Christian Science destroys forever the belief that some men and women are divinely favored in personality, character, gifts, or ability. That there are “diversities of gifts” is clearly taught in the Bible, but all are expressions of “the same Spirit.” “God is no respecter of persons.”

One of the greatest problems of the world is that of human inequality. Hidden deep in the consciousness of men is the belief that inequality is wrong, and that somehow it is not the truth of being. The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence said that “all men are created equal,” but looking upon men as they appear to exist on the earth today, no one could say that this declaration is realized.

The world recognizes the great differences which seem to obtain, and classifies men as weak and strong, good and bad, wise and ignorant, fortunate and unfortunate, rich and poor, and so on. The world is a respecter of persons. Any attempt, however, to explain human inequality leads to the utmost confusion of thought. We may believe that the condition and character of men are more or less the result of inheritance, education, environment, social and economic opportunity, etc., but these things do not explain the seeming facts. Everywhere we see apparently the same conditions and influences producing totally different results. Any law we try to make involving these influences is broken so frequently that it ceases to have weight. It is often said that the qualities of human character are essentially inherent, as if that explained and ended the matter. But “inherent” is defined as “having original quality and permanent existence;” in other words, “God given.” How terrible this would be if it were true, and if it included evil as well as good! Are weaknesses, incapacity, and criminal tendencies inherent? If this were so, the great mass of humanity would be without hope; there would be no justice in life and no basis for belief in a God of love. According to Christian Science, only good can be inherent in man.

The solution of this human problem was given to the world by Christ Jesus two thousand years ago, when he taught and demonstrated the true nature of man. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, “Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man’s oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage” (p. 18). The gospel of Christ teaches that humanity may be saved from evil and all that it implies, by understanding that God is Spirit, and that the real man is the child of God, created in His image and likeness. There is no inequality among God’s children.

I n the tenth chapter of Acts it is recorded that the apostle Peter was called to the home of the centurion Cornelius, a Gentile, and when he saw the humility of the man and of his eagerness for light, Peter said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” The expression “respecter of persons,” as used by Peter, means in the Greek, respecter of faces, masks, or appearances. The disturbing problem of human inequality has arisen just here, in a regard for personality, in seeing faces or masks and not understanding the reality of being; in thinking of men and women as independent personalities with physical characteristics and mental qualities of their own, whereas man as God’s idea is spiritual and reflects God only. Mortal eyes have never seen the true man, nor has mortal thought discerned him.

Christian Science is the understanding and demonstration of the gospel of Christ. It destroys the belief in material personalities, and proves that all men in their true selfhood are the children of God, free from mortal limitations, and therefore equal. Christian Science teaches that every man, woman, and child should express God, divine Mind, reflect infinite intelligence. As seen in the light of Truth, every man has perfect health, wisdom, power, character, and ability, and is qualified to accomplish perfectly the individual purpose of his life. Christian Science teaches that this is the true status of man now; that the physical mortal man is a total misconception, is only a mask and does not really exist, and that any evil or limitation whatever that seems to be a condition or characteristic of human personality is a false belief. The acceptance and understanding of this truth, and the persistent adherence to it under every seeming stress of circumstance, demonstrates for men, here and now, health and strength, wisdom and ability, freedom from evil and limitation, and equality with their fellow men.

Christian Science is teaching and demonstrating that there is no physical or mental or moral disease, no weakness, incapacity, evil tendency, or limitation of any kind, which cannot be healed through the understanding of Christ, Truth, the understanding of God, good, and of man as His spiritual child. There is no human condition that is without hope, no situation in which one has ground for discouragement. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” and the same is true of all who humbly look to Christ for help in time of need.

The significance of Christian Science is growing in human thought, and the influence of its demonstrations must be great and far reaching on the questions of education, the treatment of the so-called sick and selfish, defectives and delinquents of all classes, the ignorant, the insane, the criminals, and on the solution of what is called the social problem, including the presence of poverty, injustice, vice, and degradation. Christ Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The early disciples understood something of what the Master meant, but for nearly two thousand years the truth seemed to be obscured. A pure, noble woman has, however, found the “key,” and multitudes in all parts of the world are rejoicing and thanking God that, as she says in Science and Health (p. 97), “Christianity is again demonstrating the Life that is Truth, and the Truth that is Life.”