Editorial February 2, 1918 Issue

Salvation of the World

William D. McCrackan

Salvation is to be found in the ever present understanding of God. Christian Science has come to this age to save the world, to show mankind the way of salvation. The brilliant glow of the day with the Lord is to be found in the spiritual creation. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" exclaimed the prophet. Nothing can stay God's hand, the hand that uplifts and saves all those who are looking to Him for salvation. On page 291 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them. Heaven is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind in which all the manifestations of Mind are harmonious and immortal, because sin is not there and man is found having no righteousness of his own, but in possession of 'the mind of the Lord,' as the Scripture says."

The oppressed may be more oppressed before they learn that to know God is real freedom and to believe in the false man is damnation. When man becomes acquainted with his real self, the godlike child, he will learn to obey only spiritual laws and so gain spiritual health and spiritual peace,—not for one instant being enticed by the human luring arguments which have been worn threadbare by human tradition. If an individual fights with hate, making enemies in thought, this means fighting with revenge and material weapons. Jesus said to Peter, "Put up thy sword," but the sword of love wielded without hate gives man the power of David with the sling,—the use of material weapons with spiritual understanding, dominion over matter, not subjection. The promises of health based upon compliance with some dictum of don't-do-this or that, all make man a slave to fear if he obeys through fear or ignorance. The loving counsel of spiritual understanding is the right way out of these laws of fear. This loving counsel may bring comfort to one individual and discomfort to another, since every problem in Christian Science is worked out from the individual viewpoint. It is not the material manifestation but the unseen power of God which counts in the growth of every Christian Scientist. The reflection naturally comes, as the joy within brings the outward smile. We read in Psalms: "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation."

In reality man is a permanent immortal being never experiencing sin, sickness, and death. God is the divine Principle of all that exists, but matter is excluded from this real existence as a false belief concerning the truth. Man never came from material laws. Humanity will not ascend until it realizes that the Son came down from heaven, harmony, and was never in matter. Humanity will not walk the water until it knows that man was always above material law. Erroneous judging and condemning will continue as long as those who seem to sit in the seat of the righteous overlook man's genuine perfection.

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