Self-Immolation, Not Self-Effacement

MYRTLE R. BIGGINS

Some systems have taught the doctrine of self-effacement, which would blot out or erase individuality and melt identity into a common mold. Since individuality is eternal and unchanging, this teaching of self-effacement tends to develop beliefs which are pernicious, and may cause struggle, disappointment, and much suffering. It was through self-immolation that Mary Baker Eddy received her inspired discovery of Christian Science and wrote its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which exposes false teaching and liberates one through the understanding of man's true nature and character.

In "No and Yes" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 11), "Man has perpetual individuality; and God's laws, and their intelligent and harmonious action, constitute his individuality in the Science of Soul." Therefore individuality can never be effaced or obliterated. The beauty, strength, capacity, and freedom of true individuality are revealed and become more active and understandable humanly through self-immolation. In other words, self-sacrifice means the surrender of the false sense, with all its limiting beliefs, its discordant conditions, its pains, aches, diseases, hatreds, envy, and revenge; the surrender of all those beliefs that engender fear, belief in weariness, poverty, old age, and failure, in exchange for the boundless benefits that come proportionably to one's awakening to true selfhood.

This scientific method of being reborn through self-immolation does not mean a relinquishment of individuality, an effacement of selfhood, whereby one's thought becomes insipid and characterless. "Scientific growth," writes Mrs. Eddy in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 206), "manifests no weakness, no emasculation, no illusive vision, no dreamy absentness, no insubordination to the laws that be, no loss nor lack of what constitutes true manhood."

The demonstrated power expressed by Christ Jesus made him the most eminent among men. It so enhanced his character that today, almost two thousand years after his personal ministry, it is a vital influence. He exemplified intelligence, wisdom, capability, and resourcefulness in daily life. Because of his humanity, the natural manifestation of the Christ, his words and works live today. And this was attained through self-immolation. He said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me;" "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me;" "The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." He surrendered the human will to the divine will, and so found available in his life the unlimited possibilities, strength, and power of his divine source or Principle, which we commonly know as God.

That only can be effaced which is false and has no real existence, such as the beliefs of self-aggrandizement, self-importance, self-ease, and self-righteousness, errors which had no part in the true selfhood expressed by our Master. They were effaced by his sublime self-immolation.

The word "immolate" is defined, in part, as "to offer in sacrifice." Effacement means "a blotting out, an obliteration." Where in history do we learn of one who achieved valiantly through self-effacement, self-obliteration?

In the Bible story of Esther, as related in the book that bears her name, we read of the strength and courage she expressed through self-immolation. To intercede with the king for the deliverance of her people, against whom a decree of death had been signed by him, necessitated her taking a step which was contrary to the law of that time. It required a great self-sacrifice on her part—a surrender of self to the cause of her people. Yet she was willing to take the step, even though it might mean the loss of her own life. That she was well aware of possible consequences to herself is shown by her words, "And so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." This could have been done only through self-immolation. Certainly it could never have been done through self-effacement.

As is always the case when one lays down a false sense of self, Esther proved that untold spiritual power supports a right action, and brings results that to human sense may seem impossible.

When carnal beliefs reach their limit, they disappear. Nothingness is their end, for they destroy themselves, and so are totally extinguished. Carnality, wherever expressed, is hastening to its own extermination. On the other hand, self-immolation, the surrendering of human beliefs for spiritual facts, reveals the character and nature of the divine Mind, whereby human thought becomes illumined and rises ever higher unto boundless possibilities, which constantly unfold as beautiful and invincible. Laying down the human will for the divine, one learns of his God-given ability and strength, and finds his capabilities enlarged and perfected. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 317), "The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death."

Self-effacement would try to blot out all that reveals the individuality which "makes man more real, more formidable in truth." Self-immolation reveals, develops, and makes understandable true individuality, and proves progressively in human experience that it is superior to every carnal belief of limitation and imperfection.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Now is the day of salvation"

May 11, 1940

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit