Christian Science and World Conditions

At the present moment, the world seems to be divided into two great camps. A situation something very like a deadlock seems to exist; and for its relief, all manner of solutions have been devised, but so far no remedy. Why? For the very simple reason that the cause of the trouble has never been fully recognized. Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Marvels, calamities, and sin will much more abound as truth urges upon mortals its resisted claims; but the awful daring of sin destroys sin, and foreshadows the triumph of truth. God will overturn until ‘He come whose right it is.’ Longevity is increasing and the power of sin diminishing, for the world feels the alterative effect of truth through every pore.” (S&H)

No one can fail to see that old formulas and methods of government, methods of industry, the methods of carrying on almost all kinds of human affairs, no longer work. The task which clearly lies before the world is in the direction of purification, before any permanent improvement can be looked for.

To be effective, treaties, laws, and regulations depend on the determination of at least some party to them to be faithful to his understanding of Principle. Briefly then, what the world is rapidly being forced to see is that the power behind all government is a spiritual power, and that without this power, no real government exists.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: “During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.” This duty and privilege is laid upon all who “discern Christian Science,” and there is a very urgent need that it be undertaken earnestly and persistently.

The time for real thinkers has, in fact, come, and the call to thinkers to take charge of the world’s affairs is imperative. True thinkers, then — those who are thinking in accord with Principle — must take charge of the world’s economic situation. They must take charge of the armament situation, of the coal situation, of the oil situation, of every other situation, national or international, calling for settlement or readjustment. Paul declares, “The powers that be are ordained of God.” In other words, the true powers that be are forever acting in accord with Principle. Even to Pilate, on the verge of committing one of the greatest crimes in history, Jesus said, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.”

And so the true thinker knows that the powers that be, whether in trade, in industry, or in any other concern of everyday life, can only carry out the purpose and designs of Principle. Christian Scientists are in possession of the great solution and the great discovery for which the world has so long been waiting. Jesus said to his disciples, “For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” Of those things of which Jesus spoke, Christian Science is the full explanation.

Any study of Mrs. Eddy’s writings reveals the fact that in praying for the world, she was quite emphatic. No one has recognized more clearly than did Mrs. Eddy that there were no limits to the efficacy of such prayer. She said, “We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind; as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and form appeared.” (Mis. p. 279)

Such prayer for the world, to be effective, must be accompanied by an earnest, alert interest in world conditions. The true Christian Scientist is tremendously in the world — although he is not of it. He is forever translating things into thoughts, and forever fearlessly and masterfully examining situations. He is not disheartened by the appearance of sin and deceit, fraud and selfishness. He simply takes charge of the situation when he is confronted by any one or all of them. Nothing escapes him, and he never allows a human bias or a human opinion to intrude for one second into that clear discernment which is his heritage as the image and likeness of infinite wisdom. He not only prays, “Thy kingdom come,” he understands that it is come. He stands determined to demonstrate the truth of what he understands, not only in his own affairs, but in the affairs of his country and of the world. He is neither betrayed into undue haste, nor tempted to delay, for he understands the great truth embodied in this statement: “‘of his kingdom there shall be no end,’ for Christ, God’s idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples — imperatively, absolutely, finally — with divine Science.” (S&H p. 565)