Man's Inalienable Rights
In Christ Jesus' prophecy of wars and uprisings, he foretold the abrogation of individual rights which accompanies attacks by the seeming forces of evil. He indicated that rumor and treachery would be partly responsible. But he also promised that to the righteous the Word of God would be an instantly available defense. He said, "Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." Many of his followers have effectively silenced the arguments of evil with the Word of God, Truth.
The Declaration of Independence proved the power of true thought and speech, supported by simple faith in God. In an address on July 4, 1897, Mary Baker Eddy set forth the higher expression of freedom that spiritual understanding of God supplies. She said, in part (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 251 ), "To-day we commemorate not only our nation's civil and religious freedom, but a greater even, the liberty of the sons of God, the inalienable rights and radiant reality of Christianity." In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 106 ) Mrs. Eddy states, "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience."
True self-government is the result of understanding true selfhood and true government. True selfhood is spiritual man, the likeness of Spirit, God, evidenced in spiritual ideas, which include perfection, dominion, intelligence, life. The expression of true selfhood constitutes citizenship in the kingdom of God. Man's inalienable spiritual rights are secured by allegiance to the government of God. God's government is characterized by law and order, by intelligence, peace, power, permanence, reality, infinity. Through Christian Science we learn to express God's government, and this expression is a guarantee of freedom and safety even in the midst of the most aggressive and erroneous perversions of true government.
Reason is a faculty commonly associated with the so-called human mind, but Christian Science shows that true reasoning is from spiritual premises. Truly, right reasoning recognizes but one cause, God, Spirit, and one effect, the spiritual universe, including spiritual man. Propaganda, rumor, and panic are unreasoning and illogical. Those who exercise intelligent reason are not misled by them.
Are Christian Scientists today aware of the opportunity and obligation to defend the divine rights of man? Are they prepared to meet this great moral responsibility? Conscience, one of the inalienable rights, is closely allied with right reasoning. A sense of moral obligation is invariably dormant where mortal mind's false reasoning prevails. True conscience is progressive. It repudiates outgrown material beliefs and quickens right activity. It destroys apathy and a false sense of security. Enlightened conscience is effectively manifested in greater kindness, integrity, moderation, hope, faith, humility, mercy.
But at a time when oppression, war, disease, and other forms of evil seem rampant, one may wonder where man's inalienable rights are secure. Since they are God-bestowed, they are inseparable from God, and their practical demonstration in individual experience is possible now and here.
The aggressive carnal so-called mind argues that accident, attack, or disaster can annul man's inalienable rights. But the so-called carnal mind is impotent. It has no legitimate voice and no power of thought transference. We do not have to submit to aggressive evil. Safety is the result of dependence upon divine Providence, God. It is entirely apart from chance, luck, or fortune, which are mistaken material beliefs. By vigorously exercising "self-government, reason, and conscience" we can successfully defend ourselves from arguments of accident, disaster, and destruction, and demonstrate harmony.
A family on a motor trip expressed gratitude for the inspiration and blessings of Christian Science. Later, as they were singing hymns, they suddenly came upon an obscured railroad crossing. There were no automatic signals, and the crossing was not observed until the automobile was within thirty feet of it. Then there came to one of the party instant awareness of an onrushing train. The warning was given, and the car stopped in the shadow of the train as it roared by at more than sixty miles an hour. It is certainly evident that neither reason, conscience, nor self-government would lead one into the path of a speeding locomotive. It is man's inalienable right to be free from error. It is equally apparent, therefore, that spiritual defense from accident or disaster is inherent in the understanding and expression of spiritual good.
As related in the twentieth chapter of II Chronicles, the singing of praises to God was Judah's effective defense against attack. The counsel was, "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's, but God's." This did not mean supine waiting for a so-called miracle. Nor did it mean the relaxation of vigilance. Instead, the men of Judah were counseled to go out against their enemies. The initiative should always be on the side of Truth. Primary reliance was placed on God, for Jehoshaphat sent singers before the army to "praise the beauty of holiness" and to sing, "Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever." This resolute reliance upon the Word of God brought about the complete confusion and self-destruction of their enemies.
Spiritual realization of "the glorious liberty of the children of God" is possible to all who seek it in consecration and demonstrate man's oneness with God, Mind. True self-government can never be abridged; right reasoning cannot be stampeded; conscience cannot be compromised. How reassuring is the realization that these spiritual rights are established and may be surely defended through dependence upon and expression of divine Mind!
