Join us in “The Great(est) Escape” and Be Made New in Christ!  

Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Mortals and Immortals” for 5-20-07

Corde Hanzlik, C.S.  of Austin, TX

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 (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp!       You can sign up free to have these mets emailed to you in English by Monday or in French or Spanish by Wednesday: CHECK www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/  FOR A FREE TRANSLATION of this weekly “met” offered in FRENCH by Pascal Bujard of Switzerland AND NOW in SPANISH by Ana Arcioni of Spain.  

Hallelujah!  Let’s celebrate being “made alive in Christ” from last week’s Lesson and being therein both new and peculiar!  (from this week’s Golden Text and B4)  We are “a peculiar people,” (B4) — “distinctive in nature or character from others” (dictionary.com) — as we are “partakers (or part-takers) of the divine nature (as in divine image and likeness), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”  II Peter 1:4  This Responsive Reading passage and one in Ephesians 4:22 (B3) guide us to “put off … the deceitful lusts” – or “overmastering … cravings” (dictionary.com)  The wakeup and release of all of us “Christian soldiers” from supposed cravings and the cruel bondage of mortality’s aggressive claims is far greater than “The Great Escape,” a 1963 film about the real ‘Great Escape‘ of Allied soldiers from Stalag Luft III in March, 1944  (See www.historyinfilm.com/escape/real10.htm)  However, the courage, ingenuity and persistence of those real life escapees can serve as role-model traits for us to emulate in our escape to freedom from mortality’s claims.   

The Adam dream and its curse to the bondage and cravings of mortality is a myth that never was about us.  We don’t even have to remember the old man, the mortal model any more than we remember a nightmare or give credence to its the details.  This Bible Lesson shows us how to claim the precious freedom and blessings of our divine, immortal nature that we are promised in the Responsive Reading.  Count the things that are given us such as “all things that pertain unto life, … exceeding great and precious promises, … virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, …”   We are not mortals, but immortals!

 

Section 1 — It’s all about us!   (Who’s the Source?) But, we have a job to prepare for.

God has chosen us to claim our place in the covenant.  We are His elect – the best!   But we can’t take this opportunity lightly.  God is helping us all the way as we follow His instructions to “open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (B1) The triumph is in the try in our Christly understanding, but God does the work. (B2)  No failure.  Bible marker 3 explains why we might be considered the elect, the chosen.  We know who we are – His, God’s, image and likeness.  We are not bound by old theological rules and limits like in last week’s Lesson.  Because of this, we are free to be the new man, the real man, the Genesis 1 man.

At camp Warren tells us it’s never good to be “list-less,” or lacking energy and direction, so let’s make a list of the description of man, the real man, us, as given in this Lesson.   We are blessed.  We are “spiritually created.” (S&H1)  Let’s form our models as we make the list.  That way, we will not only know who and what we are, but also see it in writing too.  Science & Health gives us the comparisons from which to draw our models.  It is obvious that we will start our model from “perfect God and perfect man.” (S&H 2,3,4)  We will put off the dust-man and the lust-man of obsessive-cravings. (B3)

 

Section 2 — The ultimate recruiter!

Again to continue the model, in B4, we are given new titles, names – “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.”  Why would we need to be so different?  How would you have reacted if you were Peter and his partners? (B6)  Would you have gone back out to fish because some stranger told you to do it?  There must have been something very peaceful but authoritative about Jesus.  Jesus’ recruiting method was unique.  It got the attention of the fishers.  He tested their obedience, as well as willingness, in the same activity.

Are you willing to give up everything, every material comfort or ‘necessity’ to follow Christ?  (S&H8)  Jesus showed us that ‘those things’ are irrelevant to real life with God.  What we gain from the release of all limited sense is “a larger individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace.” (S&H10)  So we have EVERYTHING to gain, nothing to lose.

 

Section 3 — Let’s take a walk!

