The word theology has lost its charm. The reason for this is clear,—its original meaning was "the thought of God;" but it has wandered far away and some of us have wandered with it. Through Christian Science we are now returning to the Father's house,—the true thought of God. There are three historic theologies, points of view respecting God, all of which are rapidly giving place to the concept which is presented in the teaching of Christian Science. They may be designated as the Calvinistic, the Arminian, and that which declares for universal salvation, and their common and very serious defect is this, that they all limit the infinite and teach men to do so.
Calvinism stands for divine sovereignty,—God plans and executes: no harrier can stay His hand, all that is He purposed for His own glory. Some men were elected to eternal salvation: on these His love is poured, in these His mercy is revealed. Others were chosen vessels of wrath, that He might forever manifest in them His inflexible justice. The New England theology was called "modified Calvinism." Instead of choosing the evil to be damned, God, it is said, "passed them by," or "left them to their own iniquity;" but, whatever the relieving phrases, the stubborn fact remains,—Calvinism puts a limit on the divine goodness. It stands condemned for its stern thought of God.
A protest was entered by Arminius, and it has been repeated by a large portion of the Church. It was claimed that God purposes the salvation of all mankind; His mercy is unlimited, but He has made man free, and a vast number choose death rather than life and will suffer eternal condemnation. The responsibility is wholly with men, who control their own destiny,—God has lost moral control of the individual and thus of the universe. This system shifts sovereignty from God to the will of mankind. Divine Love is frustrated: the infinite plans universal good, but cannot execute His purpose of mercy; His government is characterized by at least partial failure, and there is eternal heartache. The weakness of this system is this, that it limits the divine power. Further, as God has created man, and in some respects the conditions of his life, knowing that a vast multitude will choose death and be forever damned, it is difficult to see how the Arminian theology, now held by many Christian people, escapes in limiting the divine goodness. It certainly limits the power of God; hence it must give place to a higher thought.
