After one commences the study of Christian Science, a very radical change takes place regarding his viewpoint of his personality. As one progresses in this study, he realizes rich rewards of health and freedom by understanding that his true personality is spiritual, not material.
On page 5 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1901, in connection with the question, "Do Christian Scientists believe in personality?" Mary Baker Eddy writes, "They do, but their personality is defined spiritually, not materially—by Mind, not by matter."
One's spiritual personality—one's true self—is comprised of spiritual qualities that witness to God, divine Mind. One's true character is purely Godlike, and there is no element of error in it. One must learn to identify himself as the individualized reflection of all of God's qualities. He finds that as he yearns to be more conscious of these characteristics of his true personality, and considers them in quietness, he begins to express them in his life. Then his behavior becomes more Christlike, and he begins to free himself from the emotionalism and egotism of the false mentality belonging to material personality.
Man is God's idea, and as one understands this fact he begins to see that his spiritual being is individual and dependent upon God alone. For as the sunbeam is wholly dependent upon the sun to evidence its warmth, utility, and light, so one's real self is dependent on God for its spiritual qualities.
God manifests Himself through man in such spiritual qualities as wisdom, integrity, and graciousness. These qualities and many more inhere in each true, individual consciousness, for the effect of divine cause, God, is at one with Him and is simultaneous with Him.
As one's true personality dawns upon one's thought, sickness and sin fall away. Mortal, negative thought, which constitutes the so-called corporeal man, is the foundation of matter, and this false consciousness must be put off through the application of God's law in order that the individual may recognize his true incorporeal nature in all its goodness, purity, and love.
The Christian Scientist endeavors to prove the unreality of the mortal tendencies in his thought that would try to make him believe that he is a material personality of the race of Adam. He claims his spiritual nature, his uprightness, wholeness, and freedom as God's expression. The seeker who is obedient to God's commands begins to understand that he has the ability to reflect all that witnesses to man's oneness with God as His expression.
Where previously one might have identified himself with the inconsistencies and evil tendencies of material personality, he finds instead that through the intelligent study and application of Christian Science, he can identify his true character only with the attributes of God.
Even if one fails to recognize his spiritual nature, still in reality this true character is present in place of the evil nature of the mortal personality. One's true individuality is actually completely good, and this goodness becomes more apparent as human thought turns to the divine. Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 307, 308), "Every human thought must turn instinctively to the divine Mind as its sole centre and intelligence."
If one seems overwhelmed with a false sense of himself, Christian Science can teach him to love his true character; that is, he can love to know of his true, spiritual nature that is wholly good. And one must learn to love and to demonstrate specific spiritual qualities that attest to God's presence, such as harmony, true worth, and steadfastness.
Under every attack of mortal mind, one learns of the necessity to cherish tenderly, to nourish, and to protect his true being from mortal mind's attempts to identify him falsely. Such careful working and watching make his godliness, his true health and happiness, more real and apparent to him.
While true and infinitely various personality is God-maintained and is changeless, humanity's incorrect view of itself must be changed. Instead of trying to spiritualize the mortal, one must abandon the mortal thinking that constitutes this mythical selfhood to find the inexhaustible good of true being. One must admit to himself that the only activating influence in his true consciousness is the evidence of divine law. Even though sinful thoughts, mortal concepts, and material characteristics claim their origination in one's human consciousness and appear to be personal, they are negations of the rhythm of one's true thought, which witnesses to divine Spirit. When one acknowledges this, a transformation takes place, and with this radical change in his thinking, so too will there be a radical change in his body, his circumstances, or whatever needs healing.
As one acknowledges the good which characterizes his real consciousness, he finds that true humility is not self-abandonment to the extinction of his Christliness, but is the bringing of one's thought and conduct into perfect conformity with Christ, the divine ideal. Thus, one cannot rightfully deny his real purpose or the abundant good that is his as God's idea.
One must also appreciate the spirituality expressed in others. Instead of worshiping another's personality or resenting it, one should look to see the Christ nature appearing. For spiritual qualities attest to real personality, and to deny them is to be blind to divine Love's presence and expression. Thus the truly humble one leaves the old man for the new by claiming for every individual all the characteristics of real personality. Mrs. Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp. 188, 189), "When divine Love gains admittance to a humble heart, that individual ascends the scale of miracles and meets the warmest wish of men and angels."
Christ Jesus exemplified the great ability that is possible to one who understands the source of true personality. He knew that the good that he expressed was not of human origin, but, rather, it was of God. For he said (John 5:17), "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."
Let us all be more aware of the bountiful good that is ours by reflection. We can claim this good, love to express it, and give God the glory. Then shall we find that God's goodness is ever evidenced in man, His image and likeness, and as we understand this, our true personality will be found to be the very evidence of God, good.
