Article May 26, 1923 Issue

Righteousness

NELSON DREXEL FRISBY

THERE is probably no word in the Christian's vocabulary that means more than the word "righteousness"; yet it is doubtful if there is any word more generally misunderstood. To the average person, righteousness may mean merely an outward show of piety, or of conduct too high for present attainment. In either case, the mistake lies in failure to grasp the underlying spiritual meaning of the word; for righteousness is neither a question of the outward appearance, nor beyond any one's ability to possess, being simply the essential quality of the Mind of Christ.

Christians are enjoined by Paul, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Yet how is one to obey this command unless he understands that only righteousness abides in the Mind of Christ? Jesus said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Since the "righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" consisted mainly of rites and ceremonies, the higher test of righteousness demanded by the Master must be consecration to the commands of divine Principle, instead of to the doctrines of men. This righteousness is what Paul referred to as "Christ in you, the hope of glory;" and Jesus, who so beautifully demonstrated it, said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

Yet, how can one who sincerely desires to reflect the Mind of Christ attain the object of his hope, unless he realizes that righteousness has nothing in common with the outward appearance? Jesus said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." From this it inevitably follows that judgment "according to the appearance" is not righteous; and, therefore, he who so judges is not following the pathway of scientifically Christian reasoning which the Master trod. Small wonder such as these demonstrate acknowledgment of or acquiescence in error, instead of Jesus' control over erroneous belief! This attitude does not reflect the understanding of divine Mind, but is solely the limited perception of mortal belief. Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 296), "Mortal mind judges by the testimony of the material senses, until Science obliterates this false testimony;" and on page 428 she says: "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true." Herein our Leader leaves no doubt as to the nature of righteous judgment.

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