[This article is originally published in the booklet Ecumentical Papers – Contributions to Interfaith Dialogue, compiled by the Office of the Manager Christian Science Committees on Publication, published by the Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts]
The following is adapted and based on an informal summary of the views expressed by the Christian Scientist participants in a dialogue on this subject, rather than a position paper written in advance.
Baptism is an inner experience, not an outward event. It is a spiritual purification of thought, character, and will, resulting in transformation of mind and body, and is a continuing process.
When John baptized in Jordan unto repentance and the remission of sins, he said: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” ( Matt. 3:11 ). Does this not imply that it is the baptism of fire and of the Holy Spirit which characterizes Christ?
Every Christian has experienced some measure of these three aspects of baptism: (1) that of repentance, humility, and renewal of purpose — the first step in Christian progress; (2) the sometimes painful relinquishment of cherished desires or viewpoints, the unselfing of motive, which is indeed a purification as by fire; (3) the larger sense of baptism into the Holy Spirit, as at Pentecost, when men understood each other’s meaning and each heard the message of Christly love in his own familiar tongue.
Each of these three aspects of baptism takes place in one’s inmost thought and spirit and cannot be administered from without. As Christian Scientists understand it, if one has the substance of which the outer baptism is the loved symbol, the symbol becomes unnecessary.
When Jesus, at the beginning of his ministry, came to John for baptism, he said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” ( Matt. 3:15 ). When he later asked James and John if they were able to be baptized with the baptism with which he himself was baptized, is it not clear that he here referred to the baptism of tribulation and of exaltation, of fire and of the Spirit? In sending out the twelve disciples, and later the seventy, the Master’s detailed charge and instruction included no reference to baptism as such. In Matthew 10 he spoke rather of preaching the gospel, or healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons.
The Master’s constant ministry was that of spiritual purification, evidenced in healing of mind and body. The regeneration of thought through the healing influence of the Christ-spirit is the true baptism. If a man is materially-minded, and his mentality is made up of hate, lust, greed, and the like, his experience will reflect this. If his consciousness is spiritually transformed by humility, integrity, and love for his fellowmen, his experience will show the change.
To the Christian Scientist, the spiritual is real and substantial. In healing, the Word is made flesh in experience. No theory or symbol is sufficient. Only by actual life and demonstration can spiritual baptism and spiritual communion be shown forth as regeneration and healing.
The absolute Christian goal is perfection, the basis of prayer and progress. Baptism is the process, the way, the gradual entering into a new life as a member of the body of Christ.
The baptismal experience, through which the spiritual reaches the human and the human is transformed by the spiritual, is the very point of healing. In this sense, the true sacraments of baptism and healing are one.
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: Our baptism is a purification from all error. Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love, — casting out error and healing the sick. Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one God. Our bread, “which cometh down from heaven,” is Truth. Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspiration of Love, the draught our Master drank and commended to his followers. ( Science and Health, p. 35 ).