously to realize healing for oneself, and in that measure for the world.

A student of Christian Science cannot afford to neglect this spiritual equipment which enables him to reject with assurance the suggestions of a troublous world that may come to him. A dilatory obedience is inadmissible. The world needs his promptitude in exercising a spiritual command over and above error's insistent suggestions. It needs his loyalty to the teachings of Christian Science. Our beloved Master said, "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

A devoted Christian Scientist is and likes to be busy. He has learned the false nature of discord, and he loses no time in fulfilling his spiritual responsibility to destroy error, as taught in Christian Science, by knowing untiringly the supremacy of Spirit. He has learned that reform begins in his own consciousness and continues there. Through the spiritualization of his thinking, his capacity to heal and comfort the sick and the sorrowing is invigorated. Proportionately as he is loyal to infinite Truth is he demonstrating Christian Science.

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