A Lesson Sermon Met on the Subject: “Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?” June 16-22, 2003 by Gary Duke, C.S.
Golden Text (Meaningful Existence): “…God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:18) As inhabitants of the earth, which was not created in vain, the Bible says, man and all of God’s creation have purpose and meaning which we understand when we translate all from material sense to spiritual ideas. For example, a student might think, “Why am I learning so many things I’ll never use?” A parent might wish to be free from daily worry and mundane chores. The antidote is spiritualization of thought which might include growth in grace expressed in discipline, expectation of good, unconditional love, etc.
Resp. Rdg. (Praise the Perfection): “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” (Ps. 148:13) “Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more. Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.” (S&H 3:22) Praise and gratitude are like sunglasses and night vision goggles. We see the glory God has created when harsh glare is eliminated during the day and pitch darkness is penetrated at night.
Section 1 (Forces of Divine Mind): “We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and creation must collapse. Human knowledge calls them forces of matter; but divine Science declares that they belong wholly to divine Mind, are inherent in this Mind, and so restores them to their rightful home and classification.” (S&H 124:26) For instance, the mathematical system expresses simple laws of Divine Mind. If any idea were withdrawn like the number 2, the whole mathematical system would collapse. By the same reasoning, if we as “compound ideas of infinite Spirit” could be withdrawn or ever be less or greater than our true identity, creation must collapse.
Section 2 (Animals): Baal was a foreign god worshipped by King Ahab of Israel and his foreign wife Jezebel. To rid Israel of Baal worship, the prophet Elijah said to King Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (I Kings 17:1) Pursuant to God’s direction, Elijah went into hiding and ravens brought Elijah food. “All of God’s creatures moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible. A realization of this grand verity was a source of strength to the ancient worthies.” (S&H 514:28-31) We might consider this harmony when “bothered” by insects or animals of any kind.
Section 3 (“Miracles”): “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” (I Kings 18:1) Upon Elijah’s direction, rain fell abundantly thereby ending 3 years of drought and famine. What seemed like a miracle to human sense Mrs. Eddy defines as, “MIRACLE. That which is divinely natural, but must be learned humanly; a phenomenon of Science.” (S&H 591:21)
Section 4 (Natural Science vs. Metaphysics): King Hezekiah of Judah was dying and the prophet Isaiah assured him he would be healed plus 15 years added to his life. The king asked for a sign of assurance. Isaiah prayed that the shadow on the sundial go back 10 degrees, which then occurred. “Christian Science eschews what is called natural science, in so far as this is built on the false hypotheses that matter is its own lawgiver, that law is founded on material conditions, and that these are final and overrule the might of divine Mind. Good is natural and primitive. It is not miraculous to itself.” (S&H 127:30) Shouldn’t we be looking to the Comforter, Divine Science, and all past healings for our signs of assurance?
Section 5 (Children): Elisabeth was beyond normal childbearing years and had no children. An angel appeared unto her husband, Zacharius, saying his wife will bear a son, John, who later baptized Jesus and became known as John the Baptist. “Even in Christian Science, reproduction by Spirit’s individual ideas is but the reflection of the creative power of the divine Principle of those ideas. The reflection, through mental manifestation, of the multitudinous forms of Mind which people the realm of the real is controlled by Mind, the Principle governing the reflection. Multiplication of God’s children comes from no power of propagation in matter, it is the reflection of Spirit.” (S&H 302:31) Isn’t the spiritual principle behind multiplication the same whether we’re talking about loaves and fishes, our finances or children?
Section 6 (Advancing Spiritual Steps): Jesus walked on the water to his disciples who were sailing a ship threatened by large waves. Upon coming aboard, “immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” (John 6:21) “Jesus walked on the waves, fed the multitude, healed the sick, and raised the dead in direct opposition to material laws. His acts were the demonstration of Science, overcoming the false claims of material sense or law.” (S&H 273:24) These advanced spiritual steps of the Way-shower suggest our divine possibilities. As we let go of the atomic matter model, we are free to see ourselves and others as complete spiritual ideas whereby healing occurs.
