There Is Only One Force

WALTER C. BATE

A Great privilege is given to every Christian Scientist to prove the works of the Master, Christ Jesus, for the consecrated work of Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder and Leader of the Christian Science movement, makes it possible correctly to interpret and prove his teachings today in every walk of life. Whether the student is engaged in some industry, or is in the armed forces, he is in the front line of spiritually mental activity. His consistent and persistent denial of any power apart from God will destroy doubt, and will lift him and those around him over and above the waves of error into the glorious harmony of divine Love.

One meaning of "force" is "any cause that produces, stops, changes, or tends to produce, stop, or change the motion of a body." Such a force could not be spiritual, because it not only produces but also destroys; it contains neither law nor order. It is only through the teachings of Christian Science and its interpretation of the Scriptures that true force is seen to be spiritual.

On page 124 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, are found these words: "Adhesion, cohesion, and attraction are properties of Mind. They belong to divine Principle, and support the equipoise of that thought-force, which launched the earth in its orbit and said to the proud wave, 'Thus far and no farther.'"

In a recent campaign which was noted for its acts of courage and self-sacrifice, a Christian Science student and others were surrounded by the enemy. After they had crawled through the enemy's lines three times in one night, a place of concealment had to be found because the dawn was breaking. The student saw a large blackberry bush in which he and another soldier were able to hide, but the enemy threw two incendiary bombs into the midst of the bush and set it on fire. To all human reasoning the bush should have been consumed, but the student's daily study of the Bible and Science and Health had prepared his thought to be calm, and thus enabled him to turn to the one and only source—Mind, God—for deliverance.

The story of the three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast into the burning fiery furnace, came to the student's thought. He remembered how the perfect divine law of protection and love had operated in their case; that upon their bodies "the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their heads singed." With the realization that the same law was operating right there and then, the fire disappeared, and they were saved.

This demonstration of Christian Science shows conclusively that the omnipotence of Mind, realized, does neutralize destructive physical forces. Wherever man is, God is. Principle and its idea are inseparable.

On page 293 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes, "The material so-called gases and forces are counterfeits of the spiritual forces of divine Mind, whose potency is Truth, whose attraction is Love, whose adhesion and cohesion are Life, perpetuating the eternal facts of being." When Jesus commanded the sea to be calm, and when he walked on the waves, he proved that the only forces were "the spiritual forces of divine Mind." The disciples, believing that force and power were in matter or material forms, were afraid, but Jesus' spiritual understanding gave him that calm trust which enabled him to demonstrate what he knew, and so restored the confidence of those with him.

The world is confronted today with the same counterfeit forces that the Master met and overcame, even those of envy, hatred, aggression and all human strife. Like the great Way-shower, students of Christian Science have accepted the challenge and are utilizing the real forces of spiritual warfare— the attributes of God—mercy, justice, and brotherly love, knowing that these have always existed, and constitute power.

A lovely description of this power is to be found in the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 3):

A grateful heart a fortress is,
A stanch and rugged tower,
Where God's omnipotence, revealed,
Girds man with mighty power.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit