Editorial March 26, 1904 Issue

True Parentage

Till the time of Christ Jesus the world had but faintly recognized the divine Fatherhood, the prevailing conception of God being that of a ruler or a judge; but how different was his teaching on this vital question! He seldom spoke of God except by the tender name of Father, and when they were "slow of heart" to apprehend such a relationship he said, appealing to their human sense, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" On one occasion they mockingly said, "Where is thy Father?" and he replied, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." And what wonderful things he told them of the Father! of His mercy, His compassion, His bounty, His infinite provision for all their need. He told them also how they should draw near to Him, that they must enter into the closet and shut the door, that they must exclude all evil thought, that only as His likeness could they commune with Him,—all malice, hatred, and impurity banished from their thought. He told them that the Father was the source of all life, all truth, all love, and he gave them proof of His ever-presence in the overcoming of whatever denied the allness of divinity. He also said that when his personal ministry should cease, this all-wise, all-loving Father would send the Comforter—the Spirit of truth—to lead all men into the understanding of Truth and Love.

In accordance with this gracious promise, God is to-day understood in the light of Christian Science as nearer and dearer than any earthly parent, and the way is made clear whereby we may trace our relationship to "our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious" (Science and Health, p. 16). As God, Spirit, is neither sick nor sinful. His children cannot be,—they are perfect because their "Father which is in heaven is perfect."

There are many who miss the unspeakable joy of realizing the protecting love of our heavenly Father, because they do not see how He can care for "the whole family in heaven and earth." They are wont to think of earth's millions as separated from God, as independent toilers, but they should remember that even in human experience there are years in the life of every one, from birth to maturity, when the thought of the individual has little or nothing to do with his support, and yet he is most tenderly cared for by parental affection without thought or effect of his own. Should not this teach us above and beyond our insufficient human sense is the eternal Mind, comprehending and supplying all our need,—the omnipresent "fatherhood and motherhood of Love"? (Science and Health, p. 519).

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

The Communion and Annual Meeting