Whose Bible Interpretation?

[RV Roseville]

Dear _____________,

From the perspective which you compose your message, it
speaks to me deeply.

Last night, our own Bill Sweet was once again interviewed
on Coast To Coast. Try as I might, I could not get my
computer radio to tune onto the program or click on
the program on the Coast To Coast site, as I have done
in the past. However, a friend heard Bill and felt what
he heard fairly agreeable to the Christian Scientist'
point of view. His own observation, though, as regards
non-goal directed prayer was to say he thought that Jesus
and Mrs. Eddy's prayer were goal directed. I had to agree
with him there.

Bill writes that in the discussion on the program, the topic
of the evolving thought of God was addressed.

Bill wrote to me, "The Bible says God created evil; the light
and the darkness. When this point was brought up by John Wells
last night, I said that we should consider interpreting the
Bible as giving us an evolving God. That is, the concept of

of God goes through evolution. What do I mean by that?
The warrior man-God of the Old Testament with His combination
of good and evil forces gradually improves in concept. So in
the Gospels and continuing to the end of the Bible, God emerges
and evolves for man's understanding to be Divine Love. So
we get higher views of Deity as we evolve. Our concept
and perception of God's nature evolves, too."

I like this, Bill! And this seems right in line with our
present discussion, -- right on point, I would say. It
stuck me today that this sense of evolving perceptions is
certainly understood by Mrs. Eddy, for instance when she
gives the definition for "In", in the Glossary chapter.
In her "Key To The Scriptures", in Science and Health,
on p. 588:20, Mrs. Eddy writes, "In. A term obsolete in
Science if used with reference to Spirit or Deity."

Obviously, acknowledging something that has become obsolete
shows a realization that a particular concept has evolved.

While the number of verses in The Bible and in the Christian
Science textbook may appear finite, their combinations and
or applications become unlimited, much as the music scales
and chords along with rhythm and harmony allow for an
unquantifiable number of musical offerings. Looking deeper,

in terms of spiritual math, Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health,

in the chapter "Footsteps of Truth", p. 209:

"Material substances or mundane formations, astronomical
calculations and all the paraphernalia of speculative

theories, based on the hypothesis of material law or life
and intelligence resident in matter, will ultimately
vanish, swallowed up in the infinite calculus of Spirit."

As to whether Mrs. Eddy gave a peculiar interpretation or
not, the bottom line is that she has advised us that her
writings were given to her by God and as though she were
merely a scribe. If we as Christian Scientists ascribe
to this claim, then let us give credit where credit is due,
realizing then that it is God, Himself/Herself, who is
pointing out a peculiar and or particular interpretation.

There is a message to "First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Chicago, Illinois, where the sense of our evolving
perception of the infinite is beautifully indicated.

In Miscellany p. 181:8, Mary Baker Eddy writes,

"Progress is spiritual. Progress is the *maturing*
conception of divine Love; it demonstrates the scientific,
sinless life of man and mortal's painless departure
from matter to Spirit, not through death, but through
the true idea of Life, -- and Life not in matter, but in
Mind."

Paula