One truth I’ve learned to appreciate in the teachings of Christian Science is that everyone is equally good. No person is any better than any other person. Everyone is equally worthy of love.
This view can seem appalling to the human mind that is constantly comparing one person to the other and judging worthiness according to outward acts and physical appearances. For instance, how could one argue that a murderer is equally as good as a saint? From a material point of view, you cannot. But from a spiritual point of view, you can.
Jesus loved everyone equally. Why? Because he knew the outward appearance and acts of a mortal was not the full story of that individual in the eyes of God. Jesus argued, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” John 7:24. Jesus saw beyond the mortal error to the spiritual truth, and he worked and prayed to bring that immortal nature out more to be seen and expressed. And he left his example for us to follow.
Christian Science is all about seeing beyond the material to the spiritual. When you look at your neighbor from a spiritual point of view you find an individual worthy of love—a child of God that is not full of evil, but capable of abounding good. It can take persistence and perseverance at times to see this good, but it’s there. Look deep and you’ll find it!
The good we see in others is the truth of their identities. The less than stellar is the material concept arguing for attention, saying:”this is who I am”. Not so! Jesus’ thought was so aligned with God that when he looked at his fellow man, he saw his/her underlying spiritual nature instead of the material picture. Result: healing! It was his mission to “bear witness to the truth”. That’s our mission too: as followers of Jesus, we are to look beyond the outward appearance and see the Christ identity in EACH one. Not always easy but ever so rewarding! Thanks, Evan! As always, thought provoking…..
Yes, true thank you Evan. This week I was awakened to Rejoice because of the following reasons: that I am man, just like others , made in the image and likeness of God, good; that I have an equal right to rejoice; that I have an equal share of God’s love, protection, joy, peace, and the ability to express honesty, truth, intelligence and on and on the basis of which is not material but spiritual.
It’s not wise to say to every one that they are all equally as good as every one else if receptivity isn’t present for it gives mortal mind a reason to combat it and mental malpractice sets in. In those times it’s recommended to do your praying for that person in quietly knowing of his goodness in God’s image and likeness.
Timely, Evan!
Life-long struggle for me, it seems, about my (humanly) “perfect” older sister, and I am grateful for some solid progress with this false claim, recently. It is very interesting to me that as I grow, I see more of her divine qualities, too! Logical, but amazing, too. As Mary Baker Eddy writes in her book, Christian Healing, Pg. 8:
“Plato… said, “What thou seest, that thou beest.”
(Best to read it in context, of course.)
when we engage, as I did unexpectedly this morning, with the mortal concept someone is entertaining it is painful. I actually have a stiff neck. I think to add is what is true about you is true about everyone. We can recognize the revolting human concept being represented but it this is true than it is true about you. Not something I want to identify with.
Great reminder and wonderful comments. Loved Plato’s, what thou seest, thou beest !