mastheadLogo01

Articles

 

“Man’s Perfection Is Real and Unimpeachable”                                              Duncan Sinclair

What a gulf there is between the beliefs which people entertain about themselves, and the truth about them! It’s written in the plainest language in the first chapter of Genesis that “God created man in His own image.” Since God is perfect, then man must also be perfect, yet how ready people are to believe in the imperfection of man.
     Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Keep in mind the verity of being, — that man is the image and likeness of God, in whom all being is painless and permanent. Remember that man’s perfection is real and unimpeachable, whereas imperfection is blameworthy, unreal, and is not brought about by divine Love.” (S&H) Christian Science teaches that God is perfect, and that man, as God’s creation, is also perfect. We learn to stand with this truth, even though the storms of evil may claim to rage. Sickness and suffering, sin in its many guises, want and woe — all may appear to be very real, tempting us to believe in imperfection. But in every trial of our faith, we learn to turn to the absolute truth that God and His idea, man, are perfect. With the steadfast holding to this truth, we experience healing.
     This understanding of the perfection of God and man does not mean that we allow ourselves to forget how tenacious the belief that man is imperfect seems to be. Mrs. Eddy foresaw the struggle which would take place in the world when the absolute truth about God’s allness and perfection reached it. She actually warns her readers in Science and Health of the attempts wicked minds would make “to accomplish more evil.” On pages 96 and 97 she writes, “During this final conflict, wicked minds will endeavor to find means by which to accomplish more evil; but” — and here she makes a great pronouncement — “those who discern Christian Science will hold crime in check. They will aid in the ejection of error. They will maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.”
     No wavering, no doubt in Mrs. Eddy’s thought as to “the certainty of ultimate perfection”! True to her great discovery of the allness of God, good, and the unreality of evil, she could look into the future and behold the reign of heavenly harmony on earth, the result of the universal understanding and demonstration of perfect Being.
     While the Christian Scientist is sure of the future, certain of the ultimate victory of Truth over error, he understands that persevering effort is necessary — first, to bring the truth of man’s “real and unimpeachable” nature to mankind, and, secondly, to help his fellow man in gaining a demonstrable understanding of that truth. What gladness there should be at every victory over false belief — sinful tendencies destroyed, diseases healed, sorrow and suffering obliterated! The Christian Scientist, firmly established in the understanding of man’s perfection as God’s idea, can look steadily and fearlessly ahead with unquenchable assurance that the truth, as Christian Science has revealed it, will ultimately bring about the complete salvation of all mankind.