What side are you on?
It’s a question that was lobbed at me by an acquaintance who wanted to know what political party I supported. He held some strong opinions about who was right and who was wrong in Washington D.C., and he was trying to determine whether I was on the right side or the wrong side—at least from his point of view!
I did not bite the bait!
I learned long ago that there is only one side to take when it comes to working with my neighbor who may have a different opinion than me. It’s God’s side!
God is Love.
Love does not take political sides. Love blesses everyone.
Love does not see evil in another. Love looks for the good.
Love is merciful, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, considerate and respectful.
Love does not overlook injustice but inspires thought with higher perspective to dissolve the evil.
Love is inclusive.
Love erases dividing lines.
Love unites.
Love brings out the good for all to celebrate.
Love inspires gratitude.
More than anything, Love creates opportunities for people of differing opinions to work together as one for the greater good.
Love is always the best side to take.
If you’re ever taunted into “taking sides,” be sure to side with Love. It’s when everyone comes out a winner.
“Love does not overlook injustice but inspires thought with higher perspective to dissolve the evil.”
Thank you so very much for this, Evan! This is very precious. Thank you!
I LOVE this Evan. There is always the right path to take when you choose Love. There is even a
song and video about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHpy_k_kMTU
Thank you for the beautiful reminder at this time when there seems to be so much division. There is also a film that recently came out called “Just Mercy” , a true story, that everyone will want to see. Choose Love. Thank you so much, ❤️❤️❤️
Loved the video! Thank you Pam. 🙂
Thanks Evan, that’s lovely!
My husband and I are an example of living Love as we are managing to be on opposite sides of the Brexit divide, but still having a harmonious life together! I’m sure many families are wonderful examples of coexisting with opposing views.
Have a great day everyone, the sun is shining in the UK after a very wet weekend! Hooray!
Thanks Evan for this beautiful blog!
Sun NOT shining on my side of UK Dilys!
I still have Brexit friends – all wrong of course!
Richard? Said the Lord’s Prayer recently? Where are we all living?
“Our father which art in heaven.” As the image of our Father we can’t be living anywhere but there,
in heaven, in the all-harmonious Mind of Love. Jesus put EVERYONE there. Look at the scenery. Hear the harmonic music, feel the complete safety. He even said it’s a kingdom within us. The images of thought entertained by ourselves, our friends or foes, if they have the least element of pride, fear or anger, are shadow images of shadow minds– not your mind, his or hers, but the other gods claiming power to be right or wrong to have control, to be able to harm God, good.
We are not to bow down to them now worship them as real. What can harm God?
Let the sunshine in, Hon, and see “As in heaven, so on earth, God [Love] is omnipotent, supreme.”
I think Richard said this with a smile and a sense of humor. But, I love that you cared about your brother to make sure he was not going down the wrong path. You are not a strange women who flattereth but stand guard and alert on the watchtower. Bless you sister! 🙂
Richard,
I thought all British humor was supposed to be dry (not wet…lol…:):)
I got it Richard, made made me laugh!
Love it Richard!
A Canadian cousin.
As God’s creation, we are all innocent created in God’s image. It is only the mortal view and path that diverts our consciousness from this Truth. We shouldn’t be fooled by evil to express less than we truly are. Does evil exist? Not permanently.
Thank you Evan. This is always a topic to keep centered in our thought and action,
Pamsb…. really liked your video 🙂
Thank you Evan. I love the graphic …”HOOS” whose side am I am? I am on the I AM
If you are feeling like “right” and “wrong” are more important than Love, here is a great resource;
http://www.unitedandtogether.com
I also really like this video, The danger of a single story;
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10160661025090652
Thank you Evan. Being on God’s side is a great place to be! 🙂
Love has no sense of hatred. Love works together for good. Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness. Love blesses all and leaves no one out. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love seeks not her own, is not puffed up. Let human government pattern the divine.
