Love casts out fear

In the NRSV, I John 4 is sub-titled “God is Love”. John's sublime definition and explanation of love comes to us in the verses 7 to 21. The “Love” in the sub-title has a capital, no doubt because it is a title; the remainder of the “loves” do not have capitals. Christian Science capitalises the word as a synonym of God. In the chapter Prayer in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (by Mary Baker Eddy), we find “God is Love” in parenthesis. I conclude that this is because it is a quote from I John. (See SH 6:17).

It is John who assures, and reassures us, that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear.” Who is the student of Christian Science who has not turned to that truth with expectancy of healing and freedom from fear  -- fear, which divine Science says, is “the fountain of sickness” (S&H 391:32)? 

There is much in Science and Health on handling fear, and a strong definition in the Glossary (p. 586: 11): 

FEAR. Heat; inflammation; anxiety; ignorance; error; desire; caution.

The topic of fear also appears in the chapter Christian Science Practice. Here we are given guidance in our healing practice, and told to: 

“Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients.”

I John chapter 5: 6 speaks of Jesus having come by water and by blood. 

   This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. 

By water? I looked up Dummelow's Bible Commentary: 

    According to the most generally accepted interpretations of this difficult passage, the reference is primarily to our Lord's baptism in Jordan and His death upon the Cross – the baptism of water and the baptism of blood, which together sum up His redemptive work and represents its cleansing and atoning power.*

As I read chapter 5, I particularly noticed that two other synonyms or names for God were used: Spirit, and life (no capital). I wonder if I John could be a sort of recapitulation on the life and work of Jesus and the beginnings of Christianity.

Finally, chapter 5 presents me with another point to ponder – “mortal sin”. Mortal sin is a term we might associate with the Catholic church, so I looked up Wikipedia and found this:

   A mortal sin (Latin: peccata mortalia), in Catholic theology, is a gravely sinful act, which can lead to damnation if a person does not repent of the sin before death. A sin is considered to be "mortal" when its quality is such that it leads to a separation of that person from God's saving grace...

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_sin

The troublesome (to me) passage in the Bible is: “There is a sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that, All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.” (See I John 5:16, 17.)

Dummelow quotes Plummer: '”Sin unto death” is not any act of sin, however heinous, but a state or habit of sin wilfully chosen and persisted in: it is constant and consummate opposition to God.”

So what does Christian Science say about it? I know there is something in Mrs. Eddy's writings which contains the words “sin against the Holy Ghost.” It's on page 55 of her Miscellaneous Writings: 

    Opposite to good, is the universal claim of evil that seeks the proportions of good. There may be those who, having learned the poser of the unspoken thought, use it to harm rather than to heal, and who are using that power against Christian Scientists. This giant sin is the sin against the Holy Ghost spoken of in Matt. xii. 31,32.

Here is that reference in Matthew: 

   Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Who ever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Well, I can now go on to II and III John. I didn't expect this deep stuff of I John!

Joyce Voysey

* Ed. In relation to this passage from I John 5:6, readers might enjoy Charlotte Kennard's August 15, 1914 article "Passing of Evil" in the Christian Science Sentinel. She writes of "constant prayer for increased spiritual understanding" that includes "a purified consciousness" and "being ready to sacrifice all material hindrances". 

See https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1914/8/16-50/passing-of-evil