Article August 4, 1923 Issue

Sacrifice

MARY F. KINGSTON

To sacrifice literally means "to make sacred." Popular usage has reduced the meaning merely to the denial to one's self of that which seems attractive and desirable for that which appears to be but vaguely advantageous. But popular opinion in this case is as far astray as it is apt to be in most cases; for it is based upon human belief. All we are ever called upon to sacrifice, speaking absolutely and in the sense of giving up something, is that which is material; and materiality is never anything more than nothingness. And what do we thus gain by making sacred our viewpoint? Reality! Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 16), "A great sacrifice of material things must precede this advanced spiritual understanding."

Unless sacrifice leaves us more spiritually-minded than it found us, it is not genuine sacrifice, which must be the giving up of the human sense for the divine; and unless this higher object shall have been attained, the so-called sacrifice is fallacious and savors of self-inflicted martyrdom and asceticism. There must be spiritual growth, progress, attainment. The fruit of sacrifice must be wholly spiritual, because it is the surrender of false belief for reality.

When Elijah and the prophets of Baal sought to prove their respective gods, the real and the false in sacrifice became the testing point. Elijah attained to the realization of God's ever-presence and power, even in the face of seeming defeat. The Baal prophets attained to nothing, because of their ignorance and grossness. They brought naught to their ceremony save so-called human self-will and a human desire for conquest. Elijah, on the other hand, forgot himself. Above and beyond the mere fleshly sacrifice that lay upon the altar, Elijah eagerly sacrificed popularity for divine Principle and material belief for spiritual understanding. He gave up what seemed much. But did this giving up cause him actually to lose anything? Assuredly not. What seemed loss for the moment, the confidence and the plaudits of the people round about, proved tremendous gain. Elijah's demonstration ultimately crowned his work; and with this proof of God's presence and power, not only did he convince the unbelieving and bring the reality of good to their consciousness, but he himself was made stronger and more spiritual. The experience enabled him to grow in grace. The sacrifice had truly made sacred.

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