"Have No Wide Fears For Earth"

[parthens]

“Have no wide fears for earth. Destruction only upon wide fears shall fall.”
(Laura Riding.)

When the Angel of Christian Science first appeared to John the Revelator, he saw saw not a fragile, delicate, harp-strumming wraith flitting nervously above earth, its feet too holy to touch the ground. No, John saw the Christian Science Angel standing — motionless, its feet firmly, fearlessly planted on earth and sea, immovable, like a mighty promontory “‘Gainst which the winds and waves can shock, Oh, nevermore!” (CS Hymnal, 253:5)

John saw the Angel of Christian Science standing in the gap as yet to be filled with human beings of all nationalities, races, and tongues, at one with the Oneness of God, at one with one another, at one with the Allness of Good.

In a world where the powers of darkness are now purposed to drive Christianity underground, this angel-picture instructs me to stand in the gap for all humankind as never before, to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” and to continue to see it no matter what may be clamoring outside “the secret place of the Most High,” claiming dominion, calling for me to move out of that secret place to steady the ark.

The feet of the Angel of Christian Science are pillars unshakeable, and they are forever.

No matter how wide the gap may grow, the mighty wings of the Angel of Christian Science are wide enough, broad enough, high enough, enduring enough to fill it.

[spencel]

“No matter how wide the gap may grow, the mighty wings of the Angel of Christian Science are wide enough, broad enough, high enough, enduring enough to fill it.”

Thank you for this post. This last line was especially comforting. With the attack on Christianity at the level it is today it helps me to be reminded of the golden thread running through the ages showing God working in the lives of those willing to sacrifice their comfort for the greater good, sometimes unexpected individuals and of course His remnant.

One of the things since coming to Plainfield that has blessed my life is learning about the history of Christian Science and Mrs.Eddy especially from the Carpenter collection. As the veil of ignorance lifted I had a greater appreciation, understanding and love for her and what she did for all of mankind. Below is an excerpt from Precepts 4:
“When Mary Beecher Longyear moved to Brookline, she asked Mrs. Eddy to recommend a student to whom she might turn in time of need. Our Leader declined to do so, telling her to select one who knew Christian Science history. The deduction is that a knowledge of how error attacked Mrs. Eddy and the Cause down through the years, would give a worker an advantage in handling error for another, beyond what an understanding of Science gained through a mere study of the textbook would give. He would learn the more subtle modes of error’s activities, and be aware of its claims, as it had been apparently successful for a time dogging Mrs. Eddy’s footsteps, until she was able to see its nothingness.”

In thinking about all that is going on with the statues in our nation it made me realize that this is part of the history that lead up to Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science in 1865. To wantonly destroy a history is to wipe out lessons learned, appreciation for the sacrifices made by individuals and hardships endured. To lose steps taken by those striving for liberty, freedom to worship God, etc. Getting rid of the way-marks would be error’s attempt to destroy the Truth. Just as the ecclesiastical element operating in the Christian Science movement tried to separate Mrs. Eddy from her Church after she left us.
So many people prepared the way, such as those in Europe who sacrificed lives to translate the Bible for all mankind, individuals separating from ecclesiastical control, the pilgrim’s search for a place to freely worship God, a desire to be free from a monarchy that lead to the forming of a republic in America that was Biblically based. The love for God and trust in His Providence upheld them. All this prepared the way for the “Comforter” Jesus promised, found in Divine Science which Mrs. Eddy discovered, taught and sacrificed much for all mankind. Just like the many events that lead up Jesus coming on earth. To lose any of it would to be to wipe out the golden thread of God working in our lives.

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