Independent Christian Science articles

The Bad Little Sheep by John Randall Dunn

From the December 30, 1916 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel by

Above my desk hangs a picture which I desire to keep ever near. It shows a shepherd leaning over a jagged precipice and stretching forth a saving arm to a helpless sheep. It must have been a bad little sheep to have so wandered from the quiet pastures and the careful shepherd. It must have been a wilful, disobedient, headstrong little creature, for not otherwise could it be found in this distressing situation. A great chasm yawns beneath; ominously circling above moves a waiting vulture. Yet to this hapless animal, this wilful, disobedient, and headstrong animal, perchance, is stretched out the hand of compassion. Through heedlessness or deliberate contumacy it has become separated from its brothers of the flock and their kindly shepherd. Should not such grievous dereliction be strongly censured? Would it be a Christian act to allow such grievous wrong doing to pass uncondemned?

At this point the picture furnishes interesting food for thought, illustrating as it does human experience. Apparently the shepherd in the picture feels that the greatest need of the erring sheep is not condemnation, but saving compassion. So far as can be determined, no stern rebuke has been administered, no reminder of the depth of wickedness into which it has been plunged. There has been no need for this. The erring one knows all about hell, for he has been there. He knows now the joy of trusting in a faithful shepherd, and how sore is the penalty of wandering therefrom. He knows this—ah, how deeply he knows all this! Perchance condemnation and remorse have already caused the feet to be less firm in clinging to the ragged edge of hope. Yes, there is but one need, and divine Love is meeting it. Down comes the tender hand, gently sounds the cheering voice, and out of yawning depths there rises a sense redeemed.

Let those who are confronted with the problem of a straying sheep, an unloving and unlovely sheep, a malicious or even a seemingly incorrigible sheep, ponder the lesson of this picture. Possibly the sheep is still lingering on the hazardous steeps of malice, or misunderstanding, or sickness, or sin. Should a friend then stand above him, delivering silently or audibly his opinion as to one who could bring himself to such a pass, and so-called righteous condemnation of his course? Or should the Christ-mind, that knows neither sin, frailty, nor blemish, be allowed to reach out in daily, hourly compassion through a brother’s consciousness to wrest a precious thought from the nightmare of materiality and to bring it, unsullied and undefiled, to the sheepfold of the Father? As a loved hymn runs (Hymnal, p. 8):—

Not by the harsh or scornful word,
Should we our brother seek to gain;
Not by the prison or the sword,
The shackle, or the clanking chain.

But from our hearts must ever flow
A love that will his wrong outweigh;
Our lips must only blessings know,
And wrath, and sin shall die away.

“Are you faithful? Do you love?”

From the March 23, 1918 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
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We are, without doubt, living in one of the most momentous periods in human history. Unquestionably the earth is witnessing the inevitable upheaval predicted by Christ Jesus. Referring to this gigantic fermentation Mrs. Eddy wrote years ago in the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” (p. 96): “This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace.” Then a little farther along we read: “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 significant statement would seem to emphasize two important thoughts for the earnest student of Christian Science: first, that it is his province and his privilege to aid in shortening the period of violent chemicalization—in other words, to “hold crime in check” and “aid in the ejection of error;” and second, that he shall not be dismayed nor overwhelmed by the seeming awfulness of the situation, but “cheerfully await” the sure triumph of good and right. Many seekers after Truth, not recognizing that this great stir throughout its whole system is a favorable symptom in the world’s recovery, are yielding not a little to the argument of dismay, and, what is still more unfortunate, to a mental turning away from the problem which, were such action universal, would leave our sick, chemicalizing world-patient without a practitioner.

Every conscientious worker in the vineyard of Christian Science knows that when he has declared the truth for a sufferer and the patient immediately appears to grow worse instead of better, this is no time for him to desert the sick one and say: “I cannot account for this upheaval. Evidently this is not a case for Christian Science.” And yet this seems to be attitude of some workers in the movement to-day. The argument of mere sentimental loyalty to a country apparently blinds many otherwise clear students and causes them to lose sight of the marvelous metaphysical aspects of this great world problem, thus making them inactive, negligible factors in its solution; nay worse: it causes them to become positive obstacles to the speedy working out of the problem in truth.

This is no time for the student of Christian Science to classify himself as democrat or republican, as a disapprover of the administration, or as an upholder and justifier of our nation’s enemies. The hour has struck when, if we would “hold crime in check,” we must realize that we are trying to be Christian Scientists, or metaphysicians; we must see and cope with this great international crisis metaphysically.

Let us suppose that a neighbor impelled by a vicious motive has unchained a savage dog, and that the beast has run amuck in the neighborhood, injuring several children. As good citizens we would without doubt first demand the capture and the tying up of the animal. If such demand were refused, we would take every legitimate common sense step to remove the menace. If the municipal government took the matter in hand and used every resource at its command to cope with the dangerous situation, we would support such government. But has the Christian Scientists’ work stopped here? What about the neighbor, whose victimization by error led to the unchaining of the dog? Has the neighbor been healed? Will the neighborhood be quite safe until he is healed? May not another fierce animal be unloosed unless the evil motive which brought about the first disaster is overcome and wiped out?

Now the coming to earth in this age of that “Spirit of truth” spoken of by Jesus, is without doubt throwing into a mighty ferment nations as well as individuals. As a well-known hymn reads:—

The advocates of error,
Foresee the glorious morn,
And hear in shrinking terror,
The watchword of reform.

