"PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE"

LAURA MC GEE POWELL

The mission of Christ Jesus was to reveal the Science of being. He proved that God, divine Love, is man's life and that true being—harmonious, continuous, coexistent with God—is above mortal condition or circumstance. He demonstrated that God is the loving Father-Mother of all spiritual creation and that all men in their true selfhood are His children. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 256), "Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man." In defining God, Mrs. Eddy uses seven synonyms: Principle, Mind, Spirit, Soul, Life, Truth, Love. These synonyms indicate the wholeness of Deity and show forth different aspects of His nature, but all of them point to one perfect Father-Mother, man's only parent. God's beloved child, therefore, inherits and embodies the qualities of his Father-Mother God.

We read in the Bible that "God created man is his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27). It follows that man, governed by Principle, manifests fearlessness, poise, control, dependability. As the son of Soul he is an individual spiritual idea, aware only of perfection, steadfastness, and grace. Because he is the offspring of Spirit, man's conception is unconfined; he is ever conscious that his being is spiritual, not material. As the immediate object of Mind he reflects wisdom, intelligence, understanding. As the idea of Truth he is sinless, truthful, and upright. Because he is made in the image and likeness of Life, he manifests true activity, health, joy, vigor, energy, and strength. Man, as the child of Love, is ever blessed and cared for; he is lovable, tender, and just. Thus it is seen that that which constitutes man's selfhood and individuality is the manifestation of spiritually mental qualities, not materiality.

Erring mortal belief argues to the contrary, claiming that man is a mortal, material being, a sinner striving for perfection. But there is no dualism in divine metaphysics. Christian Science teaches us that it is most important to recognize and realize that there are not two kinds of man. Man functions as idea, not physique. He is constituted of right ideas, and these ideas are ageless and painless, as unaffected by matter and its vagaries as is God Himself. Therefore, man is not an incomplete human being striving for perfection, a sick man becoming well, or a sinner reaching out for reform.

At one time a student of Christian Science faced a very trying situation in her business career because of the opposition that was expressed against a woman's advancing in the banking field. She earnestly prayed to be shown the right course to take. When she began to glimpse the fact that she was the child of the Father-Mother God, having by spiritual reflection all that God gives, she was awakened to recognize that it is real manhood which expresses freedom, strength, wisdom, dependability, fearlessness, and real womanhood which manifests justice, tenderness, purity, gentleness. During further prayerful study the student's thought dwelt on these words in Science and Health (p. 249): "Let the 'male and female' of God's creating appear." She saw clearly that she was fully equipped by God to be His witness and that the only man is His perfect creation. She saw further that God created man to show forth His nature, the allness, completeness, and perfection of Spirit. A great sense of calm and courage flooded her consciousness, and she was able to discharge the duties assigned to her with joy and confidence. Soon she was placed in a position that had previously been denied her. With the promotion came added compensation and bright promises for future advancement, which have since been abundantly fulfilled.

Peter's declaration (II Pet. 1: 2-4), "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature," was demonstrated in some measure by this student of Christian Science, who found that God's promises are indeed kept. Nothing can prevent spiritual facts from being manifested, for man expresses all the qualities of his Father-Mother God.

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