Editorial October 1, 1966 Issue

Rule Out Self-justification

Helen Wood Bauman

Self-justification is a more subtle fault than one might think. It is human nature to give excuses for one's sins and their consequences or for one's untoward experiences. But self-justification is wrong because it defends evil instead of exterminating it; and this delays salvation from evil. Christian Science places self-justification in the degree of "Depravity," given in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" where Mary Baker Eddy sets forth three stages of thought as it rises above the carnal to the spiritual. In this lowest degree we find self-justification tucked in between depraved will and pride—very poor company, indeed.^{Science and Health, p. 115;}

Job wanted to justify himself to God when trouble came upon him, but in his abject misery he saw that this was useless. He said, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."^{Job 9:20;}

Job considered himself innocent, and he appealed to God to explain his suffering. The only answer he received was God's revelation of His own power and the marvel of His creation. Then Job was convinced of God's love and wisdom, and he humbly acknowledged his lack of understanding. He lost his pride regarding his innocence and repented of his ignorance. He realized that divine justice is higher than human reason. He declared: "I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not....I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."^{42:3, 5;} Through spiritual perception of the magnitude of Deity, Job found his freedom from the limitations of human belief. His health and possessions were then restored to him.

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