Article September 26, 1942 Issue

Seeing God's Man

EDWARD EVERETT MC KENNA

A Student who had received the intellectual training of an advanced college education experienced difficulty in fathoming the teachings of Christian Science. His scholastic background had instilled in his consciousness many human concepts about man which he regarded as invariable truths, but which he found were completely refuted in his study of Christian Science. To bring these conflicting thoughts together in some doctrinal form satisfactory to his way of thinking seemed impossible, consequently he became confused and discouraged.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states in "Science andHealth with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 286), "To seek Truth through belief in a human doctrine is not to understand the infinite." This student learned that he must lay aside all human formulas and doctrines as methods through which to "understand the infinite"; that there can be no compromise with human concepts. An understanding of the teachings of Christian Science, he found, must come through their practical demonstration in everyday experience, not through accepting them as a beautiful theory. Thus, as honest dealings express honest thinking, it follows that spiritually scientific thinking leads unerringly to scientific demonstration.

When we have the right perception of Truth, we become active in demonstrating the nature of God's man. Perception is mental action or apprehension; right thinking is right activity. Christian Scientists are active in demonstrating the nature of God's man, not inactive in merely thinking about it. If we are thus rightly active in thinking and living, we are about our "Father's business," expressing Life. If we are merely thinking about God's man, we are not actively living the truth. As wages come to him who labors, so spiritual blessings come to him who puts his spiritual understanding to work demonstrating the Science of being. Then let us not have a "faith without works," but on the contrary faith that works, and works in and through everything we do. In this manner shall we see the real man.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Let not your heart be troubled"