In the story of Jesus walking on the water, do we mentally side with Jesus or Peter and the gang?  If we were to understand Jesus’ Christly expression, we would think nothing of walking on water.  We would not even see the differences of material composition in the sense of material law.  Peter’s fear and educated expectation is what sank him.  Jesus could not have seen the winds, waves, storm, and water with any sense of fear or belief; or else he too, would have sunk.  He saw only God’s peaceful, ordered expression, directed by Mind.  John 14:27 gives us the measuring stick.  Where is our heart, our thought?  Sink? or walk?

The slogan/ad of “No fear!” should be our motto.  God didn’t put aside or make provision with material law to enable Jesus to walk on the water.  There is no material law!   The very atmosphere of material thought cannot affect us!  (S&H13)  What waves do we have to overcome?  (S&H15)  No doubt!  (S&H16)

 

Section 4 — Will the real Christ please stand up!

Peter proves the recognition for Jesus’ place in this section of the Bible. (B10)  After trying to walk on the water, Peter definitely had the firsthand perspective to witness the Christ.  Jesus acknowledged that insight in giving Peter his ‘rock’ status.

Mrs. Eddy explains the interchange between Peter and Jesus and the blessing and responsibility based on qualities, a spiritual foundation, not person. (S&H17)  What is our mission since we understand the foundation? (S&H18)

 

Section 5 — First you see them, then you don’t!

The transfiguration presents yet another display of Jesus putting aside all material sense of life in matter. (B11)  The witnessing disciples were very frightened, actually scared speechless.  Jesus wanted them to understand more completely that man is not subject to the laws of life in matter, whether fish, waves, or healing, but subject only to spiritual immortality.  The mountaintop experience would give them much to think about.  Jesus’ elevated thought and light was too much for them, but his touch brought them back to their senses.  How do we know Jesus but through his legacy and example?  We have the complete story to pull everything together.  Through our big picture sight, we are able to look beyond physical person to the spiritual nature represented by each individual transfigured.  Think about the permanent gifts given us by Moses, Elijah and Jesus.

As we see, in thought, all of our new possibilities (S&H19), we can understand that we are lifted to an atmosphere of consciousness that is never limited by material sense.  We are within divine consciousness.  (S&H21, 22, 23)

 

Section 6 — Peter got the message of Jesus’ lessons!

Having been given the rock-authority by Jesus, Peter was able to raise up Tabitha/Dorcas. (B13, 14)  Note how Peter put out all false reports of the hired witnesses/mourners who were with Tabitha.  He also turned from the false picture, the body, until he was clear in thought to tell her to arise.  Peter clearly knew that immortality is/was present.  Tabitha had her victory over death. (B15)

Peter had what Mrs. Eddy states in marker 24 clear in his thought.  If he had seen death, mortality, he never would have been able to raise Tabitha.  We, too, can be grave robbers!  (S&H25, 26)  We are totally free, spiritual ideas, without limit!  (S&H27,28)  Let’s learn the simple, yet, material law-shattering sentence of marker 27.  Let’s put our own name or pronoun in place of man.  I, “being immortal, (have) a perfect indestructible life.”  Let us further work together this week in our Sunday Schools and in our churches (as well as at camp this summer) to help each other to make this “greatest escape” from believing and acting out that we are mortals, trapped or imprisoned in mortal bodies.  Let’s see ourselves and others as immortal images of God, forever free, alive and new in Christ!

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.  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 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.   Spirituality is your innate estate that connects you moment by moment with God.  (See S&H 258:30) Christ is the gift of light that Jesus gave.  This Christ light of spiritual understanding comes with and reveals infinite blessings.  So, have fun unwrapping and cherishing your very special, spiritual gift(s)!   Then, wherever you are, share them with all as big blessings that make the Infinite difference!
Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Camp Director    director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162
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A new, visually-oriented and very helpful resource for study of the weekly Bible Lesson 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, timelines and translations, plus many healing ideas to use. Why not check out this effort to help bring to life each beloved Bible lesson in order to bless the youthful thinker and Sunday School student (and teacher) in us all!

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