“Every step towards goodness”

This week’s Bible Lesson includes the following statement from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “Every step towards goodness is a departure from materiality, and is a tendency towards God, Spirit” (213:11-12). Let’s look at other instances where “goodness” appears in the Bible and CS literature. (All bold text emphases are mine.)

“Sin makes its own hell, and goodness its own heaven” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 196:18).

“Life and goodness are immortal” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 246:28 (only)).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22).

“The desire to be good is natural, even though at times it may seem otherwise. Goodness has ever borne evidence of man's true being, of his spiritual selfhood” (Gwen M. Castle, “Expressing Goodness,” Sentinel, March 6, 1965).

“Since a high goal of every Christian Scientist is to attain the ability to demonstrate Truth, and goodness is the way of attaining it, then the desire to be good must be one's constant purpose” (Neil H. Bowles, “Goodness Demonstrates Truth,” Journal, November 1976).

Now I find, as never before,

I’m devoted to serving You,

Your pure goodness fills me anew,

Father-Mother God, All-in-all.

(Christian Science Hymnal, No.  473:4)

Kenneth Foster, CS