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 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.)
Here are messages to you from the Supreme Commander!
Lesson Application Ideas on “Mind,” the Bible lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly for August 15-21, 2005
By Gary Duke, C.S., Saint Louis, Missouri
Golden Text: The God of Hosts – the Supreme Commander.
Hosts means “a multitude,” especially when organized such as an army. God would be the supreme commander of an army or thinking bigger, the creator and commander of the universe. So the next time you are feeling uncomfortable in any situation, remember God is ultimately in command of all including you. He “declareth unto man what is his thought” (Amos. 4:13). That means you are given unlimited access to Mind – what a commander!
Responsive Reading: God’s Thought and Purpose Manifested.
What does Mind do? Think. And if we reflect Mind what are we? Thought. Can thought stray from the qualities and purpose of Mind, God? No! The Bible concurs, “The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isa. 14:24).
Section 1: Infinite Mind Directs.
If Mind is infinite, “his understanding is infinite” (B1). So His thought and ways are higher than human thought and ways (B2). Then why do we ever attempt to do anything – school, sports, relationships, work – before consulting the infinite? When we do consult infinite Mind, we receive the following benefit, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (B3). Would a blind person ever venture forth into the unknown without the aid of a guide (person, cane, dog)? Good lesson for us too. If we venture forth without consulting God, our ultimate guide, ironically we will blinded by our human sight and human reasoning. Our limited views and resulting challenges cause us to eventually admit we can not truly see or proceed without the direction of Mind. Then we retrace our steps Godward.
Once we understand, “All is Mind – all power, all presence, all Science” (S&H 1) and that we are that infinite expression (S&H 2) we won’t perceive “man as a pendulum swinging between evil and good, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, life and death” (S&H 3).
Section 2: Sound Mind.
Over the years we’ve all probably heard many light-hearted references to “senior moments,” a temporary loss of memory about something one knows well like the name of a close friend or one’s own telephone number, etc. If we chuckle and accept that picture, haven’t we just invited the labels of “not too bright” or worse, “Alzheimer’s” and “insanity” into our consciousness? Mrs. Eddy says, “If delusion says, ‘I have lost my memory,’ contradict it. No faculty of Mind is lost” (S&H 8).
In fact, as we grow spiritually, we should avail ourselves more fully of Mind’s omniscience, thinking with greater clarity and understanding not fearing the advance of time which is irrelevant – no fear (B5), no confusion (B7), no variableness (B8) and nothing hidden (B9).
Section 3: Mind Hears.
Have you ever thought someone was calling your name or talking to you only to find out no one was around? Sometimes it happens when we are listening for spiritual guidance as happened to a high school aged camper a couple of years ago when doing a “Solo” in Junior Leadership – a scheduled time for each camper to be alone in nature just listening for spiritual direction. Eight year old Mary Baker heard her name called at various times for a full year — her cousin Mehitable Huntoon even heard the call “Mary, Mary, Mary” in an ascending scale; shortly thereafter Mrs. Baker read to Mary the story of the prophet Samuel who, as a little boy, heard his named being called by God (I Sam 3; Ret. 8).
Mrs. Eddy says Truth speaks to us but we don’t hear (S10); “The ear does not really hear” but communication is via “spiritual understanding” (S12); “God is heard when the senses are silent” (S13).
Jesus understood these truths as demonstrated by his healing of the deaf man with a speech impediment (B11). When he said “Ephphatha” – be opened, and the man’s ears and tongue responded, perhaps the command also suggested being open to spiritual understanding.
Section 4: Light of the Christ.
Imagine the plight of blind Bartimaeus – in the dark physically but hearing about a man named Jesus who brought light everywhere he went by performing wonderful healings. Wouldn’t you imagine he would give almost anything to meet this fellow Jesus? He got his wish. One day Bartimaeus was begging by the highway when he heard that Jesus was walking by. Though blind, he helped others see by acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, “Jesus, thou son of David.” Then he pleaded for healing. Bartimaeus received his sight after Jesus stated, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (B17).
To the degree we acknowledge the light of the Christ in all we do, our mortal blind spots will be eliminated and we will see and hear God’s individualized messages better. Three stages in this process are noted by Mrs. Eddy: first in light; second in reflection; third in spiritual beauty and goodness (S&H 17).
Section 5: Mind Heals Disease.
Wouldn’t Jesus be the ideal speaker for every Lecture Committee to schedule – a packed house and healing would be guaranteed along with the likelihood of something dramatic occurring! The spontaneous lecture Mark describes in his Gospel is no exception – a packed house so full that a paralyzed man who wanted to hear had to be lowered down through the roof into the room where Jesus was lecturing. That set the stage for Jesus to forgive him of his sins and heal him. Jesus proved that his understanding of divine Mind was regenerative enough to heal and silence the critics who felt he was blaspheming God by forgiving (B18). Of course the Lecture Committee might have had to repair the roof, though the owners were likely very understanding; scholars think it probably was the house of Peter and his brother Andrew, the disciples!
Mind’s control over the universe including man can be demonstrated (S&H 20), in every instance (S&H 21), as human belief is subdued (S&H 22). “Mind is the source of all movement” (S&H 23) which conquers sickness, sin and death – “exercise this God-given authority” (S&H 24).
Section 6: Mind-Reading.
One theme of CedarS this summer includes the Tenets. The 6th states in part “And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus” (S&H 497:24). The wording is similar to Paul’s direction to the Christians in Philippi, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (B19). What would we be able to do better if we effectively emulated Jesus’ advanced expression of Mind? Read mind – the “thoughts and intents of the heart” (B21) of others as Jesus did with the Pharisees (B20). Was this mind-reading talent used for the purpose of manipulation? No, “this insight better enabled him to direct those thoughts aright” (S&H 25). In other words, discernment of thought enabled Jesus to be a better healer.
Section Summary Benediction:
God is in command of everything with His thought and purpose manifested. Infinite Mind directs, knows, hears, sees and heals.
Resources:
Researched Bible Guide, 561-776-5711 or e-mail DayBreakPlease@cs.com<br />
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, by Eugene H. Peterson,
NavPress 800-366-7788, website www.MessageBible.com
The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, by Henry Gehman
The One Volume Bible Commentary, by J.R. Dummelow
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.)
