Article October 28, 1922 Issue

Man's True Dominion

THESTER A. MC CLENNAN

Christian Science comes with an insistent demand that each individual shall learn to govern his own thinking, to appropriate right thoughts with which to displace wrong beliefs in his own consciousness. In the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. vii) Mrs. Eddy says, "The time for thinkers has come." To those who have acquired the habit of relying on the thinking of others, this demand may be startling. They may have been accustomed to look to the physician, whose word was law with regard to matters of health, or to the clergyman, who dictated just what they should think along religious lines. Then, having turned away from these old reliances, it might be very easy to expect to rely on some person to fill the vacancy formerly supplied by doctor or clergyman.

This point of advancement has been guarded by our Leader, who says, speaking of the Christian Science textbook, "The wise Christian Scientist will commend students and patients to the teachings of this book, and the healing efficacy thereof, rather than try to centre their interest on himself" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 83). The Christian Scientist who has experienced the sacred joy of freeing another from the bondage of sickness, by the realization of man's dominion over all the earth as the spiritual reflection of God's omnipotence, can find no attraction in any counterfeit sense of domination over others; but will, gently and wisely, assist them to place their allegiance on divine Principle, instead of person.

It is stated in the gospels that Jesus taught "as one having authority, and not as the scribes," thus distinguishing between the real and the counterfeit sense of authority. The centurion who came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant, recognized this spiritual authority, and said, "But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." Jesus marveled at this perception of the authority of the Word of God to overcome disease. Immediately following the Master's proof of man's dominion over the beliefs of disease and death in the raising of Jairus' daughter, we are told that he "called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." It is recorded that they "went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where." They had been under the tuition of the Master, and witnessed many demonstrations of his teachings, before they were prepared to go forth on this mission of healing. The authority Jesus imparted was the spiritual understanding of God; and we have an epitome of his instructions in the Sermon on the Mount.

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