Article March 8, 1947 Issue

"Loose him, and let him go"

[Original Article in German]

ILSE VON BINZER

When Jesus raised Lazarus of Bethany from the dead, he said (John 11:44), "Loose him, and let him go." Many Biblical events and statements have not only a factual significance with regard to the occurrence in question, but also a spiritual meaning which is timeless. Thus the words of Christ Jesus may be taken to signify, Recognize that man lives, never dies, and goes on living; loose him from any other sense of being.

It is very important that we be consistent in obeying this admonition. We must loose each one of our fellow men from the false material beliefs that would bind him to sin, sickness, and death, and let him go. Wherever we observe error, either of a physical or of a mental nature, we must realize that it is no part of man, but merely a fictitious belief, not a person; for the only real Person is God, infinite Person, whose perfection man individually reflects. Hence any error which seems to adhere to us is no part of our true spiritual individuality.

We are apt to confuse individuality with mortal personality, erroneously believing that we can be and do something of ourselves, separate from God. This false view of man as a mortal person leads us to believe that our neighbor's sickness, our friend's lack of supply, or another's ugly trait of character is something personal. We have compassion with one afflicted with sickness and try to console him and bring him relief. We should do the same for one in want. But as soon as we perceive unlovely qualities in others, we are apt not only to do nothing to help them gain their freedom from these false beliefs, but more often than not to resort to destructive criticism. In such self-righteous reaction, by feeling hurt or offended, we nail the unlovely characteristic fast to our mistaken concept of our fellow man, instead of emphatically and lovingly realizing that the error is no part of man's only true being.

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