In the Christian Science Bible Lesson April 14, 2014 Issue

Finding our oneness

For the Lesson titled “Doctrine of Atonement” from April 14 - 20, 2014

Kathleen Collins

Anyone who has ever felt alone and aimless like a lost sheep can find comfort in this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled “Doctrine of Atonement.” The Lesson describes the lengths to which the Christ goes to bring us into the embrace of divine Love. Jesus promised: “The Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11, citation 10). His life proved that we can all know our oneness with God.

Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, defines atonement as “the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love.” She continues, “Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man’s oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage” (p. 18, cit. 3). The Lesson gives examples of how Jesus taught that oneness through discourse, prayer, and healing; and how he demonstrated it through the crucifixion and resurrection. His disciples, even now, with “endless homage,” can learn and obey the truth he taught, do as he did, and find “the Lord working with them” (Mark 16:20, cit. 20).

Does the word doctrine sound harsh and unyielding? It comes from the Latin doctrina, and both doctrina and the Greek word didachē simply mean “teaching” or “instruction.” With Christ as the teacher, doctrine brings grace, hope, and joy, assuring spiritual unity: “He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 1:9, cit. 21). But a rigid, narrow-minded approach to doctrine leads to blind hatred, as when the opponents of Jesus heard that he had healed the man at the pool of Bethesda. Instead of rejoicing, they “sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.” But Jesus couldn’t help doing God’s will. He responded simply, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:16, 17, cit. 13).