What is the central and basic plea of nonwhite people today, which is the same throughout the world? We hear it from a Commissioner on Human Rights, like Carrol Waymon, or from spokesmen like Nana Mahomo of South Africa. We hear it from people who will go on foot rather than be made to ride in the back of a bus. We hear it from those who to register and vote suffer the loss of their jobs. We hear the plea from our humblest brothers in the ghetto or on the reservation— even from our fellow Christian Scientists. Their plea is really the common, eloquent plea of people everywhere: to be respected as individuals, to be treated as equals, to be free to be themselves—in short, just to be man.
What can the Church of Christ, Scientist, do to help men in this struggle? How can our church aid in bringing society to accept every individual regardless of skin color, ethnic background, caste, or the size of his bank account? This comes down to the question, What more can our church do to help free human thinking from prejudice, false pride, and injustice? It is obvious that if these elements were not present, and if love reigned in their stead, social acceptance, justice, and freedom of opportunity would be unquestioned facts.
This makes clear, then, that the primary mission of the church is and should be to heal human thinking of sinful misconceptions. The Church of Christ, Scientist, approaches this task by presenting a deeper understanding of man than the senses picture. Christian Science points to the qualities of God, or Love, which make up the essential nature of man. Kindness, goodness, gentleness, tenderness, mercy—these qualities image forth divine Love. Embodying these qualities, man is the reflection of Love. This is the real man, made in God's likeness, worthy of acceptance, dignity, and love.
