Is our surrender to complacency helping to keep the world asleep in materialism? In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy warns, "Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours." Then she adds, "Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth."Science and Health, p. 95.
The significance of those statements to humanity is immense, but their impact is practical only to the degree that the message brings active individual response. Merely theoretical agreement won't bring the needed spiritual awakening; the illusions of material sense are dispelled only by putting Truth into practice. Christian Science shows us how we can do this. And we always learn valuable lessons from the healing of inharmony that results when we apply the rules of Truth correctly.
One of the things we learn from our endeavors to heal is that we don't earn the blessing of divine Mind because of the length of time we've been called Christian Scientists. We shouldn't be uncertain because we're "new," nor should we be complacent because we're "old hands." Attainment has to come as a result of our individual living of this Science. It is our demonstration of spiritual sonship with God that determines how far and how fast we progress. And we are able to heal, to bring harmony to mortal existence, as we progressively strive to express God's nature in our thought and actions.
I've found it helpful to ask myself, How many times have I, even though I profess to be a Christian, "passed by on the other side" when confronted by wrong because I didn't want to bother to be a good Samaritan? How often have I settled for a selfish brushoff when an act of kindness would have been appropriate? Would I ever be justified in letting comfortable complacency trick me into forgoing obedience to the Golden Rule? And wouldn't my own complacency be part of what would stand in the way of the world's awakening from its material sleep?
Complacency is not a natural state for anyone, however. It has no place in God's man. One dictionary defines it as "self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." It's simply a trap to catch the unwary, leaving us satisfied with the mortal view of things when we should be earnestly striving to see our true individuality as God's spiritual reflection. The way to cure complacency is the same as the way to cure other human ills: practice Jesus' teachings. There is no simpler or more effective way to rout this troublemaker than by being honest and sincere and thorough in one's discipleship. The Master pointed out the importance of sincere discipleship when he spoke of Nathanael: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"John 1:47.
The rules of divine Science are exact but never harsh. They require us to be alert in obeying them and call for such spiritual qualities as meekness and humbleness of purpose. So-called mortal mind is reluctant to accept the spiritual demands that curb self-will and personal assertiveness. And the need to yield to the leadings of our heavenly Father is not understood or welcomed by mortal selfhood. But as we regularly examine our thinking we can exercise our right to choose the good and true, be obedient to divine law, and keep from wandering in the thickets of mortal existence.
Certainly one thing we must know, if we are to practice Science effectively, is how mortal mind claims to deceive us. The carnal mind doesn't come to us saying forthrightly, "I am evil, and I mean to rob you of your harmony." Instead, it comes in such insidious ways as moods of languor, self-centeredness, purposelessness, and ease in matter—mindless attitudes that would keep us from recognizing evil as evil. Uncovering this deceit, we have the upper hand. As we read in Science and Health, "A knowledge of error and of its operations must precede that understanding of Truth which destroys error, until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears, and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit, is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his Maker."Science and Health, p. 252.
When we understand that God's spiritual qualities are our qualities—because we are reflecting Him as their source—then we are really learning what the kingdom of heaven is like. The length of time this takes has nothing to do with it. That is why the newcomer to Christian Science can glimpse the essence of Truth from the start and proceed to demonstrate it step by step, one forward stride after another.
It is no simple task to prove by our fruits that we are disciples of Christ Jesus. And yet that is what we, as Christian Scientists, clearly must do if we are to play a part in awakening the world from its mortal sleep. Since we recognize that "material sense does not unfold the facts of existence," our goal must be to let spiritual sense lift "human consciousness into eternal Truth." It's an invigorating role when we realize that the lifting power is always God, as Jesus taught.
We should not forget, however, that we are included already in God's love. No false belief of living in matter has taken us, or can take us, out of that all-embracing relationship. Divine law holds us secure in our right place, and we are obedient to that law as we let our humble, self-forgetful prayer shape our lives. When we are active in this way, we leave no room for complacency.