God’s government is always right. A government that mirrors justice, love, honesty, goodness, intelligence, wisdom, purity. The qualities and attributes of God will always be progressive and right. A too pre- conceived idea of what is right may be human will. These are the ideas I’m praying with.
Human opinion is just that. HUMAN opinion. “Right” or “wrong”, it is still human opinion. It requires a mighty effort to throw off ego and self-will, but that is the only way we can listen to divine Mind.
When I shared w a friend that it took me a long time before I could pray for a certain person in our govt, he said, ” If we’re not praying for our govt, who is?” Boy, that really had an impact. After we break the ice, it’s become much more easy and natural to bless all in our govt. Truly we are all brothers and sisters on this journey. We can help these sibleys in govt by blessing them with all the God-inherited qualities we cherish in our closest friends–innate goodness, honesty, inclusive justice and lovingkindness to all those in need. It’s a joy to bless, and it does bring healing, to ourselves and our world!
“In Science, Divine Love alone governs man…” “To come apart from the material world and be separate”.
“Therefore the world knoweth us not”
Walk on the waves of error with the continual assurance that His Love is buoyant and will keep you uplifted above material politics.
We aren’t in a material world, but dwell in the secret place of the most high.
Otherwise there is no side or wisdom or way to decide or influence.
Being a light to those whom represent us with prayer. Things arrange themselves for good when the correct thinking is applied.
Honesty is God’s law. “His will is done, His kingdom come.”
“Man is properly governed when his is self governed”.
What more can we ask? We aren’t of this world! We are God’s image and likeness!
And we all are one!
Peace and lovingkindness concerning mankind’s government. It’s temporal. “Let patience have Her perfect work!
Thanks Evans for addressing this political drama issue and David, indeed it is so true when our consciousness is attuned to God as our Mind, we are literally uplifted from material- mindedness (limited or lower form of intelligence as well as mortal mind ignorance) and living in heavenly good. That is how Jesus walked away unnoticed and can’t be seen by the mob who were set on assassinating him on one of his mission journey.
You’re wonderful Evan! Lots o Love!
The “heart and soul of Christian Science is Love….”
And love this quote David Brandon: “Let patience have Her perfect work”…..the key words here, for me, are “patience” & “perfect”….thanks for reminding us!
Yes, I tune in to Paula, you are wonderful, Evan, and we all love you a lot for your giving us so much Love with your priceless SpiritView blog!
It is comforting, healing, teaching and blessing – thank you so much, dear Evan! 🙂
Am so grateful for today’s SV; It expresses so much Love and wonderful inspiring ideas from you all, dear commenters.
Yes, perfect Love is the liberator, also in talks about politics, where nearly everybody thinks, that their opinion is the best.
However we learnt that there is but one law governing all harmonious, the perfect Law of divine Love. Yes let’s choose Love !
I don’t talk to people about what is happening here in our politics as I feel people are very entrenched.
A lot has been exposed in our form of government that we didn’t understand which in the end will be a good thing. Now I know what a norm is. This has been a long time coming. What keeps me going in spite of the daily news of assaults on our form
of democratic republic, is who is really in charge? A group of people that seem to be in power right now or God? Are they all God’s beloved children with a friend who sticks closer than skin? I also
understand the inherit goodness in all and watch it burst forth. Only the one Mind is in charge and it is good. though I may have to tie a ‘rope around me and hang on for dear life’ .
These readings really helped me and I hope they’re not too long for this posting. But people tried to draw Jesus into politics all the time, and he refused to get involved in earthly politics because he had his mind set I’m going home & didn’t want those lies disrupting that journey. We can’t try to heal “the other side. “First we have to catch the beam out of our own eye. That is, the error that mortal mind is fooling us with about the other side. It’s our experience. We are the one being lied to. There is no other side, there is no wrong opinion. Those are just motes in our eyes about God’s ideas. We have to cast that beam out – that lie attacking us about another; that sense that we are right & ‘they’ are wrong because there is more than God’s Mind
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, …
… ¶ And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; …
… ¶ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. …
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. …
(I Sam. 8:4, 10–18 (to ;), 19, 20, 22 (to 1st .))
