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.

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 191), "The brain can give no idea of God's man." This idea must then appear through spiritual knowing or right mental activity. Were we to refuse to be fearful every time fear presents itself, knowing that nothing but good is real, we should naturally become fearless. And what would happen to fear? It would cease to be a part of our consciousness. Its power to frighten would be destroyed, because we firmly refused to recognize it as having any power. The right activity of God's man includes no fear; therefore, fearless spiritual knowing is our right activity.

Likewise, were we to refuse to be sinful, whenever the temptation to sin presented itself, knowing that evil is unreal, we should consequently overcome sin. Sin would depart from our consciousness, because our mental door would admit only the good and pure thoughts which come from God. Seeing the spiritual fact and acting only in accordance with goodness and purity is our right activity.

Man is the full expression of God, spiritual and perfect. No error that would declare its power to destroy man or his perfect activity can find a way into spiritual consciousness. Whether it be the suggestion of fear or sin, disease or death, discord or decay, every one of these, in the light of the infinitude of Mind, is found to be nothing. Man, then, is not found in philosophical ideals of human doctrine; he is the full and complete representation of divine Mind, always acting with errorless intelligence and always dwelling in the purity of real being.

As we practice more of this spiritually right activity, and see more and more what God's man is, we find what in reality we are. We cannot see our true selfhood in any other way. Human intellect can never understand God, because God is Spirit and must be spiritually understood. No human theory or doctrine can reach spiritual understanding, since that state of thought is above and beyond the limits of human reasoning. All of which means that we must utilize our God-given talents in everyday practice, progressing steadily, with increasing enlightenment, and following in the light that leads into all Truth.

When we are seeing man as he is, we are no longer seeing the "old man" which Paul said must be "put off," but we are seeing the "new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Seeing man as God's spiritual idea dispels the mesmeric claim that man is material and subject to the whims of error. Injury, disease, death are unknown to spiritual consciousness and cannot hinder spiritual activity. God's man is free, at peace, governed by divine Principle. He is forever expressing Life, Truth, and Love in the infinite realm of Spirit.

Thus the true concept of God's man appears in our consciousness as we rule out and refuse to accept the so-called laws of mortal mind. This refusal is a necessary step in Christian Science. We must accept the demands, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate;" and, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." The process of this renaissance is certainly not beyond our capacity to understand or to carry out. In contrast, it is a loving process, requiring childlike faith and meekness. Neither is the way laborious, but joyful rather, as we steadfastly follow in the footsteps of Truth. And as we lay aside the human concept of man, Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 246) that "the radiance of Spirit should dawn upon the enraptured sense with bright and imperishable glories."