Be perfect? Get Real! Perfection underlies reality.

[PYCL:  Perfectly Real You Are!.]
CedarS Possible Younger Class Lessons and Possible Sunday School Topics for:  
“Reality-“
The Christian Science Bible Lesson for September 23, 2012
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, House Springs, MO (314) 406-0041 [Bracketed titles by Warren Huff,

 

What does it mean to be “perfect” and what does perfection have to do with reality? This week's lesson focuses on perfection so it's worth looking into that term. Many may think that perfection means something much more akin to being a human without flaws. But just as we looked a week or two ago at how to write a description of someone without using any physical attributes, perfection in Spirit is marked by a total absence of matter. How do we evaluate perfection in ourselves? What answers can we find in this week's lesson? Obviously we look to God for perfection, but how does that relate to man, to each of us? Is perfection “too hard”? (It is if we think of it in terms of healing that takes huge human effort, is our personal responsibility, and is the transformation of sick or injured matter into well matter!). Those are a few indications that we are not starting from the basis of spiritual perfection. In the my bible lesson they share a translation of part of citation B9: “But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow.”(the Living Bible). This is followed by citation S4 “To grasp the reality and order of being in its Science, you must begin by reckoning God as the divine Principle of all that really is.” These parallel statements help us to sort what comes to our senses based on whether it is simply good or not. If it's good, well then, it is from God. If it's not, then it's based on material sense. Of course this takes some discernment and practice, but we have all of God's laws and precepts from the Bible to rely on (See the G.T and the R.R.)!

 

The little ones may enjoy a little flashlight exercise after discussing perfection. You can look at the above translation of citation B9. I love the way it indicates that God's light is without change or shadow. I had never thought about that idea of shadow in that way. It would mean that His “light” or Truth can't have any obstacles that block it or keep them from “shining” on our path. That would mean that His “light” comes from every direction, so to speak. Unlike the sun, which generally casts shadows depending on the angle in which it is positioned, God's goodness is approaching us from everywhere, it is inescapable. It is as if you are enveloped in a ball of light. You could talk about this and give each kid a flashlight. Illustrate the idea of shadows and how they work, and then use the flashlights together from all directions to illustrate the idea that God's goodness or “light” comes from everywhere. Even if a shadow appears in this exercise, you can show how it can be immediately eliminated and talk about how that is the way we get rid of fear, of pain or of sickness. We “shine” our light of Truth, of what we know is real and true about God and about ourselves to make us see that sickness and pain or sadness can't be real, can't be a permanent part of our life.

 

I've noticed a broader awareness in our movement of how we are included in the greater Christian community. Rather than operating as an isolated sect of Christianity that is not well understood, we can begin to help our children see our place in Christianity so that they feel a more natural part of Christianity as a whole. In light of this I see citation S8 as an interesting passage to look at together. I've never noticed the details of this sentence. It is Science, she says, that “…will declare God aright…”, but then she includes all of Christianity in demonstrating this true understanding of God! And this understanding will bring healing. What does it mean to “declare God aright”? That may seem obvious to you but probably not to them. Can they make a list of what that might mean? Other than qualities that a Scientific description of God might include, can they think of what constitutes a “declaration”. Does this mean stating something? Might this mean by our actions we define our understanding of God as well? What actions might we use to “declare God aright”?

 

In the third section we delve into the perfection of man. Look at citation S12 and talk about the “perfect model”. Have them imagine being an artist of some sort, painter or sculptor, for example. If they were making a painting or sculpture, they would almost certainly be either looking at something that they were using as a model, or they would have something pictured in their thought that they could refer to. If they have no “model” in their thought, what will their art look like? Will they be able to start it? It's like writing a story or a letter without having anything in mind to say. If we want to experience perfection we must hold a perfect model in our thought. What might that model include? See what they think of. In line with this is the statement in citation S18 where M.B.E. refers us to how we can use truthful arguments and “entertain” a spirit of Truth and Love to heal. This seems similar to the question we asked earlier about declaring God aright. There is an element of action or demonstration to this act of holding the perfect model in thought or entertaining the spirit of Truth and Love. Talk about how this can be an active rather than just a “thought” activity.

 

Look at the story of the lame man that Paul healed (5^th section). Why is this particular account under the heading of Reality? Perhaps it is in part because this is such a humanly impossible act of healing. Even if a man could have a healing of lameness that he was born with, how could he immediately “leap” up and walk? The belief is that man has muscles that have to be used in order to support us or to be active. This man had never used his muscles. So they would have atrophied. It should have taken months of rehabilitation and exercise to make those muscles support his weight, much less allow him to leap and walk! This is an example of how we truly are not reliant on the so-called laws of matter to express strength, health and freedom. When Paul healed that man, he began from the basis of perfection, not of making useless legs suddenly useful, but of recognizing that that man was made spiritually perfect, never for a moment limited by matter. He didn't need matter's cooperation for this healing, just the recognition of God's laws of reality, the reality of man's perfection.

 

Have a great Sunday!