The religious books that my dad studied when I was a child were written in a language that, at that time, was not often taught to girls of our faith. The religious services that he attended were also conducted in this ancient language. While I loved the atmosphere of holiness and reverence, I really didn't know what those conducting the services were talking about and felt pretty left out of things. The religious avenues reserved for females were more in line with tradition and custom than with spiritual exploration. The Bible stories that were shared with me were given more as history than for inspiration. Their characters were presented as supernatural heroes. But I was taught to love God and to be a good girl. And I sensed that what Dad understood about God was exemplified by his gentle and generous nature.
Then, when I was in my thirties, I became acquainted with Christian Science. Nobody was more surprised than I was that I became an avid Bible student. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy unlocked the door of the spiritual import of the Bible for me. It taught me how to use the Bible as a resource for comfort, healing, inspiration, and understanding and to recognize its language of love and hope. The Bible's relevance is stated in Science and Health in the first of six religious tenets of Christian Science: 'As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." Science and Health, p. 497.
To gain the inspiration of the Word, it is necessary to go beyond looking at it as only a record of historical events and to recognize its pertinence to each individual situation. The divine Word speaks to you in a language that you can understand. You don't have to be a formally educated Bible scholar to be rescued by its teachings. While Bible dictionaries and interpretive books may help to explain certain archaic references and customs, it's vital to realize that spiritual interpretation is the great need. What fills this need is the nature of God's love for man, which includes the inherent capacity God has given every one of us to understand completely what He is communicating. If we understand this love of God for us as His offspring, we have every right to go to the Bible expecting to recognize fully its healing messages.
