English
Español
Français
Deutsch
PortuguêsClick here to print PDF version
TO HEAR CHRISTIE READING HER MET, CLICK HERE & ON LISTEN:
The Eternal and Unstoppable Cause and Creator
Metaphysical Application Ideas for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“God the Only Cause and Creator”
for May 29 through June 4, 2023
by Christie C. Hanzlik, C.S.,
Boulder, CO • ccern@mac.com • 720-331-9356 • christiecs.com
INTRODUCTION: GOLDEN TEXT AND RESPONSIVE READING
This week’s Bible Lesson reminds us that God, by definition, is the only cause and creator. In other words, there is no other cause or creator. This is not to say that there is a separate being, God, who *poof* created the universe and *poof* causes things to happen. Rather, that God is the word for the source of all creation and how it is experienced. Creation is not mere stuff. Creation is the unfoldment of the already-complete and beginningless reality.This unfoldment goes on infinitely, through the “cycles of divine light” (citation S16, 135: 26).
And God is the cause of the unfoldment of creation. The sooner we break free from the limited view of God as a separate being that one day *poof* created stuff, and the sooner we break free from the limited view that creation had a start point, the sooner we can begin to grasp the concept of eternality and beginninglessness and feel the full wonder of “God the Only Cause and Creator.”
Each of us has probably pondered the fact that time cannot have a start point. If we go back a cajillion-catrillion years, this still isn’t a start point because there is always a minute before that, and then a minute before that. While this concept may be tough for us to grasp, God—the only cause and creator—can only think in terms of beginninglessness and eternality. God, divine Mind, does not think in terms of a start point. God only knows beginninglessness.
Beginninglessness and the eternal unfoldment of creation is wonder-full, as in full of wonder. And like the Pslamist says in the Golden Text, or main idea, of this week’s Lesson, “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare” (GT, Psalms, 75:1).
The Responsive Reading continues this theme of praise for God: “Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us” (RR, Psalms 40:5).
This verse reminds me of a time when I was driving home from a talk in Eastern Colorado and decided to stop to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It was a misty day and the greenery was verdant and the songbirds were singing about the fresh springtime moisture. As I approached the edge of the canyon, the view astonished me. Without thinking, I blurted to God, “God, why didn’t you tell me about this before? This is amazing.”
And then, I heard a reply from God as clearly as if someone was standing beside me. I heard, “That is how I feel every time I look at all of you.” The voice startled me. I hadn’t expected God to reply to me, and yet the message spoke to the core of my being. While I was deeply inspired by the view of the canyon, I will never forget that moment in which this new view of God’s love for all of us was revealed to me.
The remainder of the Responsive Reading is from Ephesians where the author describes us as God’s “workmanship,” and that we can understand ourselves and our purpose as we look to Christ Jesus’s example. Ephesians describes Christ Jesus as the cornerstone, the apostles and prophets as the foundation, and that all the building is perfectly fit and framed together as a holy temple in the Lord. Each of us is “rooted and grounded in love” and can discover more of this as we have faith in Christ, our awareness of God as the only cause and creator (RR, Ephesians 2: 10-21, 3: 14-21).
SECTION 1: GOD IS THE ONLY
The first section opens with the words from God, shared by Isaiah, “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:” (cit B1, Isaiah 45:5).
With the memory of God’s message at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison fresh in thought, Isaiah’s prophecy has even more meaning. God is saying, “I girded thee”—I strengthened and encircled and prepared you—even though you have not even known me. Even though we may not yet be able to conceive fully what God is, God is still strengthening and encircling and preparing us each moment of every day.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy defines God as “The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal” (cit. S1, 587: 5-6). This is like saying God is the only that is. God is the only.
Earlier in Science and Health, she writes, “God is individual, incorporeal. He is divine Principle, Love, the universal cause, the only creator, and there is no other self-existence” (cit 2, 331: 18-20). These words further emphasize God as the only. There is no other self-existence…God is that which is self-existent, meaning that God needs no creator and just is, God just is. God is the great I am, the great self-existent.
It is difficult to find words to describe the great I am, self-existent, and universal cause because there is nothing else with which to compare. There is no other cause to compare God to because God is the universal cause. God is incomparable because God is individual. God is the only.
SECTION 2: GOD IS THE ONLY CAUSE
The second section is about God as the only cause. God “reveals” and causes creation to be seen (cit B3, Isaiah 40:5). The section includes the opening ideas in the first chapter of Genesis, which describe God’s revealing of creation. God—the all-knowing—already knows and always has known all of creation in its completeness. Genesis 1 describes how the completeness of creation is revealed, made known, to us. Genesis tells us about the ongoing unfoldment of creation. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was [already] light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (cit B4, Genesis 1: 3-27; word in brackets are added).
