Just as last week’s subject of “atonement” is noted by Mrs. Eddy as “a hard problem in theology,” she comments on page 1 of Unity of Good about this subject: “Perhaps no doctrine of Christian Science rouses so much natural doubt and questioning as this, that God knows no such thing as sin.” (lines 1-3). Shortly thereafter she states, “Let us then reason together on this important subject, whose statement in Christian Science may justly be characterized as wonderful” (ibid, p. 1: 8-10). The first 7 pages of Unity of Good contain Mrs. Eddy’s answer to this question: “Does God know or behold sin, sickness, and death?”
When viewing the Bible as the story of man’s progressive understanding of God over thousands of years, the seeming contradictions on this point become more clear, in my view. One online source makes this assessment: “The Old Testament shows the wrath of God against sin (with glimpses of His grace); the New Testament shows the grace of God toward sinners (with glimpses of His wrath)” (GotQuestions.org Podcast). In her book, Getting Better Acquainted with Your Bible, Bernice Shotwell describes the Bible as “an expanding revelation” (p. 12). Similarly, Alice Orgain states in her analysis of picture #7 in Christ and Christmas, that the Bible is the “revelation of the ascending consciousness of individual man. . . ”. So, advancing from the law and the prophets of the Old Testatment/Covenant, to the life of Christ Jesus and his teachings in the New Testament/Covenant, to Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science/divine Science, this progression in understanding over many generations has gradually lead mankind to “. . . the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world” (S & H, p. 150).
As found in the December 2020 issue of Plainfield’s magazine, “Love is the Liberator,” and its picture-by-picture analyses by Judge Hanna and Irving Tomlinson, of our Leader’s poem, Christ and Christmas, it is explained that Jesus’ mission was “completed,” while Mrs. Eddy’s mission was “just beginning” (see picture #9, page 10). And, we know from Miscellaneous Writings that the ultimate mission of Christian Science is just what this Forum post addresses – “It is not alone the mission of Christian Science to heal the sick, but to destroy sin in mortal thought. This work well done will elevate and purify the race” (p. 4: 29-2 np).
So, as a result of Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science, the full and final revelation of Truth, with her completing the explanation of God’s true nature, by bringing forth the womanhood of God – having encompassed Jesus’ teaching of the manhood of God (Jer. 31:22 – “A woman shall encompass a man”) – mankind’s progressive understanding and elevation of consciousness towards the realization of God as infinite Love, to whom sin is unknown, continues to be propelled ever forward until the glorious revelation that there is no sin, disease, or death, will be fully realized. “To infinite, ever-present Love, all is Love, and there is no error, no sin, sickness, nor death” (S & H, p. 567:7-8). Just as is brought out so clearly in this week’s Lesson that – through progress, growth, and gradual spiritual understanding, mortal man will “ripen” to the realization that “There is no death” (Lesson citation #10) – so will we all, individually and collectively, be elevated and purified to the realization that there is no sin. As Mrs. Eddy points out – how wonderful is that?!?!?
Thanks for broaching such a thought-provoking subject, which ties into this week’s Lesson so seamlessly, and which prompted some enlightening research! There is so much to study and contemplate on this all-important matter! (A few other relevant citations: S & H, p. 472:27-29; Miscellaneous Writings, p. 367:28-31; Habakkuk 1:13; Unity of Good, p. 3:24-25 & p. 7:22-24).