Article November 22, 1982 Issue

The new covenant

LAURA CANFIELD LEE

From Genesis to Revelation, one can trace in the Bible the development of humanity's concept of man's relationship to God. This relationship is really what life is all about. It explains one's identity or reason for being.

The book of Genesis relates the Lord's message to Abraham that he would "be a father of many nations and that God would establish His covenant with them and give them all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession." ^{ Gen. 17:4, 8.} This appeared to be a guarantee to the people of Israel that they would have a national heritage forever. In succeeding years the Jewish people have accepted this promise as constituting their right to the land later called Palestine, including the city of Jerusalem. During the centuries of their dispersal to other places, many have looked longingly for a return to their homeland. But in a larger sense, we can see that in establishing His covenant among men, God was addressing all people, not only one particular nation or religion.

The concept of Zionism, as developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, sought a return by present-day Jews to the land dwelt in by their forefathers and now seeks the development of that homeland. But when we recognize Zion as a spiritual concept rather than a geographical place, it takes on a much more profound meaning. Part of the definition of "Zion" in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy, is, "Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength." ^{ Science and Health, p. 599.} A return to this Zion requires an understanding of the true worship of the one God, who is Spirit, not matter. Being a spiritually mental state, Zion is universal and secure in divine Mind, not subject to territoriality or loss. Also, how much more satisfying it would be for any of us who may think of Jerusalem only as home for a limited number of mortals, to seek and find the New Jerusalem, defined in the textbook as, "Divine Science; the spiritual facts and harmony of the universe; the kingdom of heaven, or reign of harmony." ^{ Ibid., p. 592.}