The Perfect Man of God

ALICE MC CRAY MERRIELL

Paul thought it necessary to remind Timothy that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The Christian world has always used the Scriptures "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction," in so far as it knew how to do so; and yet men, as Christendom has perceived them, have remained throughout the ages far from perfect.

The revelation of Christian Science brings to the thought of mankind the fact that the golden thread of spiritual truth which runs through the Bible, from the account of the spiritual creation in the first chapter of Genesis to the inspired vision of John in Revelation, constitutes a record of the continuous effort to prove man's perfection. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 333), "Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets caught glorious glimpses of the Messiah, or Christ, which baptized these seers in the divine nature, the essence of Love." The Christ she repeatedly explains as the spiritual, perfect man,—the image of God,—the same as Paul's perfect "man of God."

Mrs. Eddy saw the continuity of this Scriptural record, and gave to the world her understanding of its usefulness in her definition of man on page 591 of Science and Health:"Man. The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." As we grow in the understanding of man as "the compound idea of infinite Spirit," we lose the false sense of man as corporeal. It is at this point that the Scripture narrative becomes to us a record of the continual working of God's law in the hearts of men, and ceases to be merely a collection of stories about individuals who were inspired above their fellows by a divine gift.

There must have been many Hebrews in Moses' following who learned, perhaps by his example, to work wonders. It is unthinkable that the good works which the Old Testament records were the only ones which might have been set down. He who raised the widow's son must have proved God's power in many lesser ways before he was able to do that work. David must have perceived the goodness of the Father in the lives of many of his contemporaries, as well as in his own life, before he wrote the songs of praise attributed to him; and surely Isaiah could not have intrusted his prophetic vision to a people who had no understanding of Spirit! And we are certain that there were "many mighty works" done by our Master and by his followers the account of which has not been left to us in writing.

We are thus led to the conclusion that what the sacred writings have preserved for our "instruction in righteousness" is an inspired selection of those precious proofs of man's likeness to God which have in some way been outstanding. The unselfed love of Joseph, the wisdom of Moses, the great faith of Joshua and Elijah, the joy which David expressed, all give us different pictures of the perfection of the Father shining in the lives of His children. Isaiah thought on spiritual things so clearly that he was able to perceive the actual fatherhood of God, and to foresee the nature of the appearance of the Christ to mankind. The works of Daniel and his three faithful brethren were truly marvelous. All these "holy men of God" proved how well they understood the great scientific fact that evil, being unreal, has no power when God's law is brought into operation.

As the great Exemplar, the Way-shower, Jesus expressed the qualities of God more perfectly and completely than had any of his predecessors. And yet Jesus himself turned repeatedly to the Old Testament Scriptures for his own spiritual refreshment, and enjoined upon his followers to do likewise, saying, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." This "me" certainly meant more to Jesus than a mere reference to his human personality; for the references to his human self are few in the older Scriptures (the only "scriptures" he knew) in comparison with the references to the perfect "man of God" who was to be the Saviour of mankind. It is the understanding of the perfection of man in God's image which regenerates, heals, saves mankind.

As we "search the scriptures," this true concept of man as "the expression of God's being" (Science and Health, p. 470) is enlarged in our consciousness, and we find the silver thread of Truth weaving an ever firmer fabric of spiritual understanding, of which the pattern is perfect God and His ever perfect man.

There is—there is—one primitive and sure
Religion pure.
Unchanged in spirit, though its forms and codes
Wear myriad modes.
Contains all creeds within its mighty span—
The love of God, displayed in love of man.

Horace Smith

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