In the Key to the Scriptures (the second part of Science and Health), Mary Baker Eddy offers a spiritual understanding of this first chapter of Genesis. She describes creation as a revelation. Here’s how she describes it, “All questions as to the divine creation being both spiritual and material are answered in this passage, for though solar beams are not yet included in the record of creation, still there is light. This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God’s light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?” (cit S3, 504: 3-15; italics added).
Saying that God is the Creator does not mean that God *poof* created something out of nothing, but rather that God reveals what is already and always and beginninglessly complete. As Mary Baker Eddy writes, “This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected” (cit. S5, 502, 29). And, “In divine revelation, material and corporeal selfhood disappear, and the spiritual idea is understood” (cit S4, 561: 20). In other words, in divine revelation, a limited and constrained sense of existence disappears, and the unlimited idea is understood.
SECTION 3: GOD IS THE ONLY CAUSE AND CREATOR OF MAN
The first and second sections emphasize God as the only cause and creator of light and the universe, and the third section emphasizes God as the only cause and creator of us….our very being and existence.
We are the reflection of God. Reflection in this context means more than merely an image in a mirror. Instead, reflection is the way an idea is known and expressed. Just as an artist’s talent is reflected in their artwork, so too are we reflected in God’s creation. Artwork reflects the artist’s talent, and we reflect God’s talent.
God, “the all-knowing,” has known us even before so-called birth. There has never been a single moment in which God has not known us and our full goodness. To state otherwise would suggest that there could be a gap in God’s knowledge. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Mortals can never understand God’s creation while believing that man is a creator. God’s children already created will be cognized only as man finds the truth of being. Thus it is that the real, ideal man appears in proportion as the false and material disappears” (cit. S8, 69:6-10, 13-26). As I understand it, this statement means that “God’s children already created will be [understood by us] only as [we] find the truth of being [the truth of our existence]. Thus it is that the real, ideal [existence and expression of God’s creation] appears in proportion as the false and [limited view] disappears” (cit. S8, 69:6-10, 13-26; additions in brackets).
SECTION 4: GOD IS THE SOLE CAUSE AND CREATOR
The fourth section emphasizes again the fact that God is only cause and creator by stating that there is no other cause or creator. While this may seem obvious, it seems like we each need to learn this lesson—that we are not the cause or creator—over and over again with each new challenge. The prophet Jeremiah explains that God spoke to him, and said, “the people continually look to false gods and have forsaken the ‘fountain of living waters’ that I am pouring out to them. They try to make [metaphorical] cisterns to store up water instead of trusting that I will flow my living waters to them continually. But these cisterns they try to make are broken vessels” (cit. B10, Jeremiah 2: 1-13, somewhat paraphrased).
The letter to the Galatians asks, “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (cit. B11, Galatians 3:3; with Galatians 3:2 added and in the NIV). In other words, why are you not getting this? God is the only source of your being, are you now trying to find substance from somewhere else?
As we each accept the truth of being, the truth of existence, as coming from God—the only cause and creator—we gain a more enlarged sense of our capabilities and potential. As Mary Baker Eddy states, “The human capacities are enlarged and perfected in proportion as humanity gains the true conception of man and God” (cit. S10, 258: 21.
We cannot understand beginningless reality while seeing ourselves as creators. We are not little gods that can create little realities. “God creates all forms of reality.” There is no other type of creation possible; God is the sole creator. (cit. S11, 513:26-6).
As our understanding of God as the cause and creator unfolds more and more, we break free of limitation and discover a fuller and fuller sense of our capacity—we reach the absolute center and circumference of our being (cit. S12, 262:9).
SECTION 5: CHRIST JESUS MAPS OUT THE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS THE ONLY CAUSE AND CREATOR
The fifth section reminds us that God is not a faraway cause and creator, but is an ever present source of help when we need it. Physical forces, like gravity and electricity, and so forth, seem to have force and power, but God is the only cause and creator and governs even these so-called forces. And God is much more than these limited forces because we are inseparable from God and feel the comfort and assurance of God the only cause and creator.
We can pray—reach out to feel—God like the Psalmist did when they wrote, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God” (cit. B15, Psalm 86: 7, 10, NKJV)
Christ Jesus showed us the way that we can call upon God as the only cause and creator. He demonstrated the comforting and healing power of God, and then told us, “He who believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. And he who sees me sees him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (cit. B16, John 12: 44-46, NKJV). Just as in Genesis 1 we learn that God said, “let there be light and there [already] was light,” so too did God reveal Christ Jesus as the light of the world, and so too are we revealed as the light of the world.
As I understand Christ Jesus’ words in the context of this week’s Lesson, he is saying that while he demonstrated God’s comfort and healing, the power to comfort and heal does not come from him, but rather it comes from God as the only cause and creator. Christ Jesus came to show us a light—the clear truth—of our inseparable relationship to God as the only cause and creator, and whoever gets the light—the clear truth—of his message will never live in darkness—doubt and fear.
