From listening to discussions about politics, it's easy to conclude that there are angry citizens in many parts of the world. They are concerned about their governments and those who administer them.

Some individuals, for example, believe government in general is corrupt and that legislators are motivated only by greed and self-interest. Others think politicians are incompetent. There are also some who believe there are worldwide conspiracies to overthrow established governments and erode hard-won freedoms. Perceptions of this sort have engendered much fear, hatred, anger, and rebellion, but they have produced no positive solutions. To find a workable way to renew and uplift government, we need to look for spiritual answers.

In an article in the November 1908 Boston Post, Mary Baker Eddy offered these insights concerning government: "I am asked, 'What are your politics?' I have none, in reality, other than to help support a righteous government; to love God supremely, and my neighbor as myself" (reprinted in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 276).

What can we do today to support an honest, righteous government that is protective of humanity's freedoms? First of all, apathy, inertia, and indifference need to be cast aside. Prayer for discernment, wisdom, and compassion can help us do this. Voting for candidates who represent the highest sense of spirituality, who best express the true nature of man as God's image, can aid in establishing more intelligence and morality in government. "The characters and lives of men determine the peace, prosperity, and life of nations" (ibid., p. 277).

Scientific prayer, based on the laws of God, good, can and does change things for the better. The daily, prayerful acknowledgment of the spiritual facts of God, Truth, can be of enormous value for citizens and leaders of any country, before, during, and after an election. The Scriptures, especially in their accounts of Christ Jesus' healing ministry, reveal there is only one true government—God's. Divine Principle, Spirit, is the sole governor, controlling the spiritual universe, including man, in absolute perfection and harmony.

Man's business is the expression of spiritual qualities bestowed on him by God. Every child of God manifests the entire range of His attributes, such as love, intelligence, integrity, and innocence.

God's government of the universe and man is absolute; it is good and meets the needs of His entire creation. In the divine order, all good is unfolding moment by moment, since God, Spirit, is omnipotent, omniactive good. In reality there can't be any conflict of interest, lack workable ideas, political deadlocks, or chicanery.

These and other evils associated with politics arise from a wrong concept of man and life. When we challenge these false beliefs with spiritual truths on a daily basis, they are progressively destroyed, and harmony is restored in our lives. Prayer based on the allness, goodness, omnipresence, and omnipotence of God, Mind, is effective in all aspects of human experience, including politics!

Another essential in supporting a righteous government is to love our fellowman. As individuals become more acquainted with the nature of God, divine Love, and pattern their thoughts and lives accordingly, they can fulfill Jesus' summary of divine law: to love God with all one's heart and one's neighbor as oneself (see Matt. 22:35–40).

In order to love our neighbor unconditionally, we need to perceive the ever-present Christ message of man's spiritual selfhood with God. This promotes spiritual love. We may find it takes much practice, discipline, and prayer to follow Jesus' teachings and example. Here it is helpful to remember that it is impossible for the real, spiritual man to hate, resent, or bear false witness. God's idea, man, is always in harmonious relation with all of His creation. And the recognition of man as at one with God, Love, can go a long way in defusing the emotions so often associated with governments and politics.

Many years ago the author of the book of James confirmed the power of prayer when he said, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (5:16). This "fervent prayer," daily affirmation and conformance to the reality of being, is the best way we can help support righteous government.