For the coming of truth means the coming of justice, the advent of freedom; and the advent of freedom means the death knell of autocracy, tyranny, and the oppression of the many by the few. Autocracy and all that it stands for, being therefore uncovered, brought to the surface, and ripe for destruction, knowing that it hath but a short time, has unloosed in our midst the infuriated and lawless beasts of war. This nation, in concert with its aggrieved neighbors, naturally is taking every possible step to arrest and chain the beasts. Our Leader has stated as part of her political faith that she believes in supporting a righteous government; and a government actuated by more righteous motives than this would be difficult to find. But when a Christian Scientist, being a loyal citizen, has done his material “bit” in the necessary business of restraining the militaristic evil—or aiding in “the ejection of error”—is his work ended? Has he healed the case? Far from it! There is still the victim neighbor needing his love and compassion and his earnest metaphysical work; and nothing short of metaphysics, or clear spiritual thinking, can save the race.

Equally as important, therefore, as the sending of material troops to deal with the war menace, is the daily sending into the distressed human consciousness of hosts of exalted thoughts, of declarations of the all-power of Love and of the operation and might of divine law. The Christian Scientist then has mapped out for him a high and holy task: first, in supporting a righteous government he shall do his share in maintaining law and order; second, he shall do his part in making the world safe for democracy by metaphysically healing the argument of autocracy; and third, he shall go at his work joyfully, undismayed and unafraid, cheerfully awaiting “the certainty of ultimate perfection.”

It is possible for each and every one of us during these troublous days to remain undisturbed and to recall often the Master’s promise respecting this very time, “There shall not an hair of your head perish.” Let us also cling to such splendid statements as these, which our Leader has given us for the healing of the nations (Miscellany, pp. 278, 279): “The government of divine Love is supreme. Love rules the universe, and its edict hath gone forth: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me,’ and ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Let us have the molecule of faith that removes mountains,—faith armed with the understanding of Love, as in divine Science, where right reigneth.” “God is Father, infinite, and this great truth, when understood in its divine metaphysics, will establish the brotherhood of man, end wars, and demonstrate ‘on earth peace, good will toward men.’ “

Christian Scientists, we who have been privileged to touch the hem of the garment of the reappearing Christ, with us to-day rests the task of healing stricken humanity. To us to-day again resounds our Leader’s ringing question, as found on page 238 of her “Miscellaneous Writings”: “Are you faithful? Do you love?”

“In Atmosphere of Love Divine”

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One of our hymns says,

In atmosphere of Love divine,
We live, and move, and breathe;
Though mortal eyes may see it not,
‘Tis sense that would deceive.

Hymn No. 144

How much happier conversation would be if this truth were remembered when the weather brings extremes of heat or cold! But, instead, people often prefer to complain about the weather.

Paul says, “Our conversation is in heaven,” and Mrs. Eddy tells us that heaven is harmony. Confining our conversation to harmonious topics has a positive effect, upon both our physical condition and upon the weather. Jesus declared that knowing the truth would make you free. How important it is, then, not only to know the truth about God and man, but to voice it, and to expect this truth to go forth with power and — like light entering a darkened room — to dispel its opposite.

Present-day physicists now acknowledge what Mrs. Eddy discovered more than a hundred years ago — that we live in a universe of thought. Many times, therefore, the negative thoughts we entertain can externalize themselves as pictures of disease, discord, upheavals of nature, devastating storms, withering heat, and pitiless cold.

Jesus would speak the word of Truth to a storm, and there would be a great calm. Members of Mrs. Eddy’s household tell of instances when storms were dissipated. Mrs. Eddy has left this observation for her followers: “The atmosphere of the human mind, when cleansed of self and permeated with divine Love, will reflect this purified, subjective state in clearer skies, less thunderbolts, tornadoes, and extremes of heat and cold.” (My.)

During times of extreme heat or cold, or threatening storms, are we striving to cleanse the human consciousness of self — of self-love, self-will, self-pity, self-aggrandizement? How is this done? By uncovering selfishness and then rejecting it as unreal, lawless, and powerless, because it is the very opposite of divine Love. When we have truly striven to cleanse the atmosphere of the human mind of self and to permeate it with divine Love, not only are we lifting ourselves out of the mental miasma of fear and mortal laws, but we are bringing to the whole human family a glimpse of the kingdom of harmony.

The Old Testament tells us that man has been given dominion over all the earth, and Jesus assures us that we have been given “power over all the power of the enemy.” (Luke) We have divine authority to turn on any suggestion of error with the sharp rebuke, “No, you don’t!”

Truly may we declare, in the words of the Psalmist, “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”

Resisting Aggressive Mental Suggestions

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Any suggestion that tries to tell us that there is power in evil of any kind, must be resisted vigorously, if we want to be free from the effects of this negative thinking.

Our thinking has to be freed from every belief in the power of evil, which is imposed by materiality, if we want to live happy, fearless, and successful lives. In other words, we must understand that all that is real is perfect, and is supported by God, the underlying divine Principle of all life.

To the degree that we see and acknowledge that there is a Principle which supports harmonious life, intelligent activity, healthy being, everything good, to that degree do we allow God’s government to appear in our lives. This understanding unfolds progressively, as we use it consistently in our daily life.

When we begin to think more in terms of recognizing that the God-Principle governs us, rather than of our own abilities or disabilities, we discover our true selfhood under God’s government. We no longer accept the suggestion that we are limited or fearful human beings, but that somewhere deep down inside is our true selfhood, “made in God’s image and likeness.” We see ourselves as God’s expressions, who naturally reflect the unlimited intelligence and insight of divine Mind itself! In fact, where else could intelligence come from? Surely matter could not originate intelligence.

We then begin to put these wonderful truths into practice, and our lives become more productive of good. We begin to understand the “sunlight of Truth,” which frees us from the bondage of evil beliefs and fear. Limitations will drop away, and we will find ourselves free to express the glorious selfhood of the children of God.

Love is the liberator.