Editorial October 24, 1925 Issue

"Progress is spiritual"

Duncan Sinclair

If the student of Christian Science desires a definition of progress, he will find an extraordinarily comprehensive one on page 181 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," in a message which Mrs. Eddy once sent to a branch church. It reads: "Progress is spiritual. Progress is the maturing conception of divine Love; it demonstrates the scientific, sinless life of man and mortal's painless departure from matter to Spirit, not through death, but through the true idea of Life,—and Life not in matter but in Mind." In these brief sentences our Leader may be said to epitomize the aim of the Christian Scientist, as well as to indicate the basis on which his progress depends, namely, the understanding of Mind.

Progress can never be genuine unless it rests on the understanding of divine Mind. Matter or material sense gives mortals their every problem; and to rise above the belief of matter through spiritual understanding, through "the true idea of Life," is, fundamentally, the task upon which every Christian Scientist is employed. If he is endeavoring to heal disease, he is primarily engaged in destroying the belief of matter and material law; if he is endeavoring to overcome sinful thoughts, it is the same false belief whose nothingness he is striving to realize, by knowing the allness of God as divine Mind. And it is Christian Science which has revealed to him the allness of God, the allness of Mind or Spirit, and the unreality, in consequence, of so-called matter, thereby scientifically equipping him for the "departure from matter to Spirit," along the true way of enlightened spiritual understanding.

The words of Christ Jesus, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," point to the fact that spiritual progress is possible to all; for the Master's words were addressed to humanity in general. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, expresses himself similarly, although in very different terms, when he writes, "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Both sayings clearly indicate what will be readily admitted by every student of Christian Science to-day, that progress is expected of all who become followers of Christ Jesus. Not one of them may rest contented with some healing he has had. Healings serve to assure us of God's presence, of the power of divine Principle to destroy false beliefs. But no one can remain satisfied with these; he must press on in the endeavor to overcome false material sense at every point, entering more fully into the understanding of his real spiritual selfhood.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Progress is spiritual"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access