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 ordained pastor of Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. Other reference books are fully noted at the end.)
Be dust-free! Not “modern Eves and unmanly Adams!”
Application Ideas for the “Adam and Fallen Man” Bible Lesson for May 2 – 8, 2005
Prepared by Corde Hanzlik, C.S. (Austin, Texas)
Does the title of this lesson infer two different men or one man, two names? Is it any more correct to say Adam and Unfallen man? These could be trick questions. Watch out!
No doubt that one of the hymns for this Sunday will be “O dreamer”! (412)
The Golden Text tells us what to do the first thing in the morning when we wake up – shake off the dust of the literal dreamland. What it doesn’t say is to stay awake. Let’s not be fooled by the waking dream either. The Responsive Reading tells us by what authority we are right in shaking off the dust. It is because God Himself made us and everything in the earth. It is no secret! God is the creator of all and the All of creation.
Section 1: If you’re in the dark about creation, turn on the light!
Is the light referred to in Genesis actual light rays? Is an image an actual hunk of matter or is the image like the light, intangible to the physical senses, but very real to spiritual sense? You can easily see an image and light in a dark room in thought. So as B3 suggests, let’s not be beguiled or corrupted by serpent subtlety. The fruit can seem very enticing and harmless sometimes, but the after taste and effects are bad. It was Eve’s sense – sight and desire – that partook of the fruit. Remember, when your friends try to tell you that some activity or event is okay to do, yet you really know that it’s not, that it is the after effects, the guilt, the wrong, that eats at you, instead of you eating “the fruit”. You can say, “No! Awake! Awake!”In the Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mrs. Eddy clearly states the only God and the only creation through scientific explanation. The absurdity of error, evil argues for life by suggestive similarity to God. (S&H2) Either all is of God, spiritually created or it’s not. God cannot know both evil and good. Error continues to argue it is reality, but without a foundation in truth, like the serpent, it has no legs to stand on. Error is always changing its story, but it’s all lies. Error’s suggestions try to simulate and imitate God’s creation in an attempt to be convincingly true. As we spiritually see through the fable, we realize what we are and always have been.(S&H 4) We are awake. Of course we reflect the central light! (S&H 5) So it follows by reflection that if God is invisible, we are too! Error, evil can’t find us!
Section 2: Where art thou?
One of the first evils presented in the Adam-dream is that of shame. (B 6 and S&H6) Adam was ashamed of his nakedness – total exposure! His confession was the clue to his and Eve’s disobedience. Are we foolish enough to think that our lives are balancing on a tight wire between matter and spirit? (B7) No! No duality! We see God. We know the light. God is always present and we have nothing to fear, especially Him.
Where is our consciousness? What do we answer? “Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good and the true,….” (S&H 8) Mind destroys the errors of sense, not by getting rid of them, but by the full understanding that it is impossible to have anything other than His Allness.
Section 3: The obedient Teacher was awake
Romans 5 (B12) gives us the bottom line for our true heritage. Thank heavens that Jesus was obedient! He gives us our rightful identity – filled (with all good); pure to see God; light; perfect. Best of all, we are blessed and blest. We already have the victory (B14) as we continue being steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work.
“Perfect God and perfect man” – let’s be obedient to that equation. (S&H 11) More light in S&H marker 12! Remember, to “wait patiently” is not waiting for God to do His part. He has done His part. A patient wait is to serve/know Him expecting the good that is already present to be made manifest. (S&H 14) We know how to begin aright!
Section 4: Education or innocence – is it the woman’s fault?
Here in the Bible we find the huge reminder of God’s law (law, statutes, commandments, judgments) and the demand for obedience to the law, even for women. God made everything right and good. Woman is able to see this and express it in all of the ways that Proverbs (B19) outlines. Is that the focus of the section? No. Remember from the first section that the “male and female” of God’s creating must appear? (S&H3) There is only one image and likeness of God – the male and female – not two individual persons. The false fears and education of the “modern Eves and the unmanly Adams” in sexual stereotypes have no legitimacy. (S&H15) Oftentimes the lies of matter seem to reappear in the old shame and blame game over and over again, but it’s only the serpentine suggestion that would try to fool us, divide us, male/female. It is the law of God, good that is emphasized in this section to be obeyed by all individuals.
Again, wake up “to the truth of being” and what happens? (S&H17) No dream!
We awake satisfied, in His likeness. (B17) Innocent! Healthy! Whole!
Section 5: Wake up, Eutychus!
All of us have been in a situation where we doze off while listening to a teacher, speaker (church service?) or whomever. It’s embarrassing, but for Eutychus, it was potentially, the final sleep. It is interesting in this story that Paul didn’t wait to see Eutychus revive. He went right on with his teaching! He knew all was well. Do we have that much trust in our treatments?
Paul must have known that Eutychus was not an Adam-man. (S&H18) Apparently, it was the world belief held by those who saw Eutychus fall that killed him. Paul knew differently. The inversion (S&H20) is a test for us to use often. What do we really know as compared to what do we think we see? We must reject the de[i]bris thought. No garbage thinking!
Section 6: The looking glass. What is our vision
We are blessed to be the image, the likeness, the loved idea of God. We are sufficient of God (B22) in liberty and glory. We are righteous, graceful, peaceful, partakers of divine the nature. (B23) We are not fallen, but faultless with dominion and power. (B24) Amen
Let’s claim it! That would be availing ourselves wouldn’t it? (S&H23) S&H marker 24 line 16-19 is a good one to commit to memory. We can never be fooled by serpentine suggestion with “the great truth” in mind. We are the true likeness in spite of “human thought changes.” (S&H26) We are not the dust man, fallen or unfallen, for that matter. Wake up and be free!
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.)
