Christian Science, in its revelation of the true nature of all that exists, lifts thought above and beyond matter. For example, we discern and demonstrate true selfhood only in proportion as we maintain the consciousness of eternal, spiritual truth, which is entirely apart from the so-called phenomena of matter. We are not seeing true selfhood when we think of ourselves or others as sick or sinful mortals, or when we try to heal matter. Paul said (Eph. 6:12), "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world." In the demonstration of true selfhood we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but rather do we utilize the power of divine Truth over deceiving false beliefs.
Jesus was seeing beyond and above matter when he recognized the divinely mental nature of all things, and without adding a material element to the water, changed it into wine. He set aside the so-called physical law of gravitation when he walked on the water. He set aside the claim of matter substance when he appeared in the midst where the disciples were, the doors being shut. In all these instances he was showing forth man's real selfhood, the selfhood that can be comprehended only through divine Science. He was proving the unlimited scope of thought, action, and dominion which is inherent in this selfhood.
In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, tells us (p. 294), "Man's genuine selfhood is recognizable only in what is good and true." We understand and express this goodness and trueness in proportion as we maintain a conscious unity with the perfect selfhood of God, our divine Principle. Christian Science teaches us how to do this by showing us how to think metaphysically—that is, beyond and above matter. So doing, we learn that divine metaphysics is our innate and natural mode of thought and that our real being is the very manifestation of God Himself. Through this awareness of man's oneness with divine Principle, human thought and purpose are renovated, regenerated, and evangelized, and human lives are redeemed from sin, disease, and death. As error disappears, the true selfhood of man appears.
