The Perfection of Man

Duncan Sinclair

The teaching of Christian Science with regard to man is of the greatest importance. Mortals think of man as partially material and partially spiritual, a more or less reasonable being who is born into the world, lives there for a number of years, and then passes away. Some believe that his life is limited to the space between human birth and death, and that it is determined largely by matter and its so-called laws. Others surmise that although his life begins at birth, it does not end with death, but goes on thereafter—even eternally.

What is the teaching of Christian Science with regard to man? The question will best be answered by first of all gaining an understanding of what it teaches about God; for unless one knows something very definite about God, he cannot know anything about the real nature of man. Christian Science then, teaches that God is infinite Spirit, and that He is the cause of all that really exists. In other words, God and His creation alone exist. And since God is Spirit, His creation must be spiritual. Moreover, since God is perfect, His creation must likewise be perfect. Furthermore, since individual man exists, he must be part of God's creation, and, therefore, be spiritual and perfect.

The conclusions of Christian Science on the perfection of God's creation, including individual man, cannot be refuted. If God is Spirit and perfect,—and to deny that He is would be tantamount to denying His existence,—then God's creation must be like Him, a conclusion entirely in agreement with these words, to be found in the first chapter of Genesis: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." Thus, when Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 475), "Man is spiritual and perfect; and because he is spiritual and perfect, he must be so understood in Christian Science," she is in complete accord with the description of the real or spiritual man given in the Elohistic record of creation in the Bible.

While the Christian Scientist is convinced of the truth about man as Christian Science reveals it, he is well aware of the great gulf which seems to exist between the real man—God's idea or image—and so-called mortal man. And it is his steadfast endeavor never for a moment to admit that man is other than spiritual and perfect; never for a moment to acknowledge that so-called mortal man has any real existence whatsoever, thus striving to fulfill the commandment of Christ Jesus, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

An understanding of the perfection of man is indispensable in the healing of sick humanity. Unless, indeed, one is in possession of this understanding, he cannot hope to bring release to those laboring under the belief that man is imperfect and subject to evil. Our Leader says in Science and Health (p. 259), "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." It is on the basis of the perfection of God and man, and entirely on that basis, that healings are wrought in Christian Science.

From what has been said it will be apparent that in reality nothing needs healing, since God and His creation, man, are perfect. In Christian Science practice this should never be forgotten. The whole effort of the Christian Scientist in dealing with disease is to awaken the patient out of the illusion into which he seems to have temporarily fallen. He holds before the thought of the one who is sick the absolute truth of the perfection of God and man, and strives to convince him of this truth. As the latter perceives it, he awakes out of the dream, or is healed. And there is no reason why the awaking should not be instantaneous.

The method of healing the sick practiced in Christian Science is the method used by Christ Jesus, who neither diagnosed so-called disease from its material symptoms, nor prescribed material remedies to heal it. He knew the truth about the perfection of God and man, and the truth destroyed the error of belief. In the Christian Science textbook (pp. 476, 477) these words occur: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." His was a wonderful method, because it was the divine method. How profoundly grateful we should be that it has again been revealed to the world through Christian Science!

Duncan Sinclair

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