Humility not Humiliation

Albert F. Gilmore

The quality of humility is a prerequisite to spiritual progress; it is the opposite to egotism, its antonym. Whereas egotism would exalt personality—the false sense of selfhood—humility depreciates this sense until it finally disappears as the true man, in God's image, appears. Mrs. Eddy says of this quality on page 1 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity. The mounting sense gathers fresh forms and strange fire from the ashes of dissolving self, and drops the world." Dissolving the false sense of self, the belief in material personality as man, is a necessary step toward the gaining of that humility without which spiritual progress is impossible.

How important that we gain the understanding which is the handmaid of humility! Christian progress depends upon it. Why? Because we can never envisage God's likeness, the image of Spirit, while holding to the belief of a mortal as man; and to become conscious of the spiritual facts of being, of the truth about God and man, is the Christian's paramount necessity. Therefore, the more rapidly we dissolve the false sense of self, the more quickly shall we come into our divine heritage.

The most outstanding example of true humility in all time is that of the Nazarene. Of all men the most humble, he was of all men the mightiest. He so thoroughly dissolved the false material sense of man that the spiritual and perfect stood forth as the handiwork of God, complete, perfect, indestructible. The Master's humility was beyond the comprehension of his foes. They had no more understanding of its quality and meaning than they had of the purpose of his mission. How great the abyss between the quality of humility and meekness he exhibited and humiliation, which results from pride abased! The former is indeed a steppingstone to greater heights: the latter is a valley of despondency accompanying the hurt which comes to pride and egotism when its qualities are exposed and its ambitions thwarted.

Humiliation invariably attaches to a false sense of man. It relates to the belief that a mortal is man, to be made something of, to be exalted and honored and, conversely, to be abased and cast down. The remedy for this false sense is to gain the spiritual idea, the true sense of man. When this is gained and man is seen as the son of God, possessing by reflection all the divine qualities, egotism gives place to humility. Christ Jesus, mighty in his ability, to demonstrate the divine power to destroy the false material sense, could declare in the deepest humility, "I can of mine own self do nothing," "The Father ... he doeth the works." Of himself, humanly speaking, he was impotent. But as he looked to God, the Father, with scientific understanding, he became potent in limitless measure. Jesus' most relentless foes were powerless before his unprecedented humility, the meekness which recognized the allness of God.

None can truly follow in the footsteps of the Master except in humility. The false sense of man, the egotism which exalts personality, is the stumblingblock to spiritual progress. The acme of its conceit is expressed in the cynical saying about a mortal, a person specially given to egotism, "He is self-made and proud of his maker."

How often do we see pride of accomplishment flaunt itself to the utter submersion of the gentle quality of humility! Yet, let us be assured that might, true accomplishment, real worthiness, are its sure companions; without it all worthiness is unavailing. How high in the categories of human virtue did our Leader place humility! Hear her words! On page 354 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Experience shows that humility is the first step in Christian Science, wherein all is controlled, not by man or laws material, but by wisdom, Truth, and Love." Should we not take this first step with joy, expectant of new revelations of man's true character as the son of God? What reason is there for hesitation? Exalting the false sense of man, a material personality, will never clarify our concept of man. Rather does it confirm us in the belief of a mortal as man. Hence our constant need is to lay hold more firmly of the spiritual idea, man, since by this means the false concept lessens its seeming reality until it disappears, as darkness fades when light appears.

True humility, genuine and deep, is a foretaste of heaven. It has no quality of abasement, since it exalts God's handiwork. Humiliation, on the other hand, invariably arises from a false concept of man, which may be abased or dishonored. Humiliation gives way to humility before the growing assurance that man as God's handiwork is perfect now, and can never be otherwise. The Scriptures declare: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God." The outcome of this recognition is true humility.

Albert F. Gilmore

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