Editorial July 23, 1949 Issue

THE CHARACTER OF MAN

Robert Ellis Key

In order to understand the true character of man we must commence our study by accepting the standard of Christ Jesus: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).

Man is perfect; but this man is not a mortal. The mortal, encompassed by limitations, fettered by faults, failures, and fears, is not the perfect or ideal man. We may turn to the Bible for a correct definition of man and read in Genesis (1:27), "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Since God created man, it logically follows that the true character of man is not finite and imperfect, but infinite and spiritual.

Mary Baker Eddy writes (The People's Idea of God, p. 7), "Scientific discovery and the inspiration of Truth have taught me that the health and character of man become more or less perfect as his mind-models are more or less spiritual." Character does not consist of the tortuous complexities of the carnal mind expressing themselves in various forms of discord, sin, and disease. Real character manifests in full measure the deep things of God, the spiritual and eternal qualities of Mind, the depth and serentiy of Soul, and the purity and perfection of Spirit.

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