How do we know?

Into the wilderness once more!

I left class pondering the question: What evidence have you seen that we humans have divine potential? I was sure I would find an answer quickly after all isn’t this what we teach in Unity? We are here to express the divinity within us.
But how do we know this is true?

I went to the Bible for Unity students and I don’t mean the Hebrew Bible or Gospels.  I went to Revealing Word written by Charles Fillmore that is often referred to as the Unity Bible for Truth students. The definition of divine is “of the nature of God – God like” (p. 56)

Then I went to Five Unity Principles to find evidence of our divinity.
The Second Unity Principle is “Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ spirit within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are also inherently good.”
Ellen Debenport The Five Principles: A Guide to Practical Spirituality Unity Village: Unity House 2012.

Back to Revealing Word: the definition of the divine ideal is “the Christ man.”
The definition of divinity within us is “The true spiritual man, the Christ that is the real of every man.” So we turn to Jesus who became Jesus the Christ and ultimately Christ Jesus.

Jesus taught what he did we can do and more. Matthew 21: ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will be done. 22Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.’ In his belief in us he must be recognizing our divinity.  And in Matthew 5:14  Jesus tells us “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Another question: Why is Unity Bible based? I search for evidence in the world I can know with my senses.

In the book Glimpses of Truth Dr. Tom writes about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Clergy during Hitler’s Third Reich.
“For Bonhoeffer, Jesus Christ is not a hero with exploits to mimic but a life-transforming Lord whose power reshapes anyone who chooses to plug into the Christ-source. Certainly, when “the form of Jesus Christ itself works upon us in such a manner that it molds our form in its own likeness,” we shall become Christ-like”  (p. 17.)  And the Christ is divine and is good and perhaps that’s the answer

What evidence do we have?  People like Detrick Bonhoefferffer, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa surely exemplify the Christ.  I search further. But this time I look around my world. I see people who have been or who are incredible servants for others. They fit my description of a disciple of Christ. They have been willing or are willing– to stand up for one another to support one another and there are many.

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who was shot by Taliban for attending school and encouraging other young girls to attend schools; Sandy Hook Elementary School principal Dawn Hochsprung and First-grade teacher Vicki Leigh Soto who shielded their students at the cost of their lives; Oprah Winfrey; Maya Angelou; Pope Francis; and so many others who inspire and lead from their divinity. And how about you and me, when we are plugged into our Christ source,  we are divine!

As I attempt to answer this question I find I am questioning my answers.
I wonder if I forgot everything I have learned and if so where did it go?

Dr. Tom writes: “God’s not done with us yet so until then we are both?” Human and Divine.  (Glimpses p. 29) So for now, I am satisfied with this answer to the question: "What evidence have you seen that we humans have divine potential?"

If this appears to be a jumble of thoughts…well it is….I’m not done yet.