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."

Mortal mind would make us believe that in judging and condemning others we are exercising righteous judgment; whereas if we believe that man is imperfect, we may indulge in criticism or resentment. Even though the good in any individual, circumstance, or condition may, to our sense, seem to be so minute as to be barely discernible, surely our joyous task is to cling to the true concept of God's idea and to let it unfold to us in all its beauty and perfection.

We may not always see eye to eye with decisions that are made by our church boards, but by using '"spiritual discernment" we can perceive the good those in authority are endeavoring to reflect. Let us be deeply grateful for their loving service, given unselfishly, and let us acknowledge the devotion which inspires their efforts for good.

If a student of Christian Science has a problem which is not easily solved, or is faced with a condition in which the presence of good seems to be temporarily obscured by the beliefs of evil, the following experience may be helpful. Recently, one near to the writer was seriously ill. The writer was constantly tempted to believe in the reality of the disease and to fear death. The thought of trying to see good as the only condition present in man was a source of great comfort, help, and inspiration to him and contributed to the final triumph of the truth. When the relative had literally walked through "the valley of the shadow of death" (Ps. 23:4), she was restored whole.

One must not be impressed by error, but must always try to express Love, and see that this Love is expressed in good in every individual idea. In seeing only good as real, we can be obedient to the desire implicit in Mrs. Eddy's words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 206): "The real Christian Scientist is constantly accentuating harmony in word and deed, mentally and orally, perpetually repeating this diapason of heaven: 'Good is my God, and my God is good. Love is my God, and my God is Love.'"

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"WISDOM, ECONOMY, AND BROTHERLY LOVE"

November 13, 1954

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