Strength and Humility

LEWIS HENRY BEESLEY

Before the teachings of Christian Science came to leaven the thought of the world, a man's sense of goodness was often measured by the amount of suffering he endured, and also by the degree to which he could efface himself, in other words, keep himself in the background. It was considered to be a deep state of humility if one kept one's self in a corner without any degree of assertion, and the more one was willing to put up with misery, sickness, and wretchedness, the more manifest his demonstration of humility was considered. The one who mistook the intent of "Thy will be done," attributed all the difficulties of the ages to God, and a willingness to resign one's self brought imaginary views of heaven nearer.

Without implying that the Christian Science understanding of humility is anything but humble and meek, it is to be said that there is in its teachings no sense of accepted weakness, or resignation to the inharmonious conditions which have characterized the attitude of spiritually aspiring Christian believers in the past. A true sense of humility certainly eliminates this mortal self; it puts aside at every turn all its temptations, jealousies, envyings, sickness, etc., the whole Pandora-box of evils, but this only gives place to a noble and inspiring concept of selfhood in the image and likeness of God. As the Christian Scientist learns something of man's God given nature and capacity, he acquires a sense of freedom from fear; he becomes more alert, courageous, and righteously self-assertive. Relying more and more upon God as his guiding Principle, he puts off the mortal self with its weakness, and puts on that sense of humility which dares to do in Christ's name. This new understanding of humility is strong and vigorous in times of need; it is not lacking or in the background when occasion arises. Jesus expressed a greater sense of humility than has any other man, and yet everything he taught and practised carried weight and effected results, because he always knew that it was God who was at the back of all he did.

In explaining the Christian Science attitude toward prayer, Mrs. Eddy says that Jesus' "humble prayers were deep and conscientious protests of Truth" (Science and Health, p. 12). Jesus did not beseech an unwilling Father to change His plans for His children, but he insisted that man in his relation to God was perfectly and wholly expressed now. He protested humbly that sickness and disease were no part of God's government, and it was his clear, courageous, and persistent perception of this fact that healed the sick. His teachings were fraught with enlightenment and foresight, and many times one word of truth from his lips healed a hitherto incurable disease. We find, however, that even one so humble as was the Nazarene rebuked severely those who sought to materialize religion, so that his humility was able to make error feel the power of Truth to destroy falsity.

In Jesus' wonderful Sermon on the Mount he said of the meek that they should inherit the earth; that is, in proportion to man's understanding of God, he is to gain dominion [6 over, all mortal circumstances and conditions, so that the earth will indeed be governed by those who have learned the strength and power of true humility. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy says, "More than regal is the majesty of the meekness of the Christprinciple" (p. 149). Surely strength and humility have never been more clearly expressed together than in the coming of the Saviour. He came in the quietness of a manger, in one of the least towns of Judæa, and yet his coming dated the Christian era, the most significant period of the world's history; a period which has chronicled more progress, enlightenment, and spiritual living than all the preceding centuries, and which will eventually bring in the millennium, that state of consciousness where all tears will be wiped away and there will be no more pain, when the man created by God is understood.

Christian Scientists are recognizing now that they need no longer meekly submit to the tortures of sickness, sin, and disease. They are learning that it is just as wrong to be accused of sickness as of sin. They perceive that if the same mental protest is recorded gainst sickness and disease as that against a wrongful accusation of sin, it need not be part of their experience, since one is no more true than the other. If we enter our protest for our rightful heritage as the sons and daughters of God when inharmony seems to assail us, we are in humility demonstrating that we understand something of God's promise to us. The writer remembers very gratefully that in the course of conversation with an old and experienced Christian Science worker, he made a remark concerning a religious question which was under discussion. The older Scientist immediately replied that it was a good point and that he had not seen it in that way before. Here was a man with years of experience, who was traveling all over the world to convey to others the healing message of Truth, and yet he was willing to learn! The amazement of the writer at the time has since given place to a realization that our strength and efficiency inhere in our willingness to receive the truth "as a little child," even as the Master said.

In a paragraph which to the writer's sense contains one of the most beautiful passages in the English language, Mrs. Eddy says, "The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, 'The meek shall inherit the earth'" (Science and Health, p. 516). Isaiah also seems to have had the same sense of the healing power of humility, for he says, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."

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