As the young student of Christian Science gains a fuller vision of the perfection of being, and is brought face to face with the demands of becoming a follower of Christ, he may feel discouraged, believing that he is not able to measure up to the high standard. He may think that he has certain faults of which he cannot rid himself, or that he has been guilty on some past occasion of an unworthy act. Whatever its form, the belief originates in the falsity that man is not the likeness of God, and that he is separated from God.
Measured against the lofty Christideals which our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has revealed to all mankind, the student may find his shortcomings very real. And so he may feel that he is inferior, and condemn himself as a poor Scientist, not able to follow its teachings or to gain a full and practical understanding of the truth. To any such student Christian Science has a ready and effective answer, for these would-be discouraging thoughts are false, without cause or foundation, and when uncovered and analyzed in the light of the truth are seen to be nothing but insidious lies of mortal mind, the supposititious opposite or unlikeness of God, good.
In the New Testament we read of bitter persecutions of the early Christians by a zealous but misguided man whose name was Saul. While so engaged, he underwent a startling experience, wherein he heard the voice of Truth, and his eyes were opened to see the light of Spirit. As he realized the error of his ways, his opposition vanished, and he became a sincere follower of Christ Jesus' teachings. So clearly did Paul perceive the Master's revelation of man as God's perfect and blessed child that he was able to write with supreme conviction (Rom. 8:1), "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
