CHRISTIAN SCIENCE reveals spiritual man to be not only God's reflection, but also His witness. In the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 303): "God, without the image and likeness of Himself, would be a nonentity, or Mind unexpressed. He would be without a witness or proof of His own nature. Spiritual man is the image or idea of God, an idea which cannot be lost nor separated from its divine Principle."
Because he is God's witness, man can never express any quality which is unlike God. Since the infinite is without beginning or ending, God's reflection witnesses to His immortality in ageless being and is the individualized manifestation of divine Mind. Man is a witness to the fatherhood and motherhood of God, hence sustained and nourished by divine Life. Man is intelligent and alert because he bears witness to Truth. He dwells in the presence of God, loved and loving, for he is the expression of omnipresent Love.
Mortal man is not God's witness, and Christian Science proves the falsity of mortal man. As we progress in our study, we see the need for changing our viewpoint and for understanding that man is in reality the child of God, not material but spiritual.
The perfection of God's witness comes to light as the human mind is cleansed of its wrong thinking. In this way, as we demonstrate more of God's nature, which man reflects, our human experience takes on new meaning. Through daily prayer we learn more of God and strive to let Truth rule out of thought all that does not bear witness to Him. The good and pure and true begin to shine through our lives, and not only we ourselves are blessed, but also all with whom we come in contact are blessed.
So long as we believe that man is mortal, we are likely to express qualities which are wholly unlike divine Love and are unknown to Love's witness. "Cleanse thou me from secret faults. . . . Let them not have dominion over me" are the pleas of the Psalmist (Ps. 19:12, 13).
It may be self-will which acts as a stumbling block to the attainment of our true manhood. The desire to dominate situations instead of seeking God's direction; the resentment that surges into thought, even though unexpressed in words, when others disagree with us—these qualities become a stone wall of mortal mind's building, which only a higher understanding of divine Love can destroy.
Often worry is not seen for what it is. If indulged, it breaks the commandment (Ex. 20:15), "Thou shalt not steal," for it takes away our trust in God, who governs every circumstance in our lives when we demonstrate His Science. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10) is the answer to every whisper of error and closes the door to worry.
The Way-shower, Christ Jesus, best expressed God's nature. He proclaimed his mission thus (John 18:37): "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." And he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead, commanding his followers throughout all time to do likewise.
In this age Christian Science was revealed to Mrs. Eddy, and thousands of despairing men and women of many nations and in all walks of life have found healing and regeneration through the study of the Bible and of the textbook and other writings by Mrs. Eddy. Christian Science teaches mankind how to pray aright and to feel the joy of answered prayer in better health and more harmonious living. It also teaches that by turning to God in humble earnestness, humanity finds His support adequate for every need and learns that to Him alone belongs our allegiance.
Because of ignorance of the fact that through spiritualization of thought and true witnessing, one may demonstrate the real man's God-given dominion over all the earth, mortals often spend years in slavery to their human bodies, with resulting poor health. One such instance known to the writer was of a child reared by parents who believed in the inevitability, of disease. The child's physical condition was constantly watched, and she was dosed, almost daily, with material remedies. But even before she was of school age, the seed of Truth was planted in her consciousness by a conversation she overheard.
Some relatives were telling of a Christian Science friend whose little girl had fallen and hurt herself somewhat. The mother asked her, "What have I taught you?"
To this the child replied, "I am God's child and cannot be hurt," then happily returned to her play. The group hearing the remarks laughed, seeing no connection between being God's child and having freedom from discord.
The little girl who overheard kept the truth in her heart. Years later, still far from well, she obtained a copy of Science and Health, and during a college vacation spent in diligent study of the textbook, she was healed of several chronic ailments. She learned that man is not a slave to a material body and that through an understanding of true selfhood, humanity can be freed from false beliefs and mortal illusions.
The more we understand of the nature of God, the more we know of man in His image and likeness; and as we put our understanding into practice in our lives, we become true witnesses. God is Love, and man is the image of Love, perfect, complete. As we draw close to God in prayer, fear is cast out of our lives, and Love pours in. The result is healing.
The real man always has expressed and always will express the divine nature. Mrs. Eddy writes in "No and Yes" (p.17): "God's image and likeness can never be less than a good man; and for man to be more than God's likeness is impossible. Man is the climax of creation; and God is not without an ever-present witness, testifying of Himself."
