GEMS that show all PUNISHMENT to be SELF-IMPOSED & therefore NEVER-LASTING!
USE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES AS SPRINGBOARDS FOR MODERN-DAY PROOFS!
Insights by Cobbey Crisler and others** for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“(N)Everlasting Punishment”
for **Halloween Sunday, October 31, 2021
**Click here to enjoy & apply a classic Halloween blog, “TRICK? Or TREATment!”
(Cobbey’s text is shared with Janet Crisler’s blessing) by Warren Huff,
CedarS Executive Director Emeritus, warren@cedarscamps.org
[W:] DENY the **TRICK OF ACCEPTING a “CORRUPT” DOCTRINE like Everlasting Punishment from UNINSPIRED BIBLE PASSAGES THAT CONFLICT WITH
“THE INSPIRED WORD OF THE BIBLE.” (S&H 497:3)
Recognize that: “Carnal beliefs defraud us.” (citation S4/263:11)
AFFIRM the “inspired Word of the Bible” in a Christian Science **Treatment that sees man as God’s “image and likeness” (Gen. 1:27) and therefore as “very good” (Gen. 1:31) and acknowledge that “God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.” (Habakkuk 1:13/citation B1)
The Bible, being written across a millennium, by individuals of various levels of understanding and insight, not only speaks to all levels of the human condition, but also contains countless contradictions. We see this from its opening two chapters, which have conflicting accounts of creation. Mary Baker Eddy, as a pioneering theologian, drew a sharp distinction between these opposite accounts and logically and consistently applied the Bible’s own guide to “make the tree good and his fruit good” (Matt. 12:33) and to burn the corrupt tree (the Genesis 2:8-9 tree of good commingled with evil) and its corrupt fruit (sin, disease and death).
Those who put stock in the Genesis 2 fable account of creation are stuck with a God who knows evil (and therefore is not all good) and cannot prevent it (and therefore is not all powerful). On the other hand, Christian Scientists who put their stock in the Genesis 1 record, go for an all good and all-powerful God who renders evil powerless and unreal, existing only in human imagination. “Evil is unreal because it is a lie, false in every statement.” (S&H 527:19) This makes evil a mis-statement of being, not a state of being. As the section concludes, “… the immortal and perfect model of God’s creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being.” (S&H 260:8/citation S6)
FOLLOW the RECIPE for FREEDOM as you GIVE a Know-the-Truth **TREATMENT!
Cobbey Crisler on John 8.32/citation B9 with notes & quotes from others
John 8:31, 32. “Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, ‘If ye continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, And ye shall KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.’” (caps added)
[Cobbey:] “Here is the recipe for freedom, “It’s the truth itself that makes you free.” It is the fact that makes you free. In John 8:44, the devil is defined as a liar [W. a “fake news” distributor] and also a murderer from the beginning. If you analyze that again, the devil has one of two purposes when it enters into the thoughts and lives of man. It is either to deceive us or to kill us or others. That’s the motive prompting the thought, critical or otherwise. Remember, judging righteous judgment eliminates most criticisms, and not judging according to appearance. It [lying “fake news”] either murders or kills our neighbor or ourselves, or its purpose is to deceive, one or the other.”
Book of John, A Walk with the Beloved Disciple, by B. Cobbey Crisler**
[Warren: Here’s another **Halloween TREATMENT BONUS— “Know the Truth” Notes taken and typed-up by my mom & CedarS Founder, Ruth E. Huff, from a lecture by Jack Hubbell, CSB:]
“KNOW THE TRUTH” means knowing or being conscious of what is already true!
“Mary Baker Eddy was once asked by a reporter, what is a Christian Science treatment?
After a few moments of deep thought, she answered, (in words that Mom posted over her desk)
‘It (Christian Science **TREATMENT) is the absolute acknowledgment of present perfection!’ (Elizabeth Earl Jones Reminiscences).
“If you begin a treatment to improve an imperfect condition, STOP!
You have been mesmerized!
“You are well, before you give the treatment!
Treatment is being conscious of present reality.”
