Christian Science elucidates Christ Jesus' victory over the entrenched belief in matter and material law. He proved that spiritual substance is the preeminent, total reality. His resurrection exposed the mythical and illusory nature of matter, including mortality. Christian Science likewise denies matter's claim to reality with the revealed fact that God, Spirit, is omnipresent.
Today the demand to see through and beyond matter remains an important and necessary rule at every stage of our demonstration for both individual progress and the universal salvation of the race.
Some may consider this demand questionable, unreasonable, or impossible. Even the more experienced student of Christian Science may be subtly tempted to imagine that it's unnecessary. But if we are to emulate the works of the Master, Christ Jesus, matter must be thoroughly denied, and the allness of Spirit understood and affirmed. And if we don't follow Christ in this way, we may put the healing results of our spiritual labors in jeopardy.
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "Because matter has no consciousness or Ego, it cannot act; its conditions are illusions, and these false conditions are the source of all seeming sickness. Admit the existence of matter, and you admit that mortality (and therefore disease) has a foundation in fact. Deny the existence of matter, and you can destroy the belief in material conditions."Science and Health, p. 368.
A particular incident served as a sharp reminder to me of the importance of heeding this mandate to deny and overcome the entrenched belief in matter. While I was working with some concentrated cleaning liquid, some of the solution splashed in my eye, causing severe pain. Immediately I declared the existence of one perfect God and a perfect reflection, reaffirming that man is immune to pain and accidents, since he is governed by God's invariable law of goodness. Although I held to these truths, the pain did not yield but became more intense. Turning and listening wholeheartedly to God, I realized the answer: there was a need to deny matter. Obeying the leadings of this thought, I vigorously declared several times the nothingness of matter, and began really to discern the truth I was declaring. The pain and inflammation quickly subsided and left no aftereffects. Analyzing the incident later, I realized that regardless of how earnestly I pleaded the allness of good, the problem did not yield until matter was effectively denied any reality.
Experiences like this prompt us to ask, "What is matter?" It is really only a supposition—a false assumption—that there is some place or condition devoid of Spirit. It is the false belief that there are moments when Spirit has failed to be All.
Matter is the objectification of a false concept of substance, and exists only as an incorrect view of a "mind" that presumes itself to be separate and distinct from the one Mind. Matter is felt to be both good and evil. But, in Science, the impossibility of the existence of matter precludes its having any real condition at all—healthy or diseased, living or dying. As we acknowledge and grasp the fact of the allness of Spirit, we naturally reject the claims of matter, including its self-arrogated power to heal or destroy. We gradually realize there can be no materiality, mortality, or material law.
Still, mortal thought questions, "If Spirit is all, why bother to specifically deny matter?" The world's belief in the reality of matter—that it has substance, occupies space, that it lives and dies—must be seen as unfounded and then rejected, in order for us to demonstrate the powerlessness of matter. We should cling neither to a false belief in matter as the essence of life nor to the supposition that creation is mixture of both Spirit and matter. Both are false theories, which, through the inspiration of Spirit, are shown to be utterly without foundation.
Illustrating this point to John's disciples, Christ Jesus stated we do not put new wine into old bottles, but the new wine is put into new bottles, and both are preserved. See Matt. 9:17 . False beliefs about God cannot be carried into the kingdom. Our new understanding cannot be tainted with false concepts—whether theological, psychological, or of the physical sciences. Matter is one of these false concepts to be cast out. And its nothingness is demonstrated every time a healing is effected through the power of Christ. Whatever is not based on Spirit will topple as we discern that there is no foundation or law to support it.
"God being infinite," Mrs. Eddy writes, "He is the only basis of Science; hence materiality is wholly apart from Christian Science, and is only a 'Suffer it to be so now' until we arrive at the spiritual fulness of God, Spirit, even the divine idea of Christian Science,—Christ, born of God, the offspring of Spirit,—wherein matter has neither part nor portion, because matter is the absolute opposite of spiritual means, manifestation, and demonstration."
And she says in conclusion: "Spirit is infinite; therefore Spirit is all. 'There is no matter' is not only the axiom of true Christian Science, but it is the only basis upon which this Science can be demonstrated."The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 356-357.
While there remains any claim of a material mentality manifesting itself as matter, the need remains to deny the existence of matter. We continue in the way until we come to prove, universally, that "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."Ps. 24:1.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;the God of my rock;in him will I trust:he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour ...He brought me forth also into a large place:he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
II Samuel 22:2, 3, 20
