Soldiers and Devoutness ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          We are at this time being constantly reminded of our obligations to those on land and sea who are rendering such heroic service in defense of civilization, which in its truer sense means Christianity. It goes without saying that we would none of us shirk in any wise the payment of this debt; hence we need to know how we can best meet it, and as Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 1), "No loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds."          Students of Christian Science can never think of the men who are serving the country, whether in camp or on the battlefield, as other than the highest type of men, whose deepest needs and desires are moral and spiritual, in brief, as our brothers. If any who accept the gospel teachings question this statement they may recall Matthew's account of the centurion who came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant who was desperately ill. We are told that when Jesus offered to go with him, the centurion spoke of his own unworthiness to have the Master enter his home, but he did not stop at this, for he added, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." We read that Jesus marveled and said to those about him, "I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." Nor is this all, for we are told that at Jesus' crucifixion, the centurion who stood by the cross said "Truly this was the Son of God," — a remarkable confession when we remember that it took Simon Peter long association with Jesus to reach this conviction and to voice his recognition of the truth it declares.          From a careful study of the book of Acts we find that Peter and also Paul brought the Christ-teaching to a number of soldiers. In the tenth chapter we read of a centurion stationed at Caesarea and belonging to the Italian band: "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house." We read that, in seeking further illumination from the Mind that governs the universe, he was led to send for the apostle Peter, who was then at Joppa, and his two household servants who were sent to Peter were accompanied by "a devout soldier." In this chapter we read of Peter's missionary work in Caesarea, and here we find his inspired declaration that "God is no respecter of persons." This was followed by testimony concerning the healing work of Christ Jesus and we need not wonder at that which follows, namely, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word."          Later, Paul was sent as a prisoner to Caesarea and lived in the garrison for about two years, carrying forward the missionary work which had been begun by Peter, and preparing the men with whom he was associated for becoming soldiers of Christ, and ready to carry the word of Truth to all parts of the world. When Paul appealed against the injustice which had kept him so long a prisoner although uncondemned, he was sent for trial to Rome in charge of another centurion named Julius, and while we do not read that this man was converted to Christianity, yet it is good to be told that he "courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself."          It is thrilling to read of that voyage which ended in shipwreck, but in spite of this, through Paul's prayers, not one life was lost, and during their enforced stay at the island of Melita, Paul resumed his healing work, which brought supplies to himself and those with him for their further journey to Rome. Here we find that Paul was again closely associated with soldiers, and although he lived in his own hired house and was at liberty to see those who wished to talk with him he was closely guarded by soldiers from Nero's household. As those men were changed from time to time, they carried with them to the palace the Christ-teaching, and doubtless did wonders in helping to establish Christianity throughout Europe.          History has little that is good to tell us concerning the imperial household, much indeed that is too terrible to write about, but in spite of mortal belief with all its deadly tendencies we find that Truth was doing its mighty work there through the soldiers who had been with Paul. At the close of his epistle to the Philippians we find this astonishing statement: "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's [Nero's] household." From this we learn that even there the fruits of Spirit were springing up and replacing the "murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like," which characterized the paganism of that day, with the "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," which characterize man as God made him and as God knows him, whether he be on the human plane soldier or civilian. We cannot too often recall our revered Leader's words in her Communion Message to The Mother Church in 1898 (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14): "In your peaceful homes remember our brave soldiers, whether in camp or in battle. Oh, may their love of country, and their faithful service thereof, be unto them life-preservers! May the divine Love succor and protect them."   "Soldiers and Devoutness" by Annie M. Knott, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, January 26, 1918

 

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