“Would Americans, in the face of unemployment, home foreclosures, two wars and an uncertain economic future, describe the Almighty as a wrathful, cold critic of our failings, or maybe a distant, uncaring force?”

The answer?   “For Americans today, God, quite simply, is love.”

This is Cathy Lynn Grossman’s synopsis of contributions from readers sharing their concept of God in her 12/19/2010 article in USA WEEKEND entitled, “How Americans imagine God.”  She pointed out that the responses are personal and individual.  “Still, one gleaming, common thread weaves throughout: For Americans today, God, quite simply, is love.”  Her readers “describe a loving presence”.

So, how does Christian Science imagine God?

How does Christian Science imagine God?

In her major work on Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes (on page 40), “The Christian Science God is universal, eternal, divine Love, which changeth not and causeth no evil, disease, nor death.”  In Christian Science viewing God as uncaring is unnatural. In an article entitled, “The People’s Idea of God” (on page 6) Mrs. Eddy wrote, “Believing that man is the victim of his Maker, we naturally fear God more than we love Him; whereas “perfect Love casteth out fear;” but when we learn God aright, we love Him, because He is found altogether lovely.”

God loves us.  He does not send us trouble or cause us to suffer. God’s love is so amazing, so deep, so high, so good that God is Love itself.  Christian Science teaches that God is Love.  So much so that He is known as Love and “Love” is therefore regarded as another name for God (and capitalized to indicate this).  God always loves us.  He is always bestowing good, and only good, to His children – to all of us.

I have found relying on God to be an effective, reliable choice in all sorts of situations. In Christian Science I do not hold a blind faith in a God who at times is “a distant, uncaring force” and who may or may not take good care of me. Not at all!  But rather, I hold an understanding trust in a most loving God gained through years of experiencing God’s “loving presence” in help, in guidance, in healing.  This is not a new view of God.  The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (KJV Psalm 46:1).  And now from this article in USA WEEKEND I see that perhaps this is not such an uncommon view.

So, how do you imagine God?