David L. Keyston

 

Noah Webster, Father of the American Language, defined liberty as: "Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or the will or mind." (1828 edition) The question of individual liberty, and its infringement, is an increasingly volatile issue in today's political arena.

 

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, revealed a method that enables all to avail themselves of the Christ power and set them free from the bondage of materialism, sickness, sin and political and economic authoritarianism. What greater freedom can there be?

 

Christian Science and the senses are at war. It is a revolutionary struggle. We already have had two in this nation; and they began and ended in a contest for the true idea, for human liberty and rights. Now cometh a third struggle; for the freedom of health, holiness, and the attainment of heaven.

 

The scientific sense of being which establishes harmony, enters into no compromise with finiteness and feebleness. It undermines the foundations of mortality, of physical law, breaks their chains, and sets the captive free, opening the doors for them that are bound. Misc. Wri. 101:8-18

Christian Science, as revealed by Mrs. Eddy, made this freedom, this liberty, a present possibility. But, as in all good reforms, there is a cost. No fight for liberty is without a dear cost to win what is most precious-it is a warfare. Her discovery shed an important light-gave us the necessary weapons to win this war-but only if we are willing to pay the price by giving up any sense of self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, envy, or lust for power.

 

We lose our liberty through apathy. The warfare is against ourselves, for we hold the key to release ourselves from the bondage of political and economic oppression. The weapons of our warfare are Truth-"sharper than any two-edged sword", and Love-that sets us free from sin and death, from lack, hatred and all the unGod-like etceteras which the devil represents as belonging to man.

 

When the press is gagged, liberty is besieged; but when the press assumes the liberty to lie, it discounts clemency, mocks morality, outrages humanity, breaks common law, gives impulse to violence, envy, and hate, and prolongs the reign of inordinate, unprincipled clans. At this period, 1888, those quill-drivers whose consciences are in their pockets hold high carnival. When newsdealers shout for class legislation, and decapitated reputations, headless trunks, and quivering hearts are held up before the rabble in exchange for money, place, and power, the vox populi is suffocated, individual rights are trodden under foot, and the car of the modern Inquisition rolls along the streets besmeared with blood. Misc. Wri. 274

Mrs. Eddy knew the nature of evil in its attempt to deprive man of liberty. Her statement above, made over 100 years ago, could be applied to the political circumstances of today-the special interest groups and the power elite that are more concerned with assuming the mantle of power that belongs to their Maker. In her revelation she provides us with biblically founded remedies for the oppression of man.

 

Truth brings the elements of liberty. On its banner is the Soul-inspired motto, "Slavery is abolished." The power of God brings deliverance to the captive. No power can withstand divine Love. What is this supposed power, which opposes itself to God? Whence cometh it? What is it that binds man with iron shackles to sin, sickness, and death? Whatever enslaves man is opposed to the divine government. Truth makes man free. S&H 224

 

... Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:22-25

Christian Science shows us how to make this "perfect law of liberty" practical in today's environment, by showing us how to destroy the most cherished but devilish seductions of sense, pleasure and satisfaction in matter, love of money, ruthless ambition, apathy and a hundred others, whereby we come into the joy of the Lord and realize true freedom.

 

Liberty comes through penitence for our wrongdoing, any transgression of God's law. Without this repentance we can never be truly free, but are held enslaved to relentless masters of one kind or another.

 

God showed the Israelites that self-government was His preferred method of governing a people. He illustrated this through his chosen messenger, Moses. Moses was to lead them out of the bondage of Pharaoh's captivity. The Israelites, however, had little faith in God's ability to deliver them from Pharaoh's hand. They rebelled and resisted Moses at every turn-hence, a journey that should have taken 40 days, took 40 years. Man's mortal nature, resisting spiritual inclinations, is fearful, doubtful, or frequently apathetic.

 

Mary Baker Eddy showed us who we are as the children of God-created in the image and likeness of our Maker (see Gen. 1:26). She brought forth the understanding of God as Father and Mother, complete, lacking nothing, and showed how to make this understanding of the "image and likeness" a practical present possibility. Christ Jesus touched on this (see Luke 13:34) but the male dominated thought of his time rejected any idea of God as nurturing, expressing a sense of motherhood.

 

The struggle for liberty-and there always is one-comes from assimilating more of the divine character, putting off the "old man" and " by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This struggle is the central theme of a freedom loving people. Mrs. Eddy found freedom from material sense for the whole human family and brought this forth in her definitive work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Christian Science shows that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ..."

 

Her instructions, in this book of God's infinite themes, illustrate exactly how we destroy the false, devilish conspiracies against man's God-given dominion and spiritual perfection.

 

Mary Baker Eddy did more to give a true sense of liberty to women than anyone of her time (at the turn of the century). She emancipated them from the mental bondage of a male dominated society, and introduced a healing method readily accepted by men and women alike. She was also a strong supporter in the effort to liberate the slaves, a contentious issue of her day.

 

She stated at one time, "I believe strictly in the Monroe doctrine, in our Constitution, and in the laws of God." Why? Because in the realm of human affairs these documents accord us, as a nation and as individuals, the greatest freedom and liberty, should we treasure them enough to keep them.

