The mandate of Love

A Christian Science perspective: A response to recent election results in Greece. 

The winning party in the recent Greek election has authority by popular vote to move forward with its policies. Though many people are celebrating, others are anxious and overcome with hatred toward both past and present leaders. It may seem as if there are legitimate reasons for being unhappy with political policies and leaders, but hate is never an acceptable part of any political process. Its opposite, love, can be seen as the dominant characteristic of true governance.

The founder of this newspaper, Mary Baker Eddy, gives a decisive blow to the notion that hate has any legitimacy or authority. She wrote in her book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”: “Human hate has no legitimate mandate and no kingdom. Love is enthroned” (p. 454). Love, as defined in the Bible, is understood to be God (see I John 4:8).

Being motivated by Love is the changeless mandate we all have within us to act in accord with our true nature as children of God, of divine Love. This is true for everyone, everywhere, because we are all created in God’s image as His spiritual reflection. Our prayers for all those who hold positions of power are helpful as we understand that they too have God-given capacity to make decisions in line with the same Father-Mother, universal Love. As we pray to see ourselves and others as reflecting divine Love, we begin to see love reflected in our own experience, regardless of the human government under which we live. And this gives hope to others as well.

The consummate example of living by Love’s mandate is shown in the life of Christ Jesus, referred to as “the elect of God” (Colossians 3:12). Empowered by divine Love, he healed the sick, purified corrupted hearts and minds, raised the dead, and blessed countless people. Of his healing works and teaching, it is recorded that the people “were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). His authority was not by political mandate; it was the demonstration of Love as the only power. As Jesus proved, no other motivation but love for God and our fellow citizens can bring about corrective and healing changes.

It is the presence and power of Love reaching our thought that purifies our consciousness, ridding it of hate and all evil motives. The Love that influences our own hearts has no restrictions; it reaches the hearts and minds of all whom our prayers embrace and can be felt even by those in positions of government. When its influence is felt, hate begins to dissolve and thought begins to open up to more loving ways of governing.

Mrs. Eddy explains, “The government of divine Love derives its omnipotence from the love it creates in the heart of man; for love is allegiant, and there is no loyalty apart from love” (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany,” p. 189). The understanding of this can form the basis of our prayers for our governments as we recognize Love’s ability to motivate every heart. It brings a unity of spirit and cooperation that blesses all.

By learning more about the government of Love we begin to let go of personal or political self-will; instead, we abide by the changeless mandate to live in accord with divine Love and allow Love to govern the hearts, minds, and actions of all. When we love each other as one universal family under the guidance of Love, we contribute to the improvement of human governments.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
What is the Monitor difference? Tackling the tough headlines – with humanity. Listening to sources – with respect. Seeing the story that others are missing by reporting what so often gets overlooked: the values that connect us. That’s Monitor reporting – news that changes how you see the world.

Dear Reader,

About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

“Many things that end up” being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, “have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Sometimes, we call things ‘boring’ simply because they lie outside the box we are currently in.”

If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.

But you know what? We change lives. And I’m going to argue that we change lives precisely because we force open that too-small box that most human beings think they live in.

The Monitor is a peculiar little publication that’s hard for the world to figure out. We’re run by a church, but we’re not only for church members and we’re not about converting people. We’re known as being fair even as the world becomes as polarized as at any time since the newspaper’s founding in 1908.

We have a mission beyond circulation, we want to bridge divides. We’re about kicking down the door of thought everywhere and saying, “You are bigger and more capable than you realize. And we can prove it.”

If you’re looking for bran muffin journalism, you can subscribe to the Monitor for $15. You’ll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com.

QR Code to The mandate of Love
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/A-Christian-Science-Perspective/2015/0130/The-mandate-of-Love
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe