UNDER the marginal heading, "Standpoint revealed," Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 239): "To ascertain our progress, we must learn where our affections are placed and whom we acknowledge and obey as God. If divine Love is becoming nearer, dearer, and more real to us, matter is then submitting to Spirit. The objects we pursue and the spirit we manifest reveal our standpoint, and show what we are winning." No student of Christian Science can afford to disregard the requirements for spiritual growth as evidenced in these significant words of our Leader.
In the pure love of spiritual sense is the real man, the image and likeness of God, cognized. Active progress in Christian Science requires a sacrifice of those false affections which are invariably associated with the temptations of mortal mind. Obedience to its teachings includes a willingness to unlearn and correct what has been learned through the material senses, to seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," to seek the understanding of man's immortal being.
This spiritual quickening of human thought through turning to God leads to conscious progress out of every experience beset with fear, limitation, disease, ingratitude, lack, and inharmony. In thought and deed the student of Christian Science works rightly and achieves growth in surmounting every trial as he mentally conforms to the one true standpoint, divine Love's allness, its omnipotence and omnipresence.
