Article May 29, 1954 Issue

SPIRITUAL DOMINION

MIRIAM HAND DOUGLAS

Spiritual dominion manifests the Christ in action. It has nothing to do with material sense testimony, though it is felt in human consciousness as power. Besides power, its outstanding qualities are authority and control. Thus the spiritual dominion expressed by the Christ is not found in a passive attitude but in one of active adherence to divine Principle.

Paul admonished us to stand fast in this dominion. He wrote (Gal. 5:1), "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Our ability to stand fast comes from our recognition and acceptance of the Christ as man's divine nature. In the beginning, God did not bestow dominion on a mortal, but He did bestow it on His Son, His idea, made in His image and likeness. This Son is known as the Christ, Deity's concept of man. Then to manifest spiritual dominion at all times and under all circumstances, we must learn to know more of the Christ and see ourselves as God knows us. It requires faith in and understanding of both the Master's and our Leader's portrayal of the Christ; and it demands that we find ourselves in Spirit, that we give up the ghost of materiality for our spiritual selfhood.

First of all, it is important to see that the Christ is incorporeal, without materiality. It cannot be measured by so-called material manifestations. Hence there is no need to look for Christ in a material body. Mary Baker Eddy is emphatic on this point. Writing in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" she states (p. 260): "Christ is incorporeal. Neither the you nor the I in the flesh can be or is Christ."

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