IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON January 4, 2010 Issue

THE PURIFYING POWER OF SPIRIT

MICHAEL HAMILTON

A CENTRAL IDEA in this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson on the topic of "Sacrament" is summarized in a marginal heading on page 337 of Science and Health which accompanies one of its citations: "Purity the path to perfection" (cit. 6). The healing of Naaman from Second Kings points the way in the Responsive Reading. The prophet Elisha's courageous discernment of the Syrian general's spiritual need leads to restoration. Naaman "dipped himself seven times in Jordan" (II Kings 5:14) in complete surrender to God, and he was healed.

Baptism and the Eucharist, or holy communion, are the two sacraments recognized by most Protestant churches. Sections II and IV focus on their spiritual significance in Christian Science. The Lesson brings out that sacrament truly is the cleansing, purifying power of God in our lives.

The Bible often links water to purification, as in Ezekiel: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you" (Ezek. 36:25, 26, cit. 2). This "new spirit" is illustrated by an exchange between John the Baptist and his followers at Enon (a place name that means "Full of Springs"). They report that Jesus and his disciples are superseding them: "All men come to him" (John 3:26, cit. 6). John graciously confirms the bona fides of the new teacher: "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (John 3:34, cit. 6). Science and Health emphasizes the urgent need for advancing spiritual means and methods, and their comprehensive results: "The necessity for uplifting the race is father to the fact that Mind can do it; for Mind can impart purity instead of impurity, strength instead of weakness, and health instead of disease. Truth is an alternative in the entire system, and can make it 'every whit whole' " (p. 371, cit. 3).