In the heart of everyone, consciously or unconsciously, is desire to be Christlike, the desire to possess and manifest the qualities which distinguished God's representative on earth, the man Christ Jesus. He is the perfect Exemplar. No other can take his place. This should be borne in mind by every student of Christian Science.

Therefore, in order to adopt into one's own living the spiritual qualities of Christ Jesus, the student of Christian Science should faithfully study his manner of living, as recorded in the New Testament. His life, when understood scientifically, will show us the way of right conduct in every circumstance in our own lives; for it will be observed that he was confronted with problems, perplexities, temptations, "like as we are, yet without sin." Those about him were living what from a material viewpoint was regarded as a normal life. Certain forms and ceremonies were established and conformed to by them; but Jesus rarely conceded to material methods, and was not influenced by the world's opinion. From the beginning to the end of his earthly career he obeyed the voice of God and recognized God as the only power.

The way of Christ is too difficult for us to follow, do we say? Ah, no! It is only when we do not follow the Christexample that life becomes difficult. Failing to follow this example has brought about all that is inharmonious in the world. Christ Jesus points the way of Life. He lights the way to righteous activity, to enduring happiness, to full salvation, to life eternal!

But in the desire to express divine perfection, how many look to the personality of some individual for the working out of their salvation! One should guard closely against the proclivity to deify personality. It is true that the lives of many men and women have been beautifully transformed by Christian Science; but it was their spiritual discernment and understanding of the perfect man, gained through an earnest study of the Bible and the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, which brought about their transformation. Material personality has no likeness to God's reflection, and should therefore never be considered as a pattern. It is by looking away from finite person to Principle that we behold the Christ, the spiritual idea.

In her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 (p. 34) our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, warned her students of the danger of deifying personality when she said, "Follow your Leader only so far as she follows Christ." Regardless of the place they may occupy, all students of Christian Science are still waiting for the Mind of Christ; not one has yet attained its fullness. We should remember that position or fame or popularity never determines the degree of spirituality one has reached. Christian living alone does that.

The student of Christian Science is fortunate in that a practicable understanding of its teachings is not limited to a few: all are blessed of God. Therefore, since each idea of God reflects the divine intelligence and perfection of God, it is possible for every student of Christian Science to claim his divine birthright by acquiring a demonstrable understanding of Christian Science. This understanding may be obtained by becoming a more diligent student of the Bible, the Christian Science textbook and other writings by Mrs. Eddy, including the Manual of The Mother Church, and by watching more closely to see that we put into practice the truths that are being unfolded to us. It will then be seen that Science and Health and the Church Manual cannot be interpreted materially; they can only be discerned and understood spiritually.

In her article "Deification of Personality" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 308, 309) Mrs. Eddy says: "Christian Science is taught through its divine Principle, which is invisible to corporeal sense. A material human likeness is the antipode of man in the image and likeness of God. Hence, a finite person is not the model for a metaphysician. I earnestly advise all Christian Scientists to remove from their observation or study the personal sense of any one, and not to dwell in thought upon their own or others' corporeality, either as good or evil."

Each student of Christian Science may be at a stage of spiritual ascendancy different from that of others. One may have solved problems which another has not yet encountered in his experience, but the other may have acquired some degree of spiritual understanding along a different line. And, on the other hand, what one has demonstrated as best to do under certain conditions might not be the proper thing for another for another to do under different conditions. Each step for each individual must be demonstrated. Very often, personal human opinions do not reflect the least spirituality. Thoughts, words, and actions must be weighed impersonally in the light of the Master's example and teachings before it can be ascertained how nearly they approach the divine. One's own thoughts must become spiritualized before one can judge scientifically. God will direct our steps aright if, putting aside all idolatry, we look to Him for spiritual understanding and divine guidance.

We sometimes hear it said as an apology for falling away from the truth in some material step one has taken, "Ah, well, we are only human after all!" How can we possibly adhere to the fact that "now are we the sons of God" and prove the statement that we are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" while excusing our transgressions with such an erroneous assertion as that? The real man is now and forever the spiritual image and likeness of God. He can never be anything else. That is the spiritual fact, and permitting one's self to think and speak to the contrary is a reversal of one's previous acceptance of the truth.

To believe that lapsing into error in the slightest degree is permissible or excusable because someone has done so who we think, has a better understanding of Christian Science than we have, excuses neither their guilt nor ours. In either case, it is a falling away from Truth which has neither place, license, nor justification in Christian Science. All error is unreal; but it must be recognized and acknowledged as error, regardless of who seems to manifest it, before it can be cast out. The sincere Christian Scientist is constantly striving to think, speak, and act scientifically, regardless of his material environment. He makes no compromise with evil; neither does he justify it, condone it, excuse it, or show his approval of it by associating with it or yielding indulgence to it. Each individual is responsible for his own spiritual growth in the study and practice of Christian Science.

That which expresses error is not illustrative of the Christ. An understanding heart, courtesy, intelligence, purity, compassion, tenderness, loving-kindness, faith, forgiveness—these and like attributes express the characteristics of the Christ. Discourtesy, impurity, indifference, personal domination, pride of place, and egotism are not spiritual traits. All desirable qualities belong to man as the reflection of infinite divine Mind; but we must remember—in every instance—that they are ours only by reflection. Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do."

Holding to the Christ-ideal enables one to escape idol worship of every kind. The Christianly scientific thinker and worker should be appreciated, supported, and understood. Christ Jesus constantly turned the thoughts of his disciples to God as the source of all good. "There is none good but one, that is, God," was the impersonal teaching of the Master. Christ Jesus is the perfect Exemplar. If we would be Christlike, we must follow him.

Copyright, 1932, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.