Claiming Man's Divine Rights

ALEC B. MURRAY

In her book "Retrospection and Introspection" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 21), "It is well to know, dear reader, that our material, mortal history is but the record of dreams, not of man's real existence, and the dream has no place in the Science of being." And farther on she says, "Mere historic incidents and personal events are frivolous and of no moment, unless they illustrate the ethics of Truth."

So much of importance from the standpoint of material history is being enacted at present that the alert student of Christian Science watches carefully that he does not give first place either in thought or in conversation to the merely human aspects of any event. As this is written both press and radio have been directing thought to courts of justice, to trials and sentences. Just how can events of material history teach us valuable spiritual lessons? Let us turn to the allegorical account of what is often called "the trial scene," which begins on page 430 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. Some readers, not realizing the very practical value of this allegory, may be inclined to treat it casually. A careful study of it, however, will uncover profound spiritual truths.

In substance it presents the case of a man on trial in the Court of Error, charged with sickness. He is tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death. He appeals the sentence and permission is granted for a trial in the Court of Spirit, where Christian Science appears as counsel in his defense. The Chief Justice concludes his charge in these words (pp. 441, 442): "We have no trials for sickness before the tribunal of divine Spirit. There, Man is adjudged innocent of transgressing physical laws, because there are no such laws. Our statute is spiritual, our Government is divine. 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?'" Thereupon the prisoner is found by the jury of Spiritual Senses not guilty.

We can draw from this allegory much that is of practical importance in our everyday life. Are we not daily, even hourly, tempted to believe that we are frail mortals. born of the flesh, nationals of an earthly kingdom, uncertain and temporary dwellers for a brief time in the land of materiality: that we are governed by material law? Are we agreeing with this erroneous belief?

Do we find ourselves meekly acquiescing in the sentences of sin. sickness, sorrow, suffering, limitation. and death which this law claims to impose upon mankind? If so, we are allowing ourselves to be tried in the Court of Error, a court which in truth has no jurisdiction over us. Humanly speaking, there are certain cases when a court has no jurisdiction over an accused person unless proof of legal citizenship can first be established. We need to awaken and rise up in rebellion against such an illegal and falsely constituted authority and mentally assert our rights as dwellers in a spiritual kingdom—the kingdom of God.

To do this we need to understand man's immortal status as the child of God. This truth is clearly brought out in the teachings of Christian Science. In the allegory it is mortal man "who is being tried in the Court of Error. and who has to prove his innocence in the Court of Spirit to gain his freedom. But the real man, spiritual and eternal, forever coexistent with God. expresses God-given freedom from sin, sickness, and all discord.

Our Leader in her definition of man (ibid., p. 475) states: "Man is incapable of sin. sickness, and death. The real man cannot depart from holiness, nor can God. by whom man is evolved, engender the capacity or freedom to sin." Our need is to know with certainty that in reality we are not mortal but immortal, not born of the flesh but of the Spirit: that we are not subject to sin, sickness, and death, but are heirs of God. inheritors of life, health, harmony; that we have dominion, and are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, where all is lovingly and wisely governed by God, good.

This true understanding of God and man is our passport. We should always carry it with us, for it assures us of protection, safety, and freedom at all times and under all circumstances. When challenged by the false beliefs of the carnal mind, we have simply to use this passport and claim our divine rights as children of God. and be free. Confidently and fearlessly we can answer every challenge in the words of the prophet (Isa. 33:22). "The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us."

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