Christ Jesus was able to heal instantly because of his spirituality. He was so conscious of his oneness with His Father, God, Spirit, that he could detect immediately the falsity of whatever was ungodlike. To him, disease and sin were false suggestions. And he knew the infinite power of Spirit to overcome such suggestions. They were ungodlike and therefore unreal.

A desire to gain spirituality aligns thought with Truth and its infinite power. Since Spirit and matter are opposites, such desire necessarily includes the willingness to put off materiality. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, page 295, "The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality—much error—in order to become a better transparency for Truth."

When Truth appears in human consciousness, error disappears. Therefore as we overcome our belief in the reality of matter, we are able to bear witness to the truth that destroys disease and sin.

Healing in Christian Science comes through absolute metaphysics. When applied to a human problem, the understanding of man as the pure reflection of divine Love acts as law to destroy the belief that man can commit adultery, and it changes human thinking and behavior from vice to virtue. But who can clearly enough understand the purity of man's being to bring about such changes? The Bible asks the question this way (Ps. 24:3): "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?" And it answers, "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart." Spiritual understanding is more than morality, but one cannot understand divine law without obeying the requirements of this law as typified by the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Sometimes the objection is raised that in stating the metaphysics of Christian Science we are not absolute enough. It is argued that since God, Mind, knows no material sense, we need not mention this sense in explaining how to heal disease because an explanation of spiritual reality, perfect God and perfect man, is sufficient. Such an argument is one of mortal mind's attempts to destroy Christian Science, and, more specifically, to rob the student of his ability to heal.

This ability comes from actual, not assumed, spiritual-mindedness. To see the nothingness of a belief in matter, one must practice the moral as well as the spiritual laws which lift one above this belief. And one's moral behavior is one indication of how thoroughly he has done this.

An understanding of man as the image of Truth will enable one to heal a case of dishonesty. But how can one honestly declare that man is the image of Truth unless he has made an honest effort to practice the honesty which expresses Truth? An understanding that there is but one Mind and that man reflects this Mind will enable one to heal intellectual pride, which may in turn result in the healing of a disease caused by such pride. If one is cherishing pride in his personal ability to think clearly, his assertions of the oneness and allness of Mind will not be as effective as they should be.

In order to see spiritually, one must climb "the hill of the Lord." This requires moral progress— better and better living of the laws which are based upon the allness of Spirit and the nothingness of matter. The earnest desire; to live above material beliefs and the practice of this desire by persistent effort to improve moral thought and behavior practically constitute a declaration of absolute Truth which is genuine. Such a declaration is effective in meeting the needs of the moment.

Good morals are always commendable. They help build constructive relationships with others, and they build a sound society. The message of Christian Science, however, in regard to morals is that they are inseparable from the truth that Spirit is All and matter is nothing. It is this truth that reveals the basis of the moral law. Without it, this law may seem to become impracticable.

Human standards may seem to change; and if we believe in such change, we are liable to believe that morals must change to keep up with the times. But through Science we can see the changeless, eternal Christ, Truth, and we can see that this Truth can be understood only as we live in accordance with the laws which Christ has revealed to mankind throughout moral history.

If we would gain an understanding of absolute metaphysics, we must begin with perfection. But to do so we must demonstrate our desire for perfection by admitting our own moral errors and correcting them. By understanding the material basis of all error and the nothingness of matter, we feel the strength of Truth helping us to overcome whatever does not express perfection. As we are faithful in these things, we attain the heights of spirituality from which we can actually see the presence of perfection where imperfection appears to be. And this vision destroys both disease and sin.

Carl J. Welz