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A Commandment for Family Use
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Ex. 20:12: Here is the fifth commandment. In evaluating this commandment, let us consider a statement made by Mrs. Eddy: "The Scriptures are very sacred. Our aim must be to have them understood spiritually, for only by this understanding can truth be gained." Science and Health, p. 547;
It is common practice to accept the fifth commandment as revealing the filial duties which children owe to their parents, and rightly so. But this view touches upon only a small portion of the meaning. Viewed in the light which Christian Science throws on the Bible, the commandment is seen to have a more profound spiritual meaning and a much broader base. In fact, it applies not just to children but to every individual.
Christ Jesus told his followers, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Matt. 23:9: In like vein Mrs. Eddy writes, "Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation." Science and Health, p. 332; He is our Father-Mother and we are His children. If the commandment is stated in the following manner, its spiritual meaning becomes apparent: Honor God as thy Father-Mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." When we honor our Father-Mother God, we shall naturally be humane toward our human parents.
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December 3, 1966 issue
View Issue-
Seeing the Perfect Man
RALPH CASTLE
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Breaking the Self-barrier
ELIZABETH GLASS BARLOW
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A Commandment for Family Use
PERRY H. RADCLIFFE
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Awakening from the Mortal Dream
ESTELLE B. CRANE MAC GREGOR
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Jon Changes Models
ALICE TAYLOR REED
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THE NIGHT OF NICODEMUS
Eugene W. Moss
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The Power That Heals
NORMA J. BEYER
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Perpetual Freshness
Helen Wood Bauman
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Is Religion Relevant?
William Milford Correll
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My understanding of God and Christian Science has caused my...
Fay Jawetz Band
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I was led to Christian Science through a friend who asked me if I...
Mary Margaret Gifford
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I wish to express my gratitude for the healing of what might have...
Warren Thomas Staples with contributions from Naville Rutledge
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It has been my great privilege to know of Christian Science all...
Patricia Wiggins Clarke
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Signs of the Times
Wernher von Braun