Here’s a view of sin I’d never considered in depth before:
“This is sin’s necessity,– to destroy itself.” Mary Baker Eddy (S&H 405:19)
Sin is often viewed in terms of the harm it brings the sinner. A caught thief is sent to prison. A drug addict spirals downward into a dark mental and physical abyss. A selfish person loses his or her friends.
But according to Eddy, the necessity of sin is not to ruin people’s lives and inflict unending penalty. The necessity of sin is to destroy itself.
This is incredibly liberating for those who feel hopeless and helpless under the weight of sin.
For instance, the “necessity” of gluttony is not to turn a human into a weighty, guilt-ridden, hopeless-feeling mortal. The “necessity” of gluttony is to prove there is no pleasure in overeating, that there is no joy in stuffing one’s stomach with mountains of edibles. True joy is found in spiritual mindedness, spiritual contentment, and not in consumption of another plate of food.
Or, another…the “necessity” of anger is not to destroy marriages, end friendships and burn bridges with neighbors. The “necessity” of anger is to prove there is no gain from harboring rage, expressing resentment, holding grudges, and voicing complaints. True joy springs from forgiveness, compassion, generous sharing and caring, and expressing unselfed love.
The “necessity” of sin is not to destroy people. It’s to destroy itself, to prove there is no joy in sin-indulgence and to turn thought to God where true joy and happiness come from.
So, if you’re feeling the weight of sin today, chin up! As a child of God, you have a sinless disposition to claim and express. Sin can’t steal your divine heritage. It can’t destroy you, the sinless offspring of divine Love. It can only destroy itself and be gone,– forever.
Thank you so much! This reminds me of a phrase from a hymn, “…sin shall have no more dominion. God is all and heaven is here.”
Wonderful remark Evan.
Your explanation, for me is summarized in the following citation from Eddy.
“let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine powers that be”.
Thank you Evan. This is a wonderful insight and useful.
The necessity of sin is used also in this way; “All things work together to them that love God.” Here sin is used in a positive perspective, turning man away from it and forcing man to realize that there is no sin, as Evan’s blog so beautifully brings out.
Great ideas! It reminds me of Eddy’s statement that sorrow is salutary if it wrenches away false pleasurable beliefs. I looked up salutary and it means helpful, or healing! We are always being turned away from matter to Spirit as our true source of happiness and peace! Then spiritual growth takes place and blessings follow!
Although Christian Science brings comfort to the sinner, how do we deal with sin when those we have wronged are no longer with us? I know that my unkind, selfish thoughts and actions blighted the lives of others in my family – some of whom have passed on. Although I have moved on spiritward, these dear people have suffered from my actions, and it is now too late for me to ask forgiveness
To above,
God readily makes up to those you have wronged for the error of your doings. That’s for certain. It’s the nature of divine Love, to abundantly provide to one and all and not let a mortal interfere.
When a person passes on, they do not die. There is no final curtain in Life. Only a final curtain to sin, suffering and error!
And you are wise to amend for your own ways. The sinner suffers for his sins. But no more sin equals no more suffering. Case closed.
Thank you so much Evan for your blog. Your thoughts today have really helped bring clarity. I have been struggling with letting go of some past moments when anger got in the way of meaningful friendships and/or relationships and have often found myself saying I wish I didn’t do this or say that.
Thank you so much for reminding us that sin punishes itself and does not hurt any idea of God. Divine Love is always loving us. W need to forgive ourselves amend our ways and look God-ward.