(Notes from a Jack Hubbell, CS, lecture and from word studies more fully summarized below)
“What does it mean to “know the truth?” – To acknowledge it!
acknowledgment: to acknowledge means to admit to be true
– to declare the Truth of something
– an admission of truth as a fact or principle
Unity of Good 7:20-22 . . . “an acknowledgment of the perfection of the infinite Unseen confers a power nothing else can.”
We can’t know a lie!
You cannot know that 2 + 2 = 5, because it does not! You can only believe it!
We can never know sin, disease or anything that seems inharmonious, because it is just a lying suggestion! We can only be tricked if we believe it!
Where do we learn what is real and what is a lie?
Through THE WORD (the Scriptures and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)
S&H 503:12 “Divine Science, the Word of God . . . .”
How did Jesus pray? What was he thinking, what was he knowing that healed so effectively?
“…Jesus, whose humble prayers were deep and conscientious protests of Truth, — of man’s likeness to God and of man’s unity with Truth and Love.” (S&H 12:13 Jesus)
protests: (1828 Webster’s Dictionary)
– solemn declarations of fact
– affirmation, acknowledgement of what is real
– to call as a witness in affirming or denying
What do we treat? How does knowing the truth have any effect? What really needs healing?
* NEVER treat man, never treat a ‘sick’ man
* Always treat the suggestion that man is sick
“The great spiritual fact must be brought out that man is, not shall be, perfect and immortal.”
Science and Health, 428:22 (bolding added)
To ‘really know the truth’ wouldn’t deal with a real disease, but with a false suggestion. The false suggestion is all there is to the problem.
Jargon: to “know the truth” sometimes means we are going to quote a passage or call upon a line from some place and eliminate an imperfect condition – that we are going to fix matter with truth.
“KNOW THE TRUTH” means knowing or being conscious of what is already true!
Mary Baker Eddy was once asked by a reporter, what is a Christian Science treatment? After a few moments of deep thought, she answered,
“It (Christian Science treatment) is absolute acknowledgment of present perfection!” (Elizabeth Earl Jones Reminiscences).
If we begin a treatment to improve an imperfect condition, STOP!
You have been mesmerized!
You are well, before you give the treatment!
Treatment is being conscious of present reality.
(Jack Hubbell)
We sometimes say,
“I’m sick, what can I do to get well? I know I’ll affirm I AM WELL, that will stop me from being sick.
It is not a tool to use to make the sick well.
We affirm “I AM WELL” because “I AM WELL”.
REJOICE TO DENY and EXPUNGE FROM YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE MYTHICAL MISTAKES or FABLED FLAWS MADE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN! —The “woman with a crown (corona) of twelve stars” versus a great red dragon … with seven crowns upon his heads” (complete coronavirus in its head) –
See full, online GEM#3 for Cobbey Crisler on Genesis 3 (B10) curses reversed (not rehearsed) in Rev. 12/partially quoted in citation B12.
“MAKE YOUR OWN” THE **TREATMENT GEM OF SEEING ALL former ENEMIES AS IF they’ve been on THEIR “ROAD TO DAMASCUS!” Like Paul and Ananias, totally drop your past views of former enemies to see all from a new “God’s-eye-view.”
Cobbey Crisler insights on Acts 9:1-20 (B11) & Paul’s conversion & healing through Ananias
“Acts, Chapter 9, introduces us to a prominent character in the history of Christianity. Although we have referred to him earlier, through his persecutions of the early Christians. But here we find that “Saul, breathing out threatenings and slaughter,” and you can appreciate that the Elizabethan terminology here hides some of the impact of some of the real meaning. (Acts 9:1 paraphrased) … Saul had received authority from the temple to persecute Christians – to find wherever they were, all the way to Damarcus and bring them back bound to Jerusalem.
Notice in Acts 9, verse 2, the earliest form of reference to Christianity is “of this way.” If he found any “of this way,” literally in Greek, “of the way.” And this is the first descriptive title for Christianity.
