Article July 12, 1958 Issue

THE TENDER RELATIONSHIP OF GOD TO MAN

ALEXANDER A. LE M. SIMPSON

Christ Jesus spoke of the infinite Principle or intelligence of the universe, which we call God, as "my Father," "our Father," or simply "the Father." He used this intimate name for Deity often, especially in moments of strong mental conflict.

During his lonely struggle in Gethsemane, Jesus spoke to God as one would to a human father (Matt. 26:39), "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." And when he was on the cross he appealed to God as an all-forgiving Parent (Luke 23:34), "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." The prayer which he left us addresses God as "our Father."

So Christian Science speaks of Him. Answering the question whether she believed in a personal God, Mary Baker Eddy replied, "I worship that of which I can conceive, first, as a loving Father and Mother." Her reply, as recorded in her book "Miscellaneous Writings," reads in full (p. 96): "I believe in God as the Supreme Being. I know not what the person of omnipotence and omnipresence is, or what the infinite includes; therefore, I worship that of which I can conceive, first, as a loving Father and Mother; then, as thought ascends the scale of being to diviner consciousness, God becomes to me, as to the apostle who declared it, 'God is Love,'—divine Principle,— which I worship; and 'after the manner of my fathers, so worship I God.'"

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