Why are Bible-based names for God so important? Because they reveal not only the nature of God, but also the qualities we express as the reflection of God.
In addition to the seven synonyms for God that Mary Baker Eddy identifies in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures—Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, and Love—there are countless other names for God. Some biblical names are these: the Almighty, Creator, I AM THAT I AM, Father, the great King, the most High. And others from Science and Health are as follows: infinite One, the great Giver, Father-Mother, Supreme Being, and Supreme Ruler.
There is one name for God that Mrs. Eddy uses in her published writings that has come to mean a great deal to me: “the All-in-all.” God is All-in-all! As a Christian Science practitioner, though, I’ve found that referring to God in this way has raised questions and even confusion for some people I have spoken with.
The name All-in-all has raised questions and even confusion for some people.
Some asked whether being All-in-all is pantheism, a belief that God is in matter. The answer is an emphatic “No!” However, I also struggled for a time with this.
When I don’t understand something taught in Christian Science, I pray about it, explore the topic in the Bible and our Leader’s writings, and occasionally exchange ideas with friends. This invariably brings clarity. In this case, it expanded my understanding of what God as All-in-all means. It uplifted and transformed my experience, revealing greater harmony in all areas of life.
One obstacle to understanding the term “All-in-all” might be that we are tempted to think that matter is actual, and therefore has a place in the “all” that exists. Starting from this false premise, we are beguiled into believing that God is in body—in a toe, tooth, eye, or brain, for example; or in a tool—a computer, phone, or car. This is based on a false belief that God is within the physical universe, or in matter, which is not in accord with the teachings of Christian Science.
As “the scientific statement of being” in Science and Health makes crystal clear, “There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter” (p. 468). Matter simply is not. It has no being, no place. The infinite nature of spiritual being—the allness of God and the nothingness of matter—eliminates the misconception that God could be in any material entity.
This takes pantheism out of the picture entirely. Praying with this uplifted understanding of what All-in-all means, we realize that “all” God expresses is orderly and fair, wise and insightful, whole and beautiful, unlimited and joyful, strong and active, reliable and predictable, well-nourished and harmonious.
One winter I had a profound experience that shed new light on the meaning of “All-in-all.” I had a deep cut on my hand. Daily I would run clear water over it before covering it again. But then during a snowstorm I lost electricity in my house, so I didn’t have running water. I wondered how I was going to keep the cut clean. Then I realized I needed to see that, right now, I am entirely the embodiment of unblemished spiritual qualities, and not a mortal body dependent on time and hygiene for healing.
As I prayed to better understand that all being is purely spiritual, I got a better sense of what it means that God is All-in-all. I felt God’s loving allness as the only power in my life. I realized that all power comes from God, and it became clearer to me that I don’t live in matter, in a material body or a material world. A few hours later when I uncovered my hand, I found that the skin had totally closed. I was healed.
During the electrical outage, I also felt quite isolated. My car was being repaired, so I couldn’t travel to take care of tasks like getting water or charging my phone, which is a necessary tool for my work as a practitioner of Christian Science. But as I prayed to understand our unity with God, I got a better understanding of my place in God’s family. Then I felt cared for, embraced as a child of God, and more included in God’s allness.
The source of supply—God—is infinite and ever at hand.
Praying further about God as All-in-all, we can consider what it means that God’s infinite being is “reflected in” or “expressed in” all spiritual being. We might think about the qualities of God that are manifest in each one of us as His image and likeness—spiritual qualities of His abundant nature that we express. This shows that the source of supply—God—is infinite and ever at hand.
After I prayed during the electrical outage to recognize God’s qualities as reflected in, expressed in—and manifest in—all being, my neighbors offered practical help that met my needs. They gave me water, charged the backup batteries for my phone, used their backhoe to remove the heavy snow from the end of my driveway, and gave me a ride to pick up my car. I thanked them with baked goods after the storm was over. Divine abundance was embracing each of us.
All-in-all as a name for God is beautifully summed up in Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896 where Mrs. Eddy writes, “Man must love his neighbor as himself, and the power of Truth must be seen and felt in health, happiness, and holiness: then it will be found that Mind is All-in-all, and there is no matter to cope with” (p. 183).
So “All-in-all” takes its place with the other powerful names for God that we find in Christian Science. A fuller understanding of synonyms for God helps us realize our oneness with God. And that oneness brings a shining sense of health, community, and supply.
