Article December 14, 1929 Issue

A Citizen of Zion

HERBERT BUCHER

IN the fifteenth psalm David describes a citizen of Zion, and enumerates some of the spiritual characteristics essential to this highest condition of citizenship. Of this ideal citizen he speaks as "he that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." Note the last requirement, that one shall speak the truth in his heart, meaning not merely the utterance of fair words or outward expressions of righteousness, without accompanying depth or sincerity, but truthful thinking and consistent living up to one's highest sense of right.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 587) Mrs. Eddy defines "heart" as "mortal feelings, motives, affections, joys, and sorrows." The motive that prompts any act is what really counts, and our daily living is but the externalized evidence of the motives that govern us. As our desires are uplifted with true longing to know more of good, a broader concept of existence is brought into view, and to the extent of our receptivity to this unfolding of good we rise above the petty, selfish arguments of mortal sense testimony, which at times seem so real, and so bring out in daily experience a better expression of man's true nature, our true spiritual selfhood. Through continuous effort to achieve greater understanding, thought becomes spiritualized; and this joyful endeavor, manifested in good deeds, kindness, and love impartially expressed, is an indication that we are approaching the status of true citizenship.

And what of "Zion," which our Leader defines, in part (Science and Health, p. 599), as "spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength"? Is not this the true, spiritual state of existence, the perfect estate from which the real man has never strayed? Is it not also true that as thought is turned from the emptiness of mortal existence to the contemplation of this perfect spiritual estate one begins to realize that all that claims to be unlike God, good, is unreal, and in reality nonexistent? This being so, he who builds his highest hopes on a spiritual, real foundation, and who constantly endeavors to express only the Godlike qualities of existence manifested in unselfish desire and tender regard for his fellow-man, may indeed be called a citizen of Zion. Such a one builds on the Rock, Christ. Claiming and demonstrating man's inseparable relationship to the Father, we realize that as individual ideas of the one Mind we can now reflect His unerring intelligence. Man is now, always has been, and always will be in the presence of God, reflecting His perfection. A citizen of Zion is one whose hope is in God, one who loves his brother as himself, and who realizes that he is governed by the unchanging laws of divine Principle.

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