Would St. Paul be the beloved Christian soldier that he is if he had gone out to confront the pagan world in the name of Christ Jesus attended by a cohort of burly, heavily-armed retainers? Would Christ Jesus not have been wise to pack a little heat as protection against poisonous snakes, wild animals, or brigands? Aren't these just the innocent and "prudent" little lies that get the unwary to keep some pills handy, "just in case", or have a "judicious" contingency plan with a local MD or pharmacist? "If I let the guy with the scythe mow me down like a sheaf of wheat I'm no good to Christian Science, my family, my church, or myself, am I?"
What has one gained, though, when he is "alive" but cravenly faithless to God, rather than dead to the lie of life in matter and faithful and obedient to Christ? There is never enough security in matter, medical procedures, or drugs. The need keeps growing for more and more powerful tools and medicines, and yet the juggernaut of affliction and disease rolls on, undeterred and with ever more aggressive mien. I think of that ridiculous arsenal in "Men in Black", from derringer-sized to ludicrously large, all to little avail as I recall. [Yes, I am ashamed to admit I watched this movie.]
Medical practice can say, for example, that as a result of their enlightened ministrations people live longer than ever. If a rest home packed with vegetating nonagenarians is proof of medical progress, tant pis. W.W. Jacob's excellent short story "The Monkey's Paw" makes a related point very memorably. There are Gog and Magog, and there is God. One can't frolic in both their sand boxes, nor can he hedge a bet with one from the standpoint of the other. There are no degrees of purity or virtue.
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26 comments:
Your pen is smoking! Another very fine blog post. Arresting title, too. (For your readers who don't know French, "tant pis" means more's the pity, I think.)
Thanks,
Such a good writer you are. And the content is full of substance, as usual.
Thanks for posting this, blogger.
How true that the human mind keeps needing stronger medicine, and more potent guns to feel healthy and safe. Yet what we really need comes from God and the sooner mankind sees this, the better.
Interesting times we're living through right now, non?
Your title says it all. Very well done essay, I must tell you.
Always enjoy tuning in to your blog.
Really like that thought, there is Gog and Magog, and there is God. We cannot have both.
Excellent posting,
Dear Mr. Smith, or Jones, or whoever you may be,
You sure do write well. A most enjoyable blog, one I look forward to reading.
I'm so glad you're blogging. I always get something solid from your essays. You are bound to be helping many of your readers.
God bless you greatly,
Just a wonderful website,blogger. So glad you are inspired to do this for the rest of us out here. A real benefit!
You're the best, no doubt about it. A real thinking man's (and woman's in my case) website.
Keep at it!
Love that opening sentence. Well done. The answer to your question is, of course not. Paul's going out to confront the world in the Name had a much higher power than anything man could provide. And Paul knew it.
Thanks much for what you are doing...
Looks like you are well on your way to a second year of successful blogging for CS. I wish for you God's continuing hand in all you do.
You're a help to me.
Very good description of that rest home packed with poor beings kept alive by way too much medication. Is that living?! Thank God for Christian Science and the freedom it brings us. Where would we be without it?
I'm sure this will said many times in the future, but you are so needed where keeping the high standard Mary Baker Eddy left us is concerned. We can count on you not to water truth down to make it popular.
I thank you,
Another learned offering from my favorite CS blogger.
Well done, as yours almost always are.
Your blog is a real help to many. Not to get off into politics, but here in the US where we once did trust in God to a larger extent than now, grateful you are doing your part to incline people Godward.
Do continue your fine work on behalf of things divine,
An excellent little essay, one I enjoyed reading tremendously. You always make me think about things more deeply, and for this I am grateful.
(You've got me hooked on your blog.)
We can always count on you to deliver well-written, thoughtful pieces on our favorite topic -- Christian Science.
Good job!
Really good blog post, blogger. You do keep turning out first-rate pieces, and I know many are being stimulated to think more deeply about important topics a la Christian Science.
God bless you,
Thanks for a well done website. Do like the way you address metaphysical concepts, and prod the likes of me to think more deeply. And to pray more.
A help to me, blogger.
Blessings on you, dear person, for doing such a good job encouraging your readers to depend on God, Who we know from experience, is always with us to help us through whatever challenge we face.
You are apparently a serious student of the Bible and of our Leader's writings, and I want to congratulate you on doing a fine job with your website.
Just to broaden my literary horizons, going to look up that book you mentioned by Jacobs.
A very well written entry.
Thanks for all the wonderful blog posts you've been doing. Have read back a long way. You are prolific and write very well.
Look forward to more from you,
Well said, blogger. Don't know where exactly, but the Bible says we shouldn't put our trust in princes. Never more true than today.
Thanks.
Dear Author,
A friend recommended that I check out your blog, and I find that it is quite worthwhile. You write well. A good topic on where we ought to be putting our trust.
Best,
Every now and then I read the editorials/columns in the Wall Street Journal and found one on-line earlier by Daniel Henninger. It made me think of your excellent little essay. I'm so grateful we have God to put our trust in. Sure can't rely on politicians these days. Or investment people!
Thanks,
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