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 Christian Science 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. The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of by 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.)
Cut huge problems down to nothingness!
Lesson Application Ideas on “Are Sin, Disease and Death Real?” for Oct. 3-9, 2005
by Corde Hanzlik, C.S. of Austin, TX
The answer to the Lesson question is always no!!! No sin, disease or death!!! The Golden Text clearly says that we are safe in God’s care. There is nothing to fear no matter the disguise. God is the Ultimate!
Mankind would attempt to invent or create images and identities apart from God, but the only true God and power is the One and Only God. He can do anything! There is nothing confounding about Him. Making mountains into chaff seems a bit extreme, but if we need to do it, we can through the power of God. All human invention is as the chaff, blown away. Perhaps this is the guidance we need with the cliché of making a mountain out of a mole hill. We need to cut the huge problem down to its nothingness. What is permanent? God, the Holy One of Israel.
Section 1: The Ultimate God
Look at all of the activities God does in this section – holding our right hand, He calmly says, “Fear not, I will help thee.”(B1); be saved because God is right (B2); we praise Him and not fear flesh; God protects (B3); we need not be afraid in deathly shadows as He guides all (B4); according to His law (precepts, commandments and righteousness) we are all held in secure peace. (B5)
The first marker in the Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures answers the Lesson question. Without reality or good, sin, disease and death are not existent! (S&H1) If they were real, it would mean that Truth, Life and Love aren’t. (S&H2) Impossible! Mrs. Eddy uses the darkness/illuminination contrast to make it more than obvious that we can’t have both Truth and error, good and evil. What is real? “God and His creation, harmonious and eternal.”(S&H4) No disguises! Mind is either all (the omnis) or it’s not. Marker 5 sets us straight on that one by the clarity of metaphysics. The marginal heading is “The divine completeness”. The opposite argument of human theories has no law, no power at all!
Section 2: The Master Mediator denies the “effect of error”
Ask yourself if you have beautiful feet! What are our duties as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.? How do we understand God? Through the teaching, guidance and healing like that of Christ Jesus (B6), we have the fulness of his demonstration in the recognition of his status as the Son, (B8) the light. (B9) Each Bible marker describes our Christ link with God.
Jesus presented the Christ in full demonstration, as we must. We witness all of the lessons that he taught so that we too, express the Christ-man. We must fulfill the same mission as Jesus through our humanitarian awareness of mankind’s needs while maintaining the stature of light, the Christ. We are not fooled by the disguise of darkness! We have the reminder that Truth does the destroying. We live the light. (S&H 9)
Section 3: God’s policy: “No sheep left behind” (The sin section)
Jesus gives us the heads up to “Repent!”. He doesn’t say, “Give up, there’s no hope because you are a lost, unworthy sheep.” (B 11,12) The Pharisees didn’t get that message. They didn’t associate or help the publicans and sinners. In Luke (B13) there is rejoicing for bringing that one lone sheep back. God never gives up on us, no matter what!
The Science and Health repeats the promise – no separation. When we are lulled into imagining ourselves to be unworthy or “a sinful soul’, we awaken with ‘Christlike understanding’ to know perfect God, perfect man. (S&H 11,12) It is necessary to put off the false traits (they are not really ours anyway) and then hold on! “To hold yourself superior to sin, because God made you superior to it and governs man, is true wisdom.” Note in the paragraph of marker 14 that it is ‘hold yourself’ twice and ‘to fear’ twice. Mrs. Eddy makes it all clear as to which direction to go and with what authority.
Section 4: Our turn as Christian healers (The disease section)
Jesus took care of everybody! (B14) The multitudes kept him busy. So what about us? Is it our turn? Yes. As the Psalm describes our part. God hears! Our requests are answered. There is nothing too big for God. We simply yield to Him. There’s the chaff to blow away again.
Disease is not real! Mrs. Eddy gives us instruction (S&H 16) then puts her money where her mouth is. (S&H 18) How often do we give error an excuse, such as wind direction? It’s all about thought. What are we thinking? We perhaps aren’t always aware of the promise that we made when joining this Christian army – we have “enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death” and “overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good.” ( the cardinal point in Unity of Good pg.9) (S&H 19) Truth does the work after all.
Section 5: Victory! (The death section)
Jesus doesn’t fall for the death-scene trickery. Of course, he knew as soon as Jairus made his request that all was well. (Remember, that Jesus’ travel to Jairus’ house was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood, who by touching Jesus’ garment, was healed. Obviously, Jesus wasn’t too stressed about Jairus’ need.) All tears of mourning are wiped away. (B 19)
The death illusion seems to make a strong case for itself, but it still is only illusion, a disguise, whether adult or child person, animal or planet. (S&H 20,21) We have heard questioned in the news lately as to where God is or why would He send such agony to man in storm. God knows nothing of evil. He knows nothing of pain. He knows nothing discordant. It is false theology that says God knows and created evil. Christian Science declares that God knows only good and His goodness fills all space. (S&H 22) Jesus proved it! (S&H 24) God is Life and All.
Section 6: The review
The Bible citations follow the Lesson pattern as a review – God is great! Sect.1; everyone is the child of God, a Christly representative, Sect 2&3; we can heal too! we must! Sect 4; the law of life is established, no unbelief, Sect 5; finally, Sect 6 Hallelujah! Thank you, God! “Little children (big children), keep yourselves from idols” (worship and idle worship)
Who has the power? God (S&H 25) What is the method? The Christ and the Science of Christianity. (S&H 26) The promise? “When divine Science overcomes faith in a carnal mind, and faith in God destroys all faith in sin and in material methods of healing, then sin, disease, and death will disappear.” (S&H 27) Jesus did it. (S&H 28) We heal. So the final answer to the Lesson question? “Suffering, sinning, dying, beliefs are unreal.!!!!!! They have no power. Man is divinely authorized! (S&H 29)
As we get into the “Trick or Treat” Halloween month, we can remember not to be fooled by the disguises that material belief would try to impose on us. No disguise, no matter how convincing or realistic, touches our true spiritual identity.
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.)