 

Certain elements in human nature would undermine the civic, social, and religious rights and laws of nations and peoples, striking at liberty, human rights, and self-government-and this, too, in the name of God, justice, and humanity! These elements assail even the new-old doctrines of the prophets and of Jesus and his disciples. History shows that error repeats itself until it is exterminated. Surely the wisdom of our forefathers is not added but subtracted from whatever sways the sceptre of self and pelf over individuals, weak provinces, or peoples. Here our hope anchors in God who reigns, and justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne forever. Mess. for 1900 ,10

Her Christian liberation theology (as opposed to today's liberation theology), lays the axe at the root of modern day authoritarianism and all its cherished beliefs-clears them out and makes fertile ground of the human consciousness, empowering receptivity to the Christ truth that truly does set one free. The liberation theology of recent decades is a counterfeit of true individual liberty. Mary Baker Eddy was the originator of liberation theology in its purest form. She provides a demonstrable method where man is truly free from the claims of man- made and man imposed bondage of every kind, whether it be physical pain, sinful habits, economic woes or social unrest in the family, community, nation or the world. But to be truly liberated requires a fasting to mortal sense and the recognition that mans true identity is in Soul*, not struggles of worldly forces. With this realization all things are possible. She proved these ideas true and effective in the magnificent healing work that was accomplished by all those who demonstrated the Science of the Christ, accomplishing the "greater works" of which our beloved Master Jesus spoke, and ordered us to do in John 14:12.

 

Yet, our Master has said, that "the Kingdom of God is within you," inferring that this kingdom is a present possibility. What is the Kingdom? The Kingdom is freedom from anything which would deny God's control or direction. The Bible states that in the Kingdom there is no time, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no death, no hell, no darkness. (see Revelation chapters 20-21) What a wonderful place! Let's go! What greater liberty can one have but to be freed from these most heinous conspiracies to man's existence? In the Kingdom all things will be made new-we have eternal life. This is not a far off, maybe someday when we die, expectation. It is real. It is now. It is the fulfillment of our Lord's prayer and promise, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," the promise all Christians are familiar with. But without a spiritual roadmap of sorts, how will we find this much sought after kingdom and achieve true liberty from this fleshly condition?

 

The teachings of Science and Health show us how the fulfillment of our Lord's Prayer is a present possibility, by assimilating and expressing more of the divine character. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

 

A higher and more practical Christianity, demonstrating justice and meeting the needs of mortals in sickness and in health, stands at the door of this age, knocking for admission. Will you open or close the door upon this angel visitant, who cometh in the quiet of meekness, as he came of old to the patriarch at noonday? S&H 224:22

 

The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being. S&H 227:26

 

Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and cries: "Follow me! Escape from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death!" Jesus marked out the way. Citizens of the world, accept the "glorious liberty of the children of God," and be free! This is your divine right. S&H 227:21

By following this roadmap Mary Baker Eddy has left us, we can rejoice in the words of the Psalmist, "I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts."

Mary Baker Eddy demonstrated the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth in her discovery of Christian Science. She healed hundreds of every pain, every sorrow, even death, (see The Healer, by this author) and showed countless others how to accomplish similar healing results, fulfilling the immortal words of our Master that all of Christendom cherishes-"thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," and "...He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." The Christ is the life-link between the human and divine, bringing us into the present realization of the Kingdom here and now.

 

The "still small voice" of Truth speaks to us when we quiet the devilish suggestion, and through "the unlabored motion of the divine energy" we receive the answer to our problem, by possessing that mind that was in Christ. (see Phil 2:5) Then all that is required is giving the praise to God for this infinite goodness in your experience. How grateful we can be for the dedication of this woman who loved and followed our beloved Wayshower, Christ Jesus, in discovering the Science of his healing ministry and establishment of man's true identity, liberated from material sense. Through this understanding of man's true nature we can realize the practical import of these biblical passages:

 

Discerning the rights of man, we cannot fail to foresee the doom of all oppression. Slavery is not the legitimate state of man. God made man free. Paul said, "I was free born." All men should be free. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Love and Truth make free, but evil and error lead into captivity. S&H 227:14

 

The Constitution of the United States does not provide that materia medica shall make laws to regulate man's religion; rather does it imply that religion shall permeate our laws. Mankind will be God-governed in proportion as God's government becomes apparent, the Golden Rule utilized, and the rights of man and the liberty of conscience held sacred. Meanwhile, they who name the name of Christian Science will assist in the holding of crime in check, will aid the ejection of error, will maintain law and order, and will cheerfully await the end-justice and judgment. My 222:22

 

Divine Love reforms, regenerates, giving to human weakness strength, serving as admonition, instruction, and governing all that really is. Divine Love is the noumenon and phenomenon, the Principle and practice of divine metaphysics. Love talked and not lived is a poor shift for the weak and worldly. Love lived in a court or cot is God exemplified, governing governments, industries, human rights, liberty, life. My 287:7

The delusions of scholastic theology whisper to consciousness, saying: Man is (You are) separated from God; Man is (You are) born a sinner, not the image and likeness of God, and; Christ is God, thus eliminating the practical example of the Wayshower, giving man (you) no hope of realizing the kingdom of Heaven, within you.

 

Mary Baker Eddy explains the nothingness of error--all mortal, material beliefs--as evil illusion, and shows how we can destroy this false belief, this serpent, that holds us in bondage in so many ways and she does so in a practical, regenerative way, bringing to light the true, forever God-endowed liberty of man.

 

©1996 David L. Keyston