A GREAT deal of emphasis is being placed today on the kind of image one creates in the minds of men and nations.
It is gratifying to be favorably assessed by one's fellowmen, to have one's motives and character correctly appraised. And to seek universal understanding is a righteous goal. But to place undue emphasis on the concept others may form of one, as an individual, misguides human action, because the values and motives of men, nations, and races vary according to the spiritual enlightenment achieved.
The image greatly needing presentation in the world today is God's image, as manifested in the life and works of Christ Jesus. The Scriptures clearly reveal that man is created in God's image and that Christ Jesus exemplified it that men might learn how to experience their divinely decreed harmony. Christian Science, which spiritually interprets the Scriptures, reveals that God, divine Love, cognizes neither evil nor matter but sustains creation in spiritual perfection. Man, therefore, as God's image is not subject to discord. He is eternally perfect and harmonious, a fact which must be proven in the way shown by Jesus.
By his purity, goodness, and spiritual understanding of God and true being, Jesus healed sickness, cast out sin, and vanquished death. He said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).
In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 259): "In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow,— thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying. The christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration."
Christian Science reveals that evil and matter are unreal because God, Spirit, is All and that harmony among men and nations is attained in proportion as God's image, which Jesus manifested, is individually and universally exemplified in human affairs. As men understand their true nature to be Christlike, they become more kind, loving, and just. As they lose their fear of and belief in disease, sickness disappears, and health is improved. As self-interest gives way to an understanding of Love's affluence, limitation recedes, and the realization of one's divinely bestowed capabilities as God's image ensures greater success and happiness.
As love for God, good, supersedes fear of human opinion, true selfhood emerges, accompanied by a sense of freedom, courage, and independence. As one respects himself as God's idea and endeavors to demonstrate this status, he ceases to be concerned over the kind of image, or human concept, which others may form of him. He endeavors to please God.
If failures to live up to the divine ideal occur, the sincere student of Christian Science does not condemn himself unduly or become discouraged. He corrects his mistakes and strives more earnestly to be Godlike. Thus, as materiality gives way to spirituality, purity of thought and desire is reflected in greater happiness, health, and satisfaction, and human living is improved. For it is the spiritualization of thought and life, the manifestation of the Christ-spirit in daily affairs, which enables men and nations to experience health and harmony and to live in peaceful coexistence.
Jesus worked with his disciples that they might understand his teachings, for they were destined to carry on his work. He was never concerned with public opinion or the endeavor to present a favorable image to men. He knew that it was difficult for men to appraise correctly his Christly nature, which sometimes appeared to them to be hatred instead of love. He endeavored to show men by his works that Christliness frees from discord and brings harmony.
When John the Baptist sent messengers requesting proof of his Messiahship, Jesus first permitted the messengers to witness some of his healings. Then he said, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached" (Luke 7: 22).
Instead of endeavoring to conform his actions to another's concept of manhood, the individual will further the cause of his own harmony, and universal peace and understanding, by upholding God's image in pure, Christly living, which means that one is honest in business, just to one's fellowmen, and kind and courteous to all. Christly living does not, however, sanction the humoring of selfish whims, excuse irresponsibility or cowardice, or the permitting of oneself to become the dupe of evil. It demands courageous obedience to divine Principle, regardless of persons or circumstances involved.
Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 185): "Self-renunciation of all that constitutes a so-called material man, and the acknowledgment and achievement of his spiritual identity as the child of God, is Science that opens the very flood-gates of heaven; whence good flows into every avenue of being, cleansing mortals of all uncleanness, destroying all suffering, and demonstrating the true image and likeness. There is no other way under heaven whereby we can be saved, and man be clothed with might, majesty, and immortality."
Emphasis on the maintenance of a favorable image in the minds of others is often selfishly motivated, designed to deceive. It can be a subtle means of debasing character, as when an individual is unable to withstand the crafty arguments favoring indulgence of tobacco and intoxicants and other degrading habits. For a nation to compromise its spiritual ideals to appease another nation is to be in danger of falling into the vicious trap of evil, which would deny God, jeopardize man's God-given independence and the peace and harmony of the world.
Today malicious animal magnetism would attack those whose spiritual independence and courage discern the designs of evil. But the divine Principle, Love, supports spiritual firmness with victory. The forcing of issues, however, is never right. The willingness to entertain, though not necessarily to accept, opposing views is often rewarding. The Christ-spirit, evidenced in patience, forbearance, and understanding, will often dissolve misconceptions and effect mutual understanding, while impatience and intolerance fail.
Demonstrating that one's true selfhood is God's image brings harmony to mankind and forwards universal harmony. But this demonstration can be undertaken and achieved only as men are animated by the spirit underlying Paul's words to the Ephesians (6:6), "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."