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? …
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
(Eccl. 8:4, 9)
… unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Isa. 9:6 2nd unto)
And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
(Isa. 22:21, 22)
¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(I Pet. 1:20)
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. …
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
(John 6:1, 2, 14, 15)
¶ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
(Luke 12:13, 14)
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
(Matt. 7:5)
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
(Luke 6:42)
… I am not of the world.
(John 17:16 I)
… I must be about my Father’s business?
(Luke 2:49 I)
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
(Luke 20:20–26)
¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
(Matt. 17:24–27)
¶ And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(Luke 22:24–30)
¶ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. …
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
(Luke 22:7, 14)
¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. …
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
(John 18:28, 33–37)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(Matt. 22:29)
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
(John 18:36, 37)
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. …
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
(Heb. 10:1, 12–17)
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:34, 35)
The hour has struck when proof and demonstration, instead of opinion and dogma, are summoned to the support of Christianity, “making wise the simple.”
(SH 342:2)
The universe of Spirit is peopled with spiritual beings, and its government is divine Science.
(SH 264:32–1)
Jesus said: “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.” …
The divine Principle of the universe must interpret the universe.
(SH 272:8–9, 28–29)
Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government.
(SH 393:16–18)
If one be found who is too blind for instruction, no longer cast your pearls before this state of mortal mind, lest it turn and rend you; but quietly, with benediction and hope, let the unwise pass by, while you walk on in equanimity, and with increased power, patience, and understanding, gained from your forbearance. … It is true that the mistakes, prejudices, and errors of one class of thinkers must not be introduced or established among another class who are clearer and more conscientious in their convictions; but this one thing can be done, and should be: let your opponents alone, and use no influence to prevent their legitimate action from their own standpoint of experience, knowing, as you should, that God will well regenerate and separate wisely and finally; whereas you may err in effort, and lose your fruition. …
Science is not the shibboleth of a sect or the cabalistic insignia of philosophy; it excludes all error and includes all Truth. More mistakes are made in its name than this period comprehends. Divinely defined, Science is the atmosphere of God; humanly construed, and according to Webster, it is “knowledge, duly arranged and referred to general truths and principles on which it is founded, and from which it is derived.” I employ this awe-filled word in both a divine and human sense; but I insist that Christian Science is demonstrably as true, relative to the unseen verities of being, as any proof that can be given of the completeness of Science.
The two largest words in the vocabulary of thought are “Christian” and “Science.” The former is the highest style of man; the latter reveals and interprets God and man; it aggregates, amplifies, unfolds, and expresses the ALL-God. The life of Christ is the predicate and postulate of all that I teach, and there is but one standard statement, one rule, and one Principle for all scientific truth.
(No. 8:22–28; 9:4, 22–13)
Many there were who had entered the valley to speculate in worldly policy, religion, politics, finance, and to search for wealth and fame. These had heavy baggage of their own, and insisted upon taking all of it with them, which must greatly hinder their ascent.
The journey commences. The encumbered travellers halt and disagree. They stoutly belay those who, having less baggage, ascend faster than themselves, and betimes burden them with their own. Despairing of gaining the summit, loaded as they are, they conclude to stop and lay down a few of the heavy weights, — but only to take them up again, more than ever determined not to part with their baggage.
All this time the Stranger is pointing the way, showing them their folly, rebuking their pride, consoling their afflictions, and helping them on, saying, “He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.”
Obstinately holding themselves back, and sore-footed, they fall behind and lose sight of their guide; when, stumbling and grumbling, and fighting each other, they plunge headlong over the jagged rocks.
