Editorial March 27, 1995 Issue

Man is not a failure

Richard C. Bergenheim

Unfortunately, the phrase "I'm a failure" is not uncommon. This feeling is sparked by all kinds of things: being fired from a job or unable to find one, a divorce, flunking one's courses at school, uncontrolled drinking, serving time in jail, and so on. Do you realize that the most important thing for anyone to do when assailed by this feeling is to rise in protest against it? Man, the beloved of God, is not a failure. The resources of God are unfailing, and the reforming and regenerating power of Christ never fails.

This uncovers an important point that Christian Science teaches: An understanding of God reveals man's true worth, for man is God's own likeness. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy explains, "God is at once the centre and circumference of being" (pp. 203–204). Sooner or later everyone will discover the spiritual fact that man's life comes forth from God and is designed to glorify Him. God's man is not a sinner; he is not a loser; he is not a failure. Man is endowed by God, infinite Mind, with intelligence, ability, and the power to act rightly. When we accept God as the very center of our life, we are able to draw more fully on the resources He gives us. Man is animated and directed by God. Divine Mind leads us in fruitful paths. Our life does not call forth pity or anger from God; it expresses His approval and love.

Have you stopped to think of the fact that you are approved of God, that you are His idea, created in His likeness? This spiritual fact was a central point in Christ Jesus' teaching and preaching. Jesus' atonement served to reconcile man to God and, in so doing, revealed man's true, spiritual selfhood. The Master worked to break the delusion that man is fallen, sinful by nature, and therefore unable to achieve good. He urged upon individuals the fact that man is born of Spirit, of infinite good, not of the flesh. His atonement revealed that men and women can overcome the flesh with all its angers, hates, lusts, and limitations. He showed that through God's grace we can recover our natural spiritual status as the sons of God.

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