Editorial January 31, 1931 Issue

God-given Ability

Duncan Sinclair

On a certain occasion the Jews sought to kill Jesus "because he not only had broken the sabbath [by healing a man who had been diseased for thirty-eight years], but said also that God was his Father." His defense was in part: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise;" and, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge." The Master's words show that he understood himself to be entirely dependent on God, that he relied implicitly on God for power to do the wonderful deeds attributed to him in the Gospels.

Christian Scientists are learning how, more and more, to put their trust in God, even as did the Way-shower, Christ Jesus. By teaching that man is the reflection of God, Christian Science throws a great light on what must have been very clear to Jesus, namely, the relationship existing between God and man, the unity between God and man whereby man actually does the will of God. Just as in a mirror we see the reflection in detail of an object placed in front of the mirror, so through divine Science we see man perfectly reflecting his creator, God. What does this mean? That man has not a single quality or faculty underived from God; that the intelligence, ability, strength, and all the other qualities of God, are reflected by him. And thus to acknowledge the truth that of himself man can do nothing is to see him as being in possession of spiritual gifts to an unlimited extent, since God of whom man is the reflection is infinite.

That is the truth about the real man, the reflection of God. But what of mortals? Mortals appear to exist apart from God. They seem to live in material bodies, subject to material laws, and, accordingly, to be limited in every direction. Thus, their intelligence is supposed to be dependent on the size and quality of the brain they appear to possess; their ability, on the texture of the brain and on the condition of the physical body generally. In brief, the belief that man is material claims to limit the intelligence, ability, and power of men in every way, and is responsible not only for their failures but for the many distressing experiences with which they are familiar.

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January 31, 1931
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