Coexist

When I began to play organ for the Methodists and keyboards for the Catholics a few years back, I had never been exposed to mainline religion. Growing up as a Christian Scientist was more like being a lifelong Course in Miracles student than a Disciple of Christ devotee. We look at God and things like forgiveness, and salvation, and even sacrifice in a totally different way than your typical Christian. So when I first began attending these services, I was a bit taken aback at some of the ways they talked about Jesus, and even how they changed the Lord’s prayer from the St. James Bible version. But I clung to the things we had in common: the desire for peace and love to be expressed in all things we do. At this time of the year, the Methodists are re-dedicating themselves to their faith, and the Catholics are at the height of their rituals. Three years ago, I might have rolled my eyes about either of these services, but now I smile and am glad they are working toward loving everyone, not just people of their own tribe. May we all be so expansive!

"​Of old, the Jews put to death the Galilean Prophet,​ ​the best Christian on earth, for the truth he spoke and​ ​demonstrated, while today, Jew and Christian can unite​ ​in doctrine and denomination on the very basis of Jesus’​ ​words and works. The Jew believes that the Messiah Christ has not yet come; the Christian believes that​ ​Christ is God. Here Christian Science intervenes, explains these doctrinal points, cancels the disagreement,​ ​and settles the question. Christ, as the true spiritual idea,​ ​is the ideal of God now and forever, here and everywhere.​ ​The Jew who believes in the First Commandment is a​ ​monotheist; he has one omnipresent God. Thus the Jew​ ​unites with the Christian’s doctrine that God is come an​d ​is present now and forever. The Christian who believes​ ​in the First Commandment is a monotheist. Thus he​ ​virtually unites with the Jew’s belief in one God, and​ ​recognizes that Jesus Christ is not God, as Jesus himself​ ​declared, but is the Son of God. This declaration of​ ​Jesus, understood, conflicts not at all with another of his​ ​sayings: ​'​I and my Father are one,​'​ — that is, one in​ ​quality, not in quantity. As a drop of water is one with​ ​the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God​ ​and man, Father and son, are one in being. The Scripture reads: ​'​For in Him we live, and move, and have​ ​our being.​'​”​ Mary Baker Eddy Science & Health Page 360:27​