Article November 13, 1954 Issue

SEEING ONLY GOOD AS REAL

FREDERICK G. A. WILLIAMS

Christian Science reveals that God is infinite, ever-present good. It teaches also that the true concept of man is the perfect reflection of God. It follows, therefore, that man, the true image and likeness of God, can be seen only through the employment of that spiritual sense of sight which Mary Baker Eddy gives on page 586 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in her definition of "eyes" as "spiritual discernment,—not material but mental." In the demonstration of this true sight we see as real only that which reflects Spirit, God, good. As this view of God and man becomes clearer to our thought through the understanding of the teachings of Christian Science, we discern the good expressed by neighbor, church member, or business associate.

As we endeavor to dwell on the good we can see in our human relationships or conditions and attribute it to its source, God, we gradually enlarge our understanding, and experience God's perfect law of good until we become more conscious of the reality of good alone. Christ Jesus saw good in its absolute reality. Mrs. Eddy points out this important fact in Science and Health in the following passage (pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." By striving to follow the example of our Master we can help, perhaps more than we know, to destroy the seeming power of wrong influence, which is seen in greed, oppression, and other unlovely traits.

It is not, of course, intended that evil should be ignored, or that it should not be condemned and destroyed; for Christian Scientists are specifically instructed by Mrs. Eddy always to defend themselves against wrong influence. But we best do this by separating any belief of evil from our concept of man and admitting as real only God's image and likeness. In this man there is only good. Christian Science opens our eyes to the good now present in the kingdom of God, which is within us. In return for the desire and effort to express and see this good, we shall be blessed with good seeing. Even in human experience, there is always some virtue, some good, over which we can rejoice. In our hourly seeking and magnifying of good, we shall attain the spiritual outlook which is really the expression of that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

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