EVERY day is "Independence Day" to the student of Christian Science as he transfers his dependence on matter to dependence on Spirit. Understanding and depending on Spirit, its divine law and spiritual facts, he finds himself independent of the restrictions and limitations of material beliefs and false laws. One dictionary meaning of the word "independence" is "self-direction." Each one may find himself independent or self-directed as he accepts his true status as the reflection of God, and so becomes Principle-directed, God-governed. On page 106of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy says: "Like our nation, Christian Science has its Declaration of Independence. God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love."
Christ Jesus, the master Christian Scientist, affords the perfect example of Principle-governed living. He made clear this way of Truth and its resultant independence of matter and freedom from evil. While he rendered unto Caesar the things that were Caesar's, he kept his own Principle-directed way independent of the so-called laws of Caesar which, if they could, would have restricted his activities, hindered his progress, and defeated his purpose. So clearly did he know his independence of materiality that he could stand unmoved before Pilate's threatened power and declare (John 19:11), "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." True independence never means license, or freedom to disobey civil laws. Rather does it make one a better, more law-abiding citizen, intelligently and actively upholding all that makes for a righteous and liberating government.
A true declaration of independence is a declaration of dependence on divine Mind alone, on its law, power, substance, and intelligence. It is claiming one's independence of what is called matter, its make-believe laws, its illusory substance, and its erroneous intelligence. On page 200of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for Life is God, and man is the idea of God, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust." What a declaration of independence is this! Life and its manifestation is spiritual, maintained by Spirit, directed by Spirit, eternally and harmoniously existent in Spirit, forever independent of matter.
