Routing corruption

We often hear of corrupt practices on the part of government officials at the local, state, or federal level. This can be particularly disheartening if we ourselves have voted these people into office.

Can we help cleanse government of improprieties, misdeeds, even illegalities?

Yes!

We find clues as to how to deal with this problem in the story of Cain and Abel in the first book of the Bible. Cain was responsible for murdering his brother, Abel, out of jealous rage. But how is one to treat Cain? We read that retaliation is not the answer. Genesis represents the Lord God as saying, ''Whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.'' n1 Referring to this passage, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, says: ''Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God's own way, and let human justice pattern the divine. Sin will receive its full penalty, both for what it is and for what it does.'' n2

n1Genesis 4:15.

n2 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 542.

Certainly it's our responsibility as citizens to be law-abiding and to report incidents of crime that come to our attention. But we can make a contribution in addition to this through our prayers. We can humbly trust Truth, God Himself, to expose wrongdoing and impel the establishment of real justice. In the depths of prayer we can realize with conviction that divine Truth and its irresistible law of good are infinitely powerful, everywhere present. Divine Truth does uncover evil by the nature of its allness. Truth operates a bit like the law of mathematics, which knows nothing of mistakes yet effectively corrects them when properly applied.

Man, as the Bible teaches, is the very offspring of God, of Truth. He is not, as he seems to be, a fallible mortal made of good and evil elements. Man's true, God-created being is composed of good qualities only.

The Bible states that God made man in His own likeness. The offspring of Truth, then, are inherently pure and upright. The children of God love righteousness and naturally know and do what's right.

As you and I prayerfully acknowledge the allness of Truth and the actual nature of man as Truth's expression, we'll be helping to unveil whatever is ungodlike. We'll be supporting the work of those charged with investigating cases of political corruption. We'll be doing our part to defend integrity in government.

What result can we expect? Continuing with the story of Cain and Abel we read , ''And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod.'' n3 Commenting on this passage Mrs. Eddy says: ''This error, after reaching the climax of suffering, yields to Truth and returns to dust; but it is only mortal man and not the real man, who dies. The image of Spirit cannot be effaced, since it is the idea of Truth and changes not, but becomes more beautifully apparent at error's demise.'' n4

n3Genesis 4:16.

n4 Science and Health, p. 542.

Perhaps we could say that the error of political corruption is lessened by our understanding of Truth's power. We don't expect to see human lives or even political careers destroyed - unless certain individuals choose to cling to error and go down with it.

The purpose of Truth is to redeem human lives, to separate the chaff from the wheat, the evil from the good, in human consciousness so that the wheat will thrive. Wasn't this the mission of Christ Jesus - to cleanse, and not condemn, sinners? His message was one of hope and salvation for those willing to choose good and forsake evil. Jesus, in fact, showed people the way out of sin and thus is known as the Way-shower.

We need not be discouraged when we hear of corruption in political circles. Rather, we can give thanks that the belief in evil must progressively destroy itself, must yield to Truth's supremacy. Let's trust wholeheartedly the omnipotence of Truth to expose and destroy error, while we uphold all that is good.

We can expect the law of God to be utterly triumphant. As more of us perceive and obey the impulsions of Truth, the day will dawn when honesty and integrity really do motivate everyone's actions both in and out of government. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis 18:25