“Saul is quite equal in his treatment of men and women. He brings both bound into Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:2, paraphrased) …
But, “on his way, near Damascus, something happens to Saul. He has a vision, and a great light shines about him.” (Acts 9:3, paraphrased) … Chapter 9, is the first version, by Luke, the author of the book of Acts of Saul’s’ experience on the road. It’s told in the third person; however, later in the Book of Acts, we have in the 22nd Chapter and in the 26th Chapter, Paul, himself, in defending his record and his career, refers to this extraordinary experience on the road to Damascus…
Now, let’s focus on the incident as recorded in Acts, Chapter 9, noticing that the vision that is vouchsafed Paul is to an unbeliever. And it’s occurring outside Palestine, almost as if to emphasize the universality of the Christian mission, taking it already outside of Jerusalem.
The light that falls upon Saul may be as much a light within as without. Whatever it was, it leaves him blind, almost as if by contrast to what he has known before in his life.
“A voice is heard saying to Paul, ‘Why persecutest thou me?’” (Acts 9:4, paraphrased) …The question is then, “Who art thou, Lord?” … The answer, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” …Now, there is a significant point because Jesus is certainly not present physically. He had long since disappeared in the ascension. … And yet, this voice to Paul certainly implies that a persecution of the church is equivalent to persecution of its founder, as if the message and messenger are inseparable.
The voice of Jesus continues, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:5, paraphrased) … What basically do you think Jesus is telling Paul here? Who is it hurting when Paul is persecuting the church? It’s hurting him, isn’t it? Paul himself.
Well, “trembling and astonished, his response is ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’” And his instructions are “to go into the city, and it will be told him what he must do.” (Acts 9:6, paraphrased) …
When “Saul rises from the earth, he is blind, and they must lead him into Damascus.” (Acts 22:8, paraphrased) … Saul has plenty of time to think about what has hit him. “For three days he cannot see, and during that long period, he doesn’t eat or drink.” (Acts 22:9, paraphrased)
At this point, “a vision occurs to a disciple named Ananias, who is located at Damascus.” (Acts 9:10, paraphrased)
“Ananias is told to go and meet Saul and to heal him.” (Acts 9:11-12, paraphrased) … Now if you were Ananias, you’d think that you would be extremely eager to meet the one who had a warrant to arrest anyone who named the name of Christ and had the authority to take them back to Jerusalem.
Well, Ananias was no more eager than we would have been. In Acts 9, verse13, you can see that “he actually records what they knew in Damascus already about Saul’s reputation, how much evil he had done to the saints at Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:13, paraphrased) “And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (Acts 9:14)
But the message to Ananias gives us what Saul’s appointed mission will now be. “He is a chosen vessel.” Chosen to do what? Alright, (he is chosen) “to bear my name before the Gentiles.” (Acts 9:15, paraphrased)
We have seen Philip bring the gospel to the Samaritans, but here Saul is set apart, specifically, as being the one who will carry Christianity around the known globe. And this, as we know, he does, in less than a generation.
When Ananias meets him, speaks with him, in Acts 9, verse 17, “from Saul’s eyes fall scales – his past outlook dropping away completely. And he was seeing things from an entirely new point of view.”… “and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-19, paraphrased)
“It is not very long before Saul is actively engaged in preaching “the way.” (Acts 9:20, paraphrased) Notice in Acts 9, verse 20, where we are told “he straightway preached Christ, or the Messiah, in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” … You can imagine what those who heard him must have thought since they already had been well acquainted with Saul’s reputation earlier. Here was “the key persecutor of Christianity now preaching in the name of Jesus.” (See Acts 9:21, paraphrased)
“After the Master What? – The Book of Acts” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
TO PLEASE GOD (not peers) GIVE YOUR ATTENTION to WHAT’S SPIRITUAL, NOT to the FLESH!
