Claim your “rich legacy” of Truth that heals!

(Editor’s Note: The following background information and application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the C.S. Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp. If more information or the text of this Lesson is desired, please see the Director’s Note at the end. The citations referenced in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. These two books are the pastor for Churches of Christ, Scientist, worldwide for which the Bible Lesson-Sermon is prepared and from which it is read.  Other reference books are fully noted at the end.)

Claim your “rich legacy” of Truth that heals!
Application Ideas for the Bible-lesson on “Truth” for Jan. 17-23, 2005 as found in the Christian Science Quarterly
by Gary Duke, C.S., Saint Louis, Missouri

This lesson explains in detail the letter and spirit of healing with 13 of 30 citations drawn from the chapter “Christian Science Practice.” (S&H p. 362-442)

Golden Text:  Spirit, Witness, Truth. 
“…it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

What does a witness do in court?  Testifies about their personal knowledge of something.  Is that testimony always accurate?  If we’re talking about human testimony, no, because the witness is subject to opinion and error.  But if the witness is all-knowing Spirit, the testimony is always sure because Spirit is Truth, accurate and unalterable.

Responsive Reading:  Two Witnesses, Jesus and God. 
Throughout Jesus’ career of healing and teaching he was continually “on trial” (e.g. John 8) being questioned by the Jews in power who wanted to know the 5 W’s:  1) Who is Jesus, the Messiah or a pretender?  2) What is he going to do next?  3) Where did he come from and where is he going? 4) When are prophesies of Jesus going to take place?  5) Why is he stirring up such trouble ~ is it anarchy or deliverance? 

When Jesus bore record of himself, the Pharisees cited Deuteronomy 17:6 as authority for requiring two other witnesses to be legally admissible evidence.  Jesus replied, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” (John 8:18)

Section 1:  Christian Science Treatment.
A Centurion, a Roman officer having authority over 100 soldiers, recognized Jesus’ authority over sickness.  He asked Jesus to heal his paralyzed and suffering servant which Jesus immediately did, referring to the Centurion’s great faith. (B3)  How did Jesus do it ~ how did he heal the servant without even having to visit the patient?

“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals.  In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick.” (S&H 3)

How many methods of true healing are there?  One.  “There are various methods of treating disease…but there is only one which should be presented to the whole world, and that is the Christian Science which Jesus preached and practiced and left to us as his rich legacy.” (S&H 4)

Section 2:  Handle Fear. 
Of what are we so fearful?  Isn’t it the belief that our good is external, found in person (loved one, friend, teacher, boss), place (location, position, rank) or thing (health, wealth, fun) all of which can be taken from us in a moment as seen with the current tsunami disaster?

What’s the antidote?  Light.  “Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body.  If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.  If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.  Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky.  Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.”  (B7, The Message)  That light of the Christ is preventative, giving inspiration to move to higher ground as many did literally and figuratively in the disaster.  The light of the Christ is curative, guiding in grace both those that survived and those that passed on.

Mrs. Eddy counsels that in healing, the first thing to handle is fear.  “Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients. Silently reassure them as to their exemption from disease and danger. Watch the result of this simple rule of Christian Science, and you will find that it alleviates the symptoms of every disease.” (S&H 10)  What is this “simple rule” based upon?  Truth.  “Nothing but the power of Truth can prevent the fear of error, and prove man’s dominion over error.” (S&H 7)

Section 3:  Affirmation.
On the walls of many Churches of Christ, Scientist are written the quote from John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (B9)  Just how does one “know” the truth?

(B10)  “I would seek unto God…commit my cause.”
(B11)  “…fill my mouth with arguments…know the words…and understand…”
(B12)  “…criest after knowledge…seekest her as silver…”
(B13)  “…call upon him in truth.”

One method of healing is identified as “argument” (S&H 15) which includes “affirmation,” (discussed in this section) and “denial,” (covered in the next).  “Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony.  All metaphysical logic is inspired by the simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality.” (S&H 13)  And the rule truly is simple enough for small children to grasp as evidenced by their healings, even when parents are neophytes.  “Truth has a healing effect, even when not fully understood.” (S&H 12)  

Section 4:  Denial.
Denial is a vital aspect of treatment by argument because “The sick unconsciously argue for suffering, instead of against it.  They admit its reality, whereas they should deny it.  They should plead in opposition to the testimony of the deceitful senses, and maintain man’s immortality and eternal likeness to God.” (S&H 16)

Instantaneous healing may also include denial as seen in the following examples.  A man possessed with “a spirit of an unclean devil” said to Jesus, “…art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.”  Though correctly identifying the Master, Jesus didn’t take the bait by trying to reason with error; he just said, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”  Similar cases received the same treatment:  “And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God.  And he rebuked them…” (B16)

Section 5:  Support and Defend the Treatment.
After a healing, do you ever find yourself wondering if the problem just healed is going to come back?  Nahum 1:9 offers this counsel and comfort, “What do ye imagine against the Lord?  He will make an utter end:  affliction shall not rise up the second time.” (B18)  And from S&H, “An improved belief cannot retrograde.” (S&H 23)

Or perhaps when challenged, we become a diligent student of Christian Science; but when things are going well, we don’t have much time or use for God.  A parable of Jesus addresses this tendency effectively.  In Biblical times, dry abandoned places were thought to be dwelling places for scorpions, serpents and evil spirits.  In the parable, an unclean spirit decides to go back to the abandoned house from which he came, i.e. the consciousness lacking in spirituality.  Along the way, the evil spirit picks up seven buddies more wicked than him and causes even more problems for the casual believer. (B19)  “Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defense.” (S&H 22)

Just as the process leading to bread demonstrates productive cause and effect ~ rain and snow waters the bud, which produces the seed that is planted, harvested and made into bread ~ so too does the word of God prosper. (B22)  “Truth, spiritually discerned, is scientifically understood.  It casts out error and heals the sick.” (S&H 24)

Section 6:  Commandments and Healing.
The commandments have provided a continual thread through many recent Bible Lessons. 

Following the commandment of Jesus to love one another rewards us with spiritual understanding, thereby allowing Spirit to bear witness instead of trying to testify from the basis of our myopic human lens. (B23 & B24).  To the degree we’re successful in emulating the Master will we heal as he did, instantaneously. (S&H 26 & 28)  If we employ the human auxiliaries of the letter and argument (Sections 3 & 4), silently call the disease by name when denying it and “as a general rule the body would respond more quickly…” (S&H 28) 

Truth is available to us directly, without any intermediary, as the remedy for every difficulty and ill. “…every man will be his own physician, and Truth will be the universal panacea.” (S&H 30)  What a promise and gift!

Section Summary Benediction: 
As we see Spirit bearing witness to Truth, we’re acknowledging Christlike testimony and bypassing human opinion.  The healing example of Jesus is Christian Science treatment.  Handling fear is paramount.  If needed, use the human auxiliaries of argument by affirming the truth and denying the error.  Afterward, support and defend your treatment understanding there is no retrograde step in Science.  Following the commandment of Jesus to love our neighbor rewards us with spiritual understanding and healing.

Resources: 
Researched Bible Guide, 561-776-5711 or e-mail DayBreakPlease@cs.com

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson, NavPress 800-366- 7788, website  www.MessageBible.com

The One Volume Bible Commentary, by J.R. Dummelow

Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a long series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians.  This document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons as printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.* Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson in the books. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.)  

*P.S.  If you don’t have the textbooks at hand, you can read this week’s Bible lesson (and surrounding text too) online by clicking here.