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Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” for October 14, 2007
by Dan Carnesciali, C.S. of St. Louis, MO
Editor’s Note: The following application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp! You can sign up to have these mets emailed to you free — in English by Monday or in French or Spanish by Wednesday: CHECK www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/ FOR FREE TRANSLATIONS.
Last week’s lesson on “Unreality” prepared us to ponder whether sin, disease, and death are real. Mary Baker Eddy said, “The time for thinkers has come.” (S&H vii: 13)
Golden Text: [See “SALVATION: …sin, sickness, and death destroyed.” (S6)]
Pharaoh’s army is preparing to pursue the Children of Israel. The passage following the Golden Text promises that the Egyptian army will be seen no more forever. [destroyed] Take your stand [that you already have been completely saved from all false beliefs]. Fear not. Rejoice! God’s grace will remove evil’s seeming reality. [Possible Sunday School Topic: (P.S.S.T!) From what unreality that seems real do you wish to be “saved” so that you see it no more forever! Psst! Vigorously apply the citations meant especially for you in this lesson!]
Responsive Reading: [Keep thought focused on God, not on body!]
Our purpose is to honor God, but we cannot do that when we are buried in the belief that we live in the flesh, [in body. Here Paul defines death as “to be carnally (bodily) minded.”] Some [including “carnally minded” body worshippers] say that we are physical beings. Some [the spiritually minded, “opponents” to this belief] say that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. The human experience seems to be a combination of both, but the mortal disappears as the spiritual comes to light. When Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy talk about man being Godlike, they are referring to the perfect man that God created. [P.S.S.T! What seemingly harmless, popular habits of thought would make you bodily minded and so dead? Being: excessively weight conscious? Food focused? Exercise addicted? A slave to a fashionable body-type?]
Section 1 – Christ’s Power to Forgive [and bring “SALVATION:” (S6)]
Jesus’ healings and his new theology attracted the attention of the people. His popularity had not gone unnoticed by the religious authorities, the scribes and Pharisees. They taught that strenuous adherence to religious discipline was the road to holiness. The Pharisees sought to keep themselves removed from anything or anyone who would pollute their holiness. Jesus however enjoyed the company of sinners. This irked the Pharisees and they started to hate Jesus and his new ideas. When Jesus proclaimed that the paralyzed man’s sins were “forgiven”, it caused a stir because in Jewish theology only God had the ability to forgive sins. The scribes and Pharisees were incensed that this popular young Galilean was so ignorant of the Torah, the Mosaic Law.
Jesus was not “dissing” (disrespecting) God. He was revealing a wholly different view of God. Instead of a stern Father, prone to anger, Jesus preached that God was a loving Father who was not judgmental. His Father was understandable and loved unconditionally. He did not regard sickness, sin or death as real – in God’s name he healed them. “Human hypotheses first assume the reality of sickness, sin, and death, and then assume the necessity of these evils because of their admitted actuality.” (S1)
The authorities could dismiss him as a crackpot, if only they could discredit the healings he performed in the name of the God of Israel. (Remember in last week’s lesson that the Pharisees attempted to strong-arm the blind man into naming someone/something besides Jesus as the healer. They threw the man out of the temple because he insisted in giving Jesus the credit for the healing.) Jesus’ healing ability was natural. It was spiritual sense recognizing that God is not the author of sin and sickness. (S3)
Jesus’ instantaneous healing of the paralyzed man was a wonder. Everyone in the crowd witnessed it. This cancellation of sin had to prod everyone’s thought that salvation was a present opportunity, not something to be put off until later. Jesus was proving that he was the Son of Man, the Messiah. “Explaining and demonstrating the way of divine Science, he became the way of salvation to all who accepted his word. From him mortals may learn how to escape from evil.” (S5) Salvation [being saved] is Love understood and Love demonstrated [“as supreme over all.” (S6)] It is also the present destruction of sin, disease, and death. (S6) [P.S.S.T! How will you answer a frequent question these days: “Have YOU been saved?” It will help if you’re a fan of “The (3) Supremes!” See (S6).]
Section 2 – Children of Men or Children of God? [Be sinless! Take archery home from camp! Hit nothin’ but your target every time!]
“Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin.” (B5) [Sin was a Greek archery term for “missing the mark” (or target) as illustrated in My BibleLesson this week.] According to the Interpreter’s One Volume Commentary to the Bible, sin is a state of separation caused by ignorance, willful disobedience, or deliberate violation of spiritual law. In the previous section, when Jesus forgave sin, he [offered the shooter another arrow,] removed the barrier to healing, and opened the way to the [target,] restoration of health and integrity. Discerning the spiritual essence of the Bible, Christian Science reveals that mortal man is not God’s creation, spiritual man is. The real man cannot sin. The more we perceive ourselves spiritually, the more we see that freedom from sin is the only choice. Mortal man believes that he has the freedom to sin, but sin becomes his master. He joins in a conspiracy against himself, blind to the fact that he has been deceived, unable to avoid self-destructive behavior. (S9) Real freedom is choosing good.
The eighth citation from Science and Health is a clear, concise statement of how Jesus healed. It was his “correct view of man that healed the sick.” It was his view rather than a supernatural gift that enabled him to heal. You can gain that view and heal too. [P.S.S.T! What false view can you unmask with an on-target, Christly view? (S8) Will it be: Trick? Or Treatment!]
Section 3 – Faith Makes Whole [A 12-year sickness gone for good!]
The healing in this section, like the one in the first section, features the essential quality of faith. “Faith is man’s Yes to the Word of God.” (Interpreter’s Commentary) Some define faith as an exercise of the human mind trying to believe in an imaginary deity. However, faith is trust in something that is trustworthy. It is confidence in something worthwhile. It is the opposite of worry or belief. Jesus presented faith as communion with God or a steadfast trust in an ever-present, loving God. The prophet Jeremiah put it this way, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” When thought shifts from anxiety to faith, you have the same sense of peace.
Properly understood, faith is not a quality that you have to summon up. You have it by reflection. Jesus said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” The woman’s acknowledgement that her remedy was Christ made her whole.
Did you notice the longing for health expressed by the prophet Jeremiah? First, he (not necessarily Jeremiah) tries medicine (balm), but that did not help. (B8) Then he looks away from his troubles towards God and his focus changes. He finds peace. He confidently expects a right outcome (expected outcome). His prayers are working. (B9) When challenged by recurring thoughts of anxiety, pain, or sickness, mentally turn as often as it takes to the light, to God. God promises are being fulfilled. Spiritualization of thought results in a restoration of health, wholeness. (B10) Salvation is a present possibility. (B11) Salvation will be ultimately realized in the human and divine coincidence of Jesus.
The citations in this section are like a mini course on healing. The 12th citation addresses whether other remedies (good matter healing bad matter) are helpful. The 13th points out that fear is the foundation of disease. The 14th helps one understand that a physical diagnosis naturally induces what the healer is trying to cure. (See S&H 395:21 for more on the reality of sickness) Citation 14 makes a key point of the lesson. The way to cure/be cured is to see that disease is unreal, always has been. (S&H 421:15-21) [P.S.S.T! What unrealities that seem real do you hope to see through and defeat this week?]
Section 4 – Stay Alert! [Keep thought always in ready position.]
Jesus gives us a parable that makes clear the hazard of trusting your house (mental house) to a false friend. A good friend (spiritual sense) keeps thieves from pilfering your house, or tossing the furniture around. Jesus said to keep an eye out for bad “friends” (suggestive thoughts). So keep watch, be ready. Almost every sport has a ready position. In baseball, a batter makes sure he is ready for the ball; he guards the plate. In tennis, a player has to be mentally alert and in position when her opponent serves. In soccer, the keeper (goalie) has to be in proper position. He has to be alert for tricks to get him out of position. The same is true in basketball and football. Staying alert, making sure we are not fooled is important in metaphysics too. States of readiness include: alertness; lightheartedness; trustfulness; readiness to listen to God [your Coach’s] thoughts; prayerfulness ahead of time . . .
“To decide quickly as to the proper treatment of error – is the first step towards destroying error.” (S17) If the suggestions of disease are booted out of thought before it gains a foothold, count that as a [quick] healing. You have exercised your dominion. When the first symptoms of headache, runny nose, sore throat, sore knee, or fever occur, what is a good response? If thought says, “Hmm, I wonder if I am coming down with blah, blah,” then room is being made for error in thought. Rather, if you are alert and make a quick declaration such “I’m not going there,” or “That’s not from God!” you shut the door on error before it seemingly gets into your mental house. [To avoid being tricked:] “Stand porter at the door of thought.” (S&H 392: 24) As my Sunday School teacher often said, “Hop on it like a bird on a June bug.”