The section includes the account of Christ Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever. Christ Jesus touched the woman’s arm and the fever left her, and she was immediately able to get up and begin to host Christ Jesus and the others for a meal (cit. B17, Matthew 8: 14, 15). The healing did not come from Christ Jesus touching the woman, but rather from his ability to behold—see—in Science—the Knowledge of existence—the perfect woman, whose cause and creator is only Good.
As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause” (cit. S13, 313:23-26)
Christ Jesus shows us the way to see beyond limited “thought-models” and accept the full view of God’s creation (cit. S14, 259: 6). What Christ Jesus demonstrated about God as only source of comfort and healing is just as true now as it was then. As we grasp the Scientific truth of being, the truth of existence, and the light, more and more solidly, we too can feel the corrective force of God the only cause and creator. As Mary Baker Eddy states, “the Christian Scientist, understanding scientifically that all is Mind, commences with mental causation, the truth of being, to destroy the error. This corrective is an alterative, reaching to every part of the human system.” (cit. S15, 423:8-12)
SECTION 6: THE LAWS OF HEALING WORK IN ALL TIME AND FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW THE WAY OF TRUTH
The sixth section continues with the explanation of Christ Jesus showing us the way to lean upon the Law that God is the only cause and creator. In the book of Matthew, we learn that Jesus went to all the cities and villages, teaching and preaching the gospel—the good news—of the kingdom, and healed every sickness and every disease among the people. When Jesus saw the multitudes, he had compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered, and were like sheep who didn’t yet know who their shepherd was. And he prayed for more workers to be able to share the good news—the gospel (cit. B18, Matthew 9:35-38, paraphrased).
Later in the Matthew, Jesus called his twelve disciples to him he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (cit. B19, Matthew 10: 1).
Jesus did not give the disciples a mysterious power. He gave them the knowledge and understanding of God as the only cause and creator. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Christianity as Jesus taught it was not a creed, nor a system of ceremonies, nor a special gift from a ritualistic Jehovah; but it was the demonstration of divine Love casting out error and healing the sick, not merely in the name of Christ, or Truth, but in demonstration of Truth, as must be the case in the cycles of divine light” (cit. S16,135:26).
In the book of Luke, Christ Jesus explains to John that the power of healing is not just for Christ Jesus and his immediate followers, but is for anyone who follows the way of divine Truth. Christ Jesus explains that even those who were outside their group of disciples could follow the way of Truth-healing, and he says, “for he that is not against us is for us” (cit. B20, Luke 9:49-50).
And then Jesus sends appoints seventy more of his followers to go out and heal in the way he had taught them. Here is a video that shows a reenactment of the seventy going out to heal, with the narrator reading the verses in Luke chapter 10: https://youtu.be/eUL_pSdL24w
Christ Jesus demonstrated and taught these seventy what Mary Baker Eddy describes as “the divine Principle which saves and heals” (cit. S18, 328:6). He taught them to put aside the limited laws of “physical causation” and accept that God is the only cause and creator (cit. S17, 286:12). And the seventy “returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (cit. B21, Luke 10:1, 17-20).
As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Understanding spiritual law and knowing that there is no material law, Jesus said: ‘These signs shall follow them that believe, . . . they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’ It were well had Christendom believed and obeyed this sacred saying.” (cit. S18, 328:20-4). In other words, it would be well if all of Christendom—the worldwide society of Christians—understood and practiced Truth-healing.
Mary Baker Eddy knew that the healing principles—the Science of being, and the truth of existence—Christ Jesus demonstrated two thousand years ago are just as effective for healing today. As she explained, “When the Science of being is universally understood, every man will be his own physician, and Truth will be the universal panacea” (cit. S18, 144:27).
SECTION 7: “THY WILL BE DONE” IS UNSTOPPABLE
The seventh section puts an exclamation mark on the whole Lesson. As I understand it, this final section explains that God is the only cause and creator and there is nothing that can possibly interrupt or get in the way of God as the only cause and creator.
In my healing practice, I often focus on the divine Law: “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10, Matthew 26:42, Luke 11:2, SH 17: 1). “Thy will be done” is not a choice, and it is not option. “Thy will be done” is a divine Law that cannot be reversed. And “Thy will” is only good. “Thy will” is always restorative, corrective, revelatory and a blessing. “Thy will” is never harmful, inharmonious, unjust, or painful. “Thy will” is good.
In this context of this week’s Bible Lesson, “Thy will be done” is a divine Law that underscores the concept of God as the only cause and creator. And this final section makes the point that God’s will as the only cause and creator cannot be undone, undermined, or stopped.
