"Be not conformed to this world," urged Paul in his letter to the Romans (12: 2). "But," he continued, "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Here in this concise statement we are told first, what not to do; second, what to do; and third, the good effects of doing what we should do.
Individuals normally have a free choice as to their conduct and thinking. They can bring their thoughts and actions into agreement either with that which is evil, or with that which is good. An evil act is always preceded by evil thought, by compliance with error and materiality rather than with Spirit, God. An act, for example, is generally not considered criminal by law unless the perpetrator has an intention to commit it.
It is not, however, so widely acknowledged that the experience of sickness and death is directly connected with the mental state of the individual. One who is afflicted with disease has in some respect conformed his mentality to worldly or fearful thinking. Perhaps he has been afraid of disease or death, hateful of his neighbor, or ignorant of Spirit, God. This unhealthy thinking, or this shaping of thoughts in agreement with that which is mortal and material, is the cause of the trouble; and such thinking must be reversed and cast out.
Christian Science is presented to this age to enable humanity to substitute the assurance of spiritual existence and happiness for its concepts of a worldly existence. "For true happiness," writes Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 337), "man must harmonize with his Principle, divine Love; the Son must be in accord with the Father, in conformity with Christ."
It is not at all necessary or intelligent for any individual to conform his thinking to that which is worldly and erroneous. He has a better model than Adamic materiality and mortality to guide him. The correct model is the ever-present Christ. This model is the manifestation of God, the pattern of the infinite, the influence of good, of Truth, Life, and Love in our lives.
Televised programs originate from a central studio. The production if not transmitted would be of no benefit to viewers. The full expression of the program, reaching into a viewing area, is the full result of the production at the broadcasting station. The householder may either choose to view and listen or not to do so. If he tunes in, he does not receive in his home the full output of the station; in fact, it would be practically impossible for the entire output to be picked up even by all the sets in existence. However, each receiving set conforms to or expresses individually that whole program. The operator of the set at home might distort the program by improper adjustment and tuning, but the pattern, or form, is always there to adapt properly to the set.
So it is with each individual. God is perfect, good, complete. His whole expression, or the Christ, is the perfect model for individual reflection. One may choose not to conform to the model, but if he does refuse, he suffers the results of worldliness in sin, disease, and death. If he conforms to the Christ, Truth, which is constantly at hand for him to express, he is blessed.
The Christ presents the perfect, immortal man, the idea of God. To the degree of our conformation with the Christ, we enjoy in our human body and environment the benefits of this harmonious obedience. Mrs. Eddy, speaking of the needs of the hungry heart, declares (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 127), "If this heart, humble and trustful, faithfully asks divine Love to feed it with the bread of heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to a fitness to receive the answer to its desire; then will flow into it the 'river of His pleasure,' the tributary of divine Love, and great growth in Christian Science will follow,—even that joy which finds one's own in another's good."
The result of spiritual conformation of thought to the will of God is healing, regeneration, and correction in daily affairs. An abstract doctrine which does not prove itself in a happier, holier, human situation is of little value. But Paul made it clear that the renewing of the mind would equip one to prove each day what God's perfect and acceptable will means.
God's will is wisdom and love, and we feel the results of wisdom and love in everyday living as we understand and utilize those attributes. Likewise, the acknowledgment of God's will as health, and the conformity of our thoughts to the facts of spiritual well-being operate as a transforming law in thought and restore normalcy to the body.
Paul said (Rom. 8:28, 29): "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Man, generically and individually, is forever known of God. Man has always existed. He never experienced a beginning. Man is whole, perfect, complete, spiritual. The Christ is our true pattern. It is the model to which man in reality always conforms. The fact that man conforms to the Christ is a necessary spiritual guide to human thinking. If in every activity of the day our thought is held in conformity with the Christ, concord and health will be evidenced in every experience. Our individual destiny, already established eternally in Mind, will find harmonious fulfillment in our lives to the exact degree that we deny mortal error and understanding conform our thoughts in harmony with the Christ, Truth.