If you do not feel that you are meeting the case, consider whether fear, ignorance, or sin needs to be addressed. “The procuring cause and foundation of all sickness fear, ignorance, or sin. Disease is always induced by a false sense mentally entertained, not destroyed.” (S&H 410:20 – 23) You have the authority to cast out error. [P.S.S.T! What hostile intruder in your mental house can you identify, “hop on” and throw out today?]
Section 5 – Life and Christly Authority destroy death!
In Biblical times, authors did not collect biographical information, so we do not know as much as we would like about Lazarus. However, we do know that Jesus loved him and that he enjoyed staying with him and his sisters. When word reached Jesus that Lazarus was very ill, Jesus glorified God that his illness was for a great purpose. Jesus intentionally delayed two days. His disciples first thought that Jesus was avoiding going back across the river Jordan into Judea because the Jews had threatened to stone him (kill him) for blasphemy. [See Bible Notes in Section 1 of my BibleLesson.com] When Jesus arrived, the scene was a mass of commotion. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and the people were mourning. Martha, Lazarus’ brother, was upset that Jesus had not arrived in time to save her brother. Others grumbled that if Jesus could heal blindness, why had he not healed this case. Jesus’ disciples were confused and may have thought that he had come to grieve.
Given the mental environment, how did Jesus respond? He raised his voice and thanked God [in advance of Lazarus’ resurrection and aloud so that that his method of grateful acknowledgement in advance was recorded for our benefit and repetition.] He made sure that those around him who were “buried above ground” heard him and were prepared to believe that he was the Messiah. “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” He had them open the tomb and called Lazarus. Lazarus was receptive to his call and walked out. He was entirely restored and did not need any recuperation period. Jesus obliterated the accepted teaching at that time that the soul of the departed hovers near the body for three days and then leaves without any possibility of returning. (Interpreter’s Commentary) He also proved that the Christ Science has the authority to raise the dead. He made sure that there would be no question that this healing was divine and that it was purely mental. [P.S.S.T! I’ve seen the power of gratitude in advance (as demonstrated by Jesus) raise dead animals 3 times! It also works well on: deadlines; dead legs; dead-end relationships… So, raise the dead this week! And, “Do tell” about it in Sunday School class and on Wednesday evening!]
Section 6 – Taste Eternal Life [and share it freely!]
Humanity seems unready to answer whether sin, disease, and death are real. When you share Christian Science with some they say, “This is what I have been waiting for my whole life. Why hasn’t anyone else shared it with me before?!” Others do not consider Christian Science because it does not fit with their current belief system. (An example of a belief system is that healing comes through pills, drugs, good matter healing bad matter.) Others do not like the fact that in Christian Science, God, not matter, is the healer. They are sure that Christian Science cannot heal, so they do not explore whether it does.
Now is the time to confidently answer that sin, disease, and death are not real and help others glimpse this grand fact. Take your stand. Fear not. Rejoice that God’s grace removes evil’s seeming reality. Ultimately, suffering, sinning, dying beliefs will die out like a storm fading into the distance. “O thou enemy, destructions are comes to a perpetual end:” (B17) Although Christian Science restores physically, its primary mission is salvation, the redemption of sin. “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (II Cor 6:2) [P.S.S.T! How can I be open & stop hiding the light of salvation “under a bushel?” Luke 11:33]
Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians [with bracketed, italicized notes and “Possible Sunday School Topics” offered by me as editor]. 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, application 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. 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 citations referenced (i.e. B1 and S28) from this week’s Bible Lesson in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (B1-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. (S1-30) The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. 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. Have fun unwrapping, cherishing and sharing your special, spiritual gift(s)! Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Camp Director director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162
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MyBibleLesson is a new, visually oriented and very helpful resource for study of the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson. It is being produced by The Christian Science Publishing Society and can be found at: myBibleLesson.com. What a great auxiliary to lesson study — maybe even reading beyond citation markers using the handsome new student books now sold in Reading Rooms. MyBibleLesson contains word definitions, Bible background Notes, fun topical cartoons, timelines and translations, plus many healing ideas to use. Why not check out this vehicle to help bring new meaning and life to each beloved Bible lesson in order to bless the youthful thinker and Sunday School student (and teacher) in us all!
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