The section opens with a citation from Revelation, which is also the citation Mary Baker Eddy uses to introduces the Key to the Scriptures, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;” (cit. B22, Revelation 3: 7 These, 8 (to 2nd:), NKJV). In other words, the Key—the revelation demonstrated by Christ Jesus, the revelation of the divine truth of existence—has been set before us, and no man—no limited power—can shut the door on this truth.
And to illustrate the point that no one can shut the door on the truth of being, the section includes an account of the disciples and other followers of Jesus being released from prison and allowed to continue preaching and healing. I needed to look up the account in other translations so that I could understand it better. Here’s the account according to the New Living Translation:
“The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.
“The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.’
[To shorten the story, basically the authorities told the apostles to stop preaching or else]
29 “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
33 “When [the authorities] heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
34 “But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!” 36
[and then he explained that false prophets and their followers always fade away on their own]
38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
40 “The others accepted [Gamaliel’s] advice. [and then they flogged the apostles and sent them off with another warning]
41 “The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.[d] 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:12 (to ;), 17–21 (to 1st .), 34, 35-42
This account illustrates how “Thy will be done” cannot be stopped. This story reminds me of another divine Law I rely on often: “you are never more safe than when you’re doing God’s work.”
God is the only cause, and therefore there is no other power that can oppose this cause. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress” (cit. S20, 170: 22-24).
Mary Baker Eddy also states that if any system honors God, it “ought to receive aid, not opposition, from all thinking persons. And Christian Science does honor God as no other theory honors Him, and it does this in the way of His appointing, by doing many wonderful works through the divine name and nature” (cit. S21, 483: 22-30).
Just as Jesus’ disciples and followers needed to lean on God as the only cause and creator 2000 years ago, so too can we learn to do so now. Mary Baker Eddy helped us to know what to do when we seem to face opposition to spiritual healing. She wrote, “You may know when first Truth leads by the fewness and faithfulness of its followers. Thus it is that the march of time bears onward freedom’s banner. The powers of this world will fight, and will command their sentinels not to let truth pass the guard until it subscribes to their systems; but Science, heeding not the pointed bayonet, marches on. There is always some tumult, but there is a rallying to truth’s standard.” (cit. S24, 225:5)
We may not be put into jail for our believes in the same way Jesus’ disciples and followers were, but the truth that God is the only cause and creator does seem to face opposition from what Mary Baker Eddy describes as “human codes, scholastic theology, material medicine, and hygiene” (cit. S25, 226: 14). Divine Science—the Truth of being as demonstrated by Christ Jesus—is revealed and will make itself known despite this opposition. Just as the “angel of the Lord” released Jesus’ disciples and followers from prison so they could share the gospel and heal the multitudes, so too can we feel the angel of the Lord directing us to share the gospel and heal the sick (cit. S25, 226: 14).
We can rejoice in the divine fact that God is the only cause and creator. We are guided and protected by this truth, which sets us free from limitation, lack, and discouragement. As Mary Baker Eddy proclaims, “Citizens of the world, accept the “glorious liberty of the children of God,” and be free! (cit. 26, 227: 24-25).
P.S. The German team for the translation of the weekly metaphysical newsletters of CedarS is urgently looking for more translators! Please contact Nicole Karsch-Meibom ( NicoKarsch@aol.com ) or Christina Muth (manysunflowers@web.de) if you are interested.
Some GEMs of BIBLE-BASED application ideas (from Cobbey Crisler & others) should be POSTED during the week and others will be added to the string and EMAILED together later in the week. You can always check for current GEMs at CedarS INSPIRATION website, whether or not you’ve SUBSCRIBED here for this free, inspirational offering.
Also later in the week, look for Ken Cooper’s
“POETIC POSTLUDE”
contributions related to this Bible Lesson.
THANKS to all you PRECIOUS DONORS for ALL your ONGOING SUPPORT!
All campers & visitors will be blessed by your generosity, vision & LOVE!
Special A/V Appeal: In the next week before camp opens we find that $5,000 more IS NEEDED to meet a match to finish building a CHAPEL AV BOOTH that will protect donated, new equipment. (If you’re interested in helping please just call me (Warren) at 314-378-2574 with a pledge so the work can proceed.)
And, if you haven’t yet checked out the GIVING TREE, there are still plenty of other smaller areas of need before summer! Campers & staff will also be blessed bigtime by the donations made to additional areas of camp, including the horse program, activity equipment, camperships, and Christian Science nursing and practitioner services.
We are deeply grateful for EVERY GIFT of love and support,
The CedarS Team
P.S. For more about ways to keep CedarS operations ever more green and flourishing and/or to make a planned gift, a required IRA distribution or an ENDOWMENT GIFT (that will all be MATCHED), feel free anytime to call or text me (Warren Huff. Executive Director Emeritus and Project Manager) at 314-378-2574. I can put you in touch with our Financial Advisor/broker who donates all fee for stock transfers and sharing tailored, tax-advantaged giving approaches.
