Article July 12, 1947 Issue

THE CUP OF SALVATION

JOAN E. METELERKAMP

Christian Science teaches that salvation is an ever-present possibility because the understanding of Life, Truth, and Love brings deliverance to men from sin, sickness, and death. Centuries before, the Psalmist exultantly exclaimed (Ps. 116:13), "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." He must have glimpsed something of the exalted spiritual meaning of salvation to cause his thoughts to overflow with praise of and confidence in spiritual supremacy.

To many Christians today, however, the cup has become a symbol of bitter anguish and cruel agony. Happily for mortals, Christian Science is here to reveal the spiritual sense of all things. In the light of its teachings the cup of agony loses its dreary connotation and becomes the cup of salvation, with all the new-found implications of that word.

An early experience of my own proves the practical value of a change of thought from the darkness of false theology to spiritual light. I was alone, with no help available, and in intense pain. A copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy lay within reach. I opened it, and the first words I read were (p. 33), "Christians, are you drinking his cup?" Having been educated to think of the Master's cup only in terms of human agony, I was not relieved, but rather in more distress. As I wearily closed the book, wondering if, after all, Christian Science held no help for me, there flashed into thought Jesus' words to his disciples at the last supper (Matt. 26:27), "Drink ye all of it."

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