Cobbey Crisler & Mary Baker Eddy on Romans 8:5-8 (postlude from cit. B15/ Romans 8:1,2 “There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”)
[Cobbey:] “Remember the consistency of the Scripture. This is what turns us into students. The consistency of the Scripture would force us to study in depth how we please God. Here is ‘My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’ How do we please God? Do you remember any particular Scriptural statements on that?… One of the things that Paul says about it in Romans 8:8 is, ‘They that are in the flesh (they that are earthly minded, who obey the lower nature) cannot please God.’ “
“What Mark Recorded,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
[Warren: The preceding verses, Romans 8:5-7/cit. B9, with other translations shed more light on the challenge of earthly-minded body worship that seems prevalent today in obsessions with fitness, diet, revealing “selfies”… (Verse 5) “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” (“People who are controlled by the physical, think of what is physical: and people who are controlled by the spiritual, think of—give their attention to—what is spiritual.” Goodspeed (Verse 6) “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (“But to set the mind on the flesh brings death, whereas to set the mind on the Spirit brings life and peace.” The New Testament: A New Translation (Olaf M. Norlie)
These passages and many more from Mary Baker Eddy have helped heal body-worship and lots of resulting ills and issues: “Paul said, ‘Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ Sooner or later we shall learn that the fetters of man’s finite capacity are forged by the illusion that he lives in body instead of in Soul, in matter instead of in Spirit.” (S&H 223:2)
“There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual.” (S&H 468:9)
These ideas from Miscellaneous Writings describe the form, color, light, and beauty of our world being loved promises and representatives “of the beauty, grandeur, and glory of the immortal Mind.” (Mis. 87) “My sense of the beauty of the universe is, that beauty typifies holiness, and is something to be desired. Earth is more spiritually beautiful to my gaze now than when it was more earthly to the eyes of Eve. The pleasant sensations of human belief, of form and color, must be spiritualized, until we gain the glorified sense of substance as in the new heaven and earth, the harmony of body and Mind…
“Even the human conception of beauty, grandeur, and utility is something that defies a sneer. It is more than imagination. It is next to divine beauty and the grandeur of Spirit. It lives with our earth-life, and is the subjective state of high thoughts. The atmosphere of mortal mind constitutes our mortal environment. What mortals hear, see, feel, taste, smell, constitutes their present earth and heaven: but we must grow out of even this pleasing thralldom, and find wings to reach the glory of supersensible Life; then we shall soar above, as the bird in the clear ether of the blue temporal sky.
“To take all earth’s beauty into one gulp of vacuity and label beauty nothing, is ignorantly to caricature God’s creation, which is unjust to human sense and to the divine realism. In our immature sense of spiritual things, let us say of the beauties of the sensuous universe: ‘I love your promise; and shall know, some time, the spiritual reality and substance of form, light,
and color, of what I now through you discern dimly; and knowing this, I shall be satisfied. Matter is a frail conception of mortal mind; and mortal mind is a poorer representative of the beauty, grandeur, and glory of the immortal Mind.’” (Miscellaneous Writings. 86:14- 87:14)]
DENY the TRICK that would peer pressure you think most about material pleasures: “Just go along! It won’t make any difference. Everyone else is doing it!” Instead, AFFIRM a TREATMENT like: “I love Thy way of freedom, Lord,” and so I choose “the road less traveled by.” It will make “all the difference” – an Infinite difference! (See CS Hymn #136 and Robert Frost’s poem, “Two Roads Diverged Within a Wood.”)
“Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13)
Avoid getting stuck in traffic jams “On Broadway,” where time and energy are wasted and where often peace and life itself are threatened by road rage. What other popular movements of thought would attempt to sweep you up in their destructive wake this week? Possibly blatant or subtle sex in advertising? Or lifestyle choices and immorality attractively portrayed on TV sit-coms or movies? Or, perhaps persistent pandemic P.R.?
Maybe most insidious is the frenzied pace of “Incessant busyness” that many wear as a “badge of honor” and use to measure self-worth? Dr. George Moffett in his 2003 Principia College Convocation address points out the pervasive and destructive dangers of “incessant busyness” and the “continuous partial attention” that it brings. His point is especially helpful to Christian Scientists striving to daily nurture “sustained attention” to peaceful moments, to closeness to God and to living a Christlike life of love. (In years past, but no longer his full address could be found at http://www.prin.edu/talks/convocation/2003_FQ/)
[W: You can buy your own transcripts of most of Cobbey’s 28 talks at a new website: www.crislerlibrary.co.uk or Email your inquiry directly to Janet Crisler at janetcrisler7@gmail.com ]
