Editorial May 4, 1935 Issue

Naturalness

Violet Ker Seymer

For anything to be natural it must be spiritual, harmonious, and everlasting. "Good is divinely natural. Evil is unnatural; it has no origin in the nature of God, and He is the Father of all" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 288). The truth in Mrs. Eddy's statement points the way of redemption from disease, sinful traits, or other handicaps, all of which are due to ignorance of God; and ignorance is causeless. These errors not being included in the nature of God or man, the power of Truth destroys them as this power is understood and applied. Throughout the spiritual creation God's law of primal perfection is in perpetual operation, and this law annuls the counterfeit law of materiality which claims to restrict and penalize humanity.

The mission of Christ Jesus was to open the eyes of mortals to the abnormality and impotence of evil, and to the naturalness and omnipotence of good. He condoned neither sin nor disease, for primal good triumphantly asserted itself in his healing ministry. Jesus had to face the antagonism of the carnal mind, utterly opposed to his spirituality. Hence Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 20), "Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal belief, and 'with his stripes [the rejection of error] we are healed.'" Humanity in general regards sickness and afflication as stripes to be endured; but the great Metaphysician rejected sin, disease, and death for himself and others. He vanquished evil by abiding in the consciousness of good. His confidence in the workings of the one Mind, his spiritual sureness, enabled him to cast out the demons of discord. He knew that none need submit to sin and suffering if only they would cherish the love of good and trust its power as he did. Our Leader points out that "it was the consummate naturalness of Truth in the mind of Jesus, that made his healing easy and instantaneous" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 200).

Today equally, mental, moral, and physical evil must be faced as the Master faced it, with scientific rejection. The naturalness of good must permeate the consciousness of the Christian Scientist, for from this basis only can he be fruitful in good works, and teach others to cease regarding suffering and helplessness as inevitable, or indirectly desirable because of their alleged chastening influence. The spiritual enlightenment which Christian Science offers brings out more good, more righteousness, health, and happiness in one illumined hour than does the long chastisement imposed by material sense. Frequently, in fact, one hears of false appetites and physical suffering vanishing from human thought "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," through the influence of Christian Science.

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