Then he who has no baggage goes back and kindly binds up their wounds, wipes away the blood stains, and would help them on; but suddenly the Stranger shouts, “Let them alone; they must learn from the things they suffer. Make thine own way; and if thou strayest, listen for the mountain-horn, and it will call thee back to the path that goeth upward.” …
He alone ascends the hill of Christian Science who follows the Way-shower, the spiritual presence and idea of God. Whatever obstructs the way, — causing to stumble, fall, or faint, those mortals who are striving to enter the path, — divine Love will remove; and uplift the fallen and strengthen the weak. Therefore, give up thy earth-weights; and observe the apostle’s admonition, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those which are before.” Then, loving God supremely and thy neighbor as thyself, thou wilt safely bear thy cross up to the throne of everlasting glory.
(Mis. 327:10–5; 328:21)
To my sense, the most imminent dangers confronting the coming century are: the robbing of people of life and liberty under the warrant of the Scriptures; the claims of politics and of human power, industrial slavery, and insufficient freedom of honest competition; and ritual, creed, and trusts in place of the Golden Rule, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
(My. 266:3)
God could never impart an element of evil, and man possesses nothing which he has not derived from God.
(SH 539:10–12)
If we wish to follow Christ, Truth, it must be in the way of God’s appointing.
(SH 326:3–4)
You must utilize the moral might of Mind in order to walk over the waves of error and support your claims by demonstration. If you are yourself lost in the belief and fear of disease or sin, and if, knowing the remedy, you fail to use the energies of Mind in your own behalf, you can exercise little or no power for others’ help. “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
(SH 455:8)
Human opinions are not spiritual.
(SH 192:6–7)
The only excuse for entertaining human opinions and rejecting the Science of being is our mortal ignorance of Spirit, — ignorance which yields only to the understanding of divine Science, the understanding by which we enter into the kingdom of Truth on earth and learn that Spirit is infinite and supreme.
(SH 280:30–4)
Is there more than one school of Christian Science? Christian Science is demonstrable. There can, therefore, be but one method in its teaching. Those who depart from this method forfeit their claims to belong to its school, and they become adherents of the Socratic, the Platonic, the Spencerian, or some other school. By this is meant that they adopt and adhere to some particular system of human opinions. Although these opinions may have occasional gleams of divinity, borrowed from that truly divine Science which eschews man-made systems, they nevertheless remain wholly human in their origin and tendency and are not scientifically Christian.
(SH 112:3)
The one Mind, God, contains no mortal opinions.
(SH 399:27–28 (to 1st .))
The truths of immortal Mind sustain man, and they annihilate the fables of mortal mind, whose flimsy and gaudy pretensions, like silly moths, singe their own wings and fall into dust.
(SH 103:25)
Our statute is spiritual, our Government is divine. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
(SH 442:3)
God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves, and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them.
(SH 295:5–8)
The “secret place,” whereof David sang, is unquestionably man’s spiritual state in God’s own image and likeness, even the inner sanctuary of divine Science, in which mortals do not enter without a struggle or sharp experience, and in which they put off the human for the divine.
(My. 244:15–19)
HEAVEN. Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul.
(SH 587:25)
From the infinite One in Christian Science comes one Principle and its infinite idea, and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, and their demonstration, which, like the great Giver, are “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;” for thus are the divine Principle of healing and the Christ-idea characterized in the epistle to the Hebrews.
(SH 112:16)
There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way.
(SH 242:9–10)
Jesus once said of his lessons: “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John vii. 16, 17.)
(SH 109:28)
The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
Unless the harmony and immortality of man are becoming more apparent, we are not gaining the true idea of God; and the body will reflect what governs it, whether it be Truth or error, understanding or belief, Spirit or matter. … “acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter, — certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God.
(SH 324:4–11, 12 acquaint)
One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.
(SH 340:23)
In Christian Science mere opinion is valueless.
(SH 341:11 (only))
The powers of this world will fight, and will command their sentinels not to let truth pass the guard until it subscribes to their systems; but Science, heeding not the pointed bayonet, marches on.
(SH 225:8–11)
The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven.
(SH 57:24)