Strange as it may seem, human freedom is not free. One has to pay a price for it. Should one not be willing to do so, he would be claiming the right to think, speak, or act as he pleases and would be calling that freedom which is nothing but license. This false sense of freedom would sooner or later deprive him of any freedom. But Mrs. Eddy states in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 297), "Trust Truth, not error; and Truth will give you all that belongs to the rights of freedom."

From a human standpoint, the minimum price an individual must pay for freedom is a willingness to assume the personal responsibilities that go with it, a willingness to submit oneself voluntarily to whatever personal discipline is necessary to warrant one's having it. Freedom without such discipline would lead inevitably to enforced discipline without freedom. Instances of this are not hard to find. One must be worthy of being free; otherwise he forfeits his right to freedom.

For example, freedom to use a public highway requires that one conform to certain rules and regulations. One must assume a driver's responsibility. His freedom must not endanger the freedom of others. To be free under the law is not to be free to violate the law. The same is true of freedom of speech. "Justice and truth make man free, injustice and error enslave him," our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes on page 10 of "The People's Idea of God."

Christ Jesus had something of importance to say about freedom, and it has limitless implications. He told his listeners that they could be free if they would continue in his word. It was not enough merely to call themselves his disciples. This would not make them free. They were persistently to submit themselves and their lives to the truth he taught and demonstrated. Then they would be his disciples. Only in this way would they be able to know the truth that would make them free. He declared (John 8:36), "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

If we take this counsel to ourselves, we shall see that freedom in its highest sense is to be found only in man's oneness with God through Christ, the Son of God. Demonstrating this freedom, we are able to think, speak, and act as divine Principle directs. Such freedom applies even to the practical and important matter of abiding by governmental regulations.

Jesus demonstrated freedom in the tomb and so proved man's continuing identity. Freedom from every deceptive phase of evil is available to anyone who with understanding and humility will claim it as a son of God. But this requires responding to the divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). We have the ability to demonstrate spiritual perfection because our true selfhood, derived from God, is perfect now and always. This means that we can and ultimately shall overcome every false claim of sin and mortality through understanding God.

What appears to be such a mortal is merely a misconception of our true being. We can be perfect if we will repudiate the false claim that we are mortals and identify ourselves with such immortal and incorruptible qualities of Soul as integrity, selflessness, purity, spiritual understanding. Then it will not be the case of an imperfect mortal becoming perfect, it will be the perfect child of God appearing right where a mortal seems to be. In fact, this is the ultimate of Christian salvation, and we do not have to die in order to experience it.

Freedom to depend upon spiritual means for healing is important to Christian Scientists. This freedom is granted in many countries, not only because it is right but because Christian Scientists have proved that they can be depended upon to fulfill the responsibilities that this freedom imposes upon them. One of these is the responsibility to practice Christian Science in accord with its rules, rules that bring human thought into harmony with the creative and redemptive power of God, divine Mind.

Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 483): "We classify disease as error, which nothing but Truth or Mind can heal, and this Mind must be divine, not human. Mind transcends all other power, and will ultimately supersede all other means in healing." Then she adds, "In order to heal by Science, you must not be ignorant of the moral and spiritual demands of Science nor disobey them. Moral ignorance or sin affects your demonstration, and hinders its approach to the standard in Christian Science."

There is a price to be paid for the freedom needed to make healing by spiritual means universally acceptable. Freedom to depend wholly on God for healing comes to us through realizing that "Mind transcends all other power, and will ultimately supersede all other means in healing." Such realization enables us to declare with confidence: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear" (Ps. 46:1,2).

The freedom to be well, whole, complete, is man's spiritual heritage. We find and possess this freedom as we submit completely to the divine will, which is always good. This discipline is the price we must pay for such freedom.

Ralph E. Wagers