Growth

Duncan Sinclair

It is not all uncommon to hear some one lamenting the insufficiency or slowness of his spiritual growth. Looking back over the years, he may think how rapidly he progressed to begin with, after Christian Science had brought to him the first great revelation of the allness of good and the unreality of evil. It was then he had been healed, perhaps, of a disease that had long afflicted him. How bright the future prospect then appeared; how great the promise of rapid growth out of all material beliefs into the realization of spiritual reality! But with his healing came the call to make known to his fellow-men the truth that had brought it about; and as he took his place in the ranks with his fellow Christian Scientists, humbly enough in all probability since he knew the paucity of his spiritual understanding, there began the warfare on what seemed a larger scale with the lie of mortal mind, in its seeming opposition everywhere to divine Mind.

Now the fact is that mortal mind or material sense did not become more formidable after the Christian Scientist had been healed and he had resolved to help in bringing the truth to mankind. Mortal mind never was real, and it therefore could not become more powerful; but it certainly happened that the student, because of his understanding of Christian Science, became more acutely aware of evil's subtle methods and the extent of its pretensions; and too frequently, not protecting himself from evil's suggestions, he has been deceived by them, thus temporarily putting a stop to his growth. The stop can have been only temporary, however, because growth is the eternal law of divine Mind; all must grow into the full or complete realization of man as he is, as he is know to God. Hopelessness is entirely unwarranted; it is without divine sanction; it is a false state of consciousness induced by accepting the erroneous belief that evil is real. But hopefulness is of God; it has its origin in Truth; and it is allied to the eternal mandate of divine Mind that growth is the law of man's being.

A great step is taken in spiritual growth when one awakens to the truth that God, divine Mind, is inseparable from His ideas. God expresses Himself through His spiritual ideas,—how else could Mind express itself? Hence, there is always perfect unity between God and His ideas. And as man is the idea of God, perfect unity exists between God and man. Mortal mind or the so-called mind of a mortal disputes this, arguing for separation between God and man. And that is the lie which must be recognized before mankind can begin its growth toward the realization of the real spiritual man. Whenever the lie of separation begins to be destroyed, spiritual growth is bound to result. In this connection Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 91): "Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true spiritual growth."

It is no difficult thing to ascertain how one is progressing spiritually. It is largely a question of comparison. One can ask himself, How far have I advanced morally since I began to study Christian Science? remembering that moral and spiritual progress cannot be dissociated, for morality always has a spiritual basis. He may test himself, also, by inquiring how much of "the fruit of the Spirit" he can now call his own, remembering that Paul designated this fruit to the Galatians as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." That is a certain test of growth; for these great qualities are not to be found in unregenerate carnal mind.

Are we earnest enough about our growth? Are we as desirous of spiritual growth as we should be? Is it not that sometimes we are content with having attained perhaps to some official position which brings us a little more into prominence among our fellow-men? There could hardly be a subtler form of evil than that: it is one of the lies of egotism. Spiritual growth should lead one into office, and rightly so; but the office is always that of one who serveth, and who must continue to serve in order to attain to still greater opportunity for service. The Master said, "I am among you as he that serveth;" and, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." May not the power to serve be thus also reckoned as a test of growth?

Our revered Leader says on page 485 of Science and Health: "Think not to thwart the spiritual ultimate of all things, but come naturally into Spirit through better health and morals and as the result of spiritual growth. Not death, but the understanding of Life, makes man immortal." Mrs. Eddy's words are full of encouragement for all. They are true words, prophesying ultimate victory through spiritual growth.

Duncan Sinclair

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Among the Churches

December 29, 1923

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