Article June 23, 1934 Issue

Baptism

MARGARET D. BENHAM

When , in the course of one's experiences in the study of Christian Science, the place is reached where he desires to become identified with the movement and investigates the steps to be taken in order to become a church member, his thought may turn to baptism. In the creeds of Protestant churches he no doubt has observed the differing opinions as to how to follow Peter's command, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."

As in his search for enlightenment he consults the Christian Science textbook, the spiritual nature of baptism is revealed to him. A careful study of our Leader's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 35), "Our baptism is a purification from all error," shows him that baptism does not consist in a rite through the symbol of water, but in the purification of our hearts and lives. As we daily and hourly change our thinking from matter to Mind, from error to Truth, from fleshliness to spirituality, we are expressing the true sense of baptism.

As spiritual understanding increases, we perceive that in this work of purification we must follow the leadings of Christ, Truth. Experience teaches us that mere human opinions, based on a material sense of things or on a false sense of personality, are of no avail in the endeavor to follow Christ and be truly baptized. When we pray to the Father for wisdom and guidance, as Jesus did, we gain freedom and are led to take the right course. Thus are the snarls of mortal thinking unraveled. It is satisfying to know that the consciousness of man's oneness with the Father, which the Nazarene possessed, is an impervious defense against all forms of error. We need not expect to achieve spirituality without patiently striving to raise our thought to a more exalted sense of things, seeking continuously the baptism of purification. Our Leader beautifully touches on this point where she says (Poems, p. 75),

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