In the Christian Science Bible Lesson October 24, 2011 Issue

Loving the Ten Commandments

For the lesson titled "Everlasting Punishment" from October 24–30, 2011

Ann Edwards

The title of this week’s Bible Lesson, “Everlasting Punishment,” refers to the theological doctrine that those who believe in Christ will be saved, while those who don’t will suffer endless punishment in hell after death. This doctrine held sway until well into the 19th century, when it began to lose influence. But it would be a mistake to think that no one subscribes to this belief anymore. In fact, a quick “google” of the phrase “everlasting punishment,” as of this writing, indicates 6,220,000 results! A number of websites preach that this doctrine is true. 

Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science Church, was brought up to believe in this doctrine. Her own spiritual journey and experience, however, proved to her the allness of God and the unreality of evil. In Science and Health, she reasoned that “since God is All, there is no room for His unlikeness. . . . Therefore evil, being contrary to good, is unreal, and cannot be the product of God” (p. 339, citation 3). But she also cautions that “a sinner can receive no encouragement from the fact that Science demonstrates the unreality of evil, for the sinner would make a reality of sin . . . .” (ibid.). The third tenet of Christian Science reinforces this idea, as well as affirming the power of God’s forgiveness to destroy the belief in sin (see p. 497, cit. 4).

Isaiah also cautioned his listeners that “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah lamented that Israel had become a community where “truth is fallen in the street, and equity [honesty] cannot enter” (Isa. 59:2, 14, Responsive Reading).

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