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Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson:
“Love”
For July 29—August 4, 2013
By Craig L. Ghislin, C.S. Glen Ellyn, Illinois (Bartlett)
craig.ghislincs@icloud.com / (630) 830-8683
In his memoirs, William Rathvon records that late Christmas Day of 1909, Mrs. Eddy called him to her bedside. She said, “Do you know by what it is that I heal the sick?” [He] replied, “Through your knowledge of God.” She said, “No, that’s not it.” “What is it then?” [he] asked. She replied, “By Love.” (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy Expanded Edition Volume II, p. 544). Many of the people who knew Mrs. Eddy were impressed that her very presence seemed to exude love. Where does such love come from? It comes from God.
The Golden Text states, “We love because God first loved us.” Some have interpreted this as meaning we love God because of the good things He does for us, which seems a bit selfish and self-centered because it brings into question whether or not we would love if we weren’t receiving good things from God. Others have cited God’s love for us by sending His “only begotten Son” to suffer, and save us from our sins. But there are also those who, like Mrs. Eddy realize that our very capacity to love is founded in the fact that God is Love itself. As the expression of God (Love), we must be endowed with the ability and capacity to love. The closer we are to understanding God, the more we realize our oneness with Him, and that in order to be His children, we must reflect His Love.
Indeed in today’s world it can seem a tall order to love the way Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy did. The world view is that love is something earned, and those who do wrong generally aren’t acting lovingly themselves, nor do they deserve to be loved by others. Most of what we call “love” is somewhat self-serving, because it’s dependent on how our love is reciprocated. When others do wrong to us, our first impulse isn’t to love them, but is usually centered on exacting retribution. *Most of the time, we put our own interests before others, fight for our rights, and often pay little attention as to whether or not our actions are causing others hardship. Christ Jesus turned that way of thinking on its head.
The Responsive Reading sets forth the general rule that we should not set ourselves against those who may injure us. Jesus isn’t advocating that we just let ourselves be bullied and passively accept mistreatment, but he’s giving us a way of dealing with situations that go beyond the commonplace methods based on human reasoning and justice. He’s advocating patience, forbearance, kindness, understanding, unselfishness, generosity, mercy, guilelessness, and so on. All these qualities stem from love.
Mrs. Eddy followed Jesus’ teaching. She writes on page 11 of Miscellaneous Writings in her article “Love Your Enemies:”
I used to think it sufficiently just to abide by our State statutes; that if a man should aim a ball at my heart, and I by firing first could kill him and save my own life, that this was right…
…Love metes not out human justice, but divine mercy. If one’s life were attacked, and one could save it only in accordance with common law, by taking another’s, would one sooner give up his own? We must love our enemies in all the manifestations wherein and whereby we love our friends; must even try not to expose their faults, but to do them good whenever opportunity occurs. *[See Warren’s Endnote Example.]
Notice that our Leader urges pro-active kindness to those whom we call enemies. Jesus set the standard for this active love in the Sermon on the Mount. He points out that anybody can love those who are nice to him. But Christians are expected to take the responsibility of loving even those who intend them harm.
The Responsive Reading closes with Jesus’ call for us to be “perfect even as your father which is in heaven is perfect.” This doesn’t mean we need to be perfect “mortals”—holier than thou, who can do no wrong. Perfect means “complete, mature, fully grown.” Our goal as mature Christians is to reflect God in all ways, including impartial love for all, consistent in every situation. To be sure, our ability to do this is put to the test regularly in our daily walk. Nobody can achieve such love on their own. We need to start by understanding God as Love.
Section 1: Our Father-Mother Love
From a human standpoint, no better symbol can represent love than that of a parent for a child. The Scriptures utilize this symbol as both Father (B1) and Mother (B3). The fatherhood of God is evidenced in the watchfulness, care, and protection experienced by the children of Israel throughout their history. God’s motherhood is shown in the loving comfort found in the presence and oneness with God. There are various theories about the phrase “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands” (B2). Whatever the exact meaning, the intention is clear—we are indelibly linked to God. There is no moment in which we are separated from Him or in which we are forgotten. In biblical times as well as today, no greater symbol of love and acceptance can be made than to adopt someone into their family (B4). While it seems that the concept of adoption implies that the adoptee is not a natural part of the family, and that from a traditional theological standpoint, it is remarkable that God would accept as His own mere flawed mortals, we know that from a spiritual standpoint, we have full familial rights in our heavenly home, and that we are indeed part of the family. To dwell with God is to dwell in Love (B5) If we consciously lived in Love, all corruption, crime, passion, jealousy, hatred, and war would dissolve. All the qualities mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount would be demonstrated effortlessly.
Science and Health starts out at the top of the mountain. “God is Love.” We can ask no more, look no higher, and go no farther (S1). Traditional Christianity has considered God as basically masculine, but Mrs. Eddy emphasized the Motherhood of God (S2). Other world religions have considered feminine aspects of God, but that was usually in conjunction with a belief in multiple deities. In Christian Science, God is One, but rather than being confined to one human idea, God is seen as Father-Mother (S3, S4). Lifting our concept out of restrictive human imagery is a major step in spiritualizing our concept of God. It helps us to realize the omnipotence, and allness of Deity. While Father-Mother gives us a sense of the attention and care with which we are loved by God, Mrs. Eddy saw God as the only presence, “bathing all in beauty and light” (S5). On one of her daily carriage rides, she is recorded as saying, “Every leaf upon every tree declares perpetually that God is Love” (WKMBE Expanded Edition, Vol. II, p. 541). Take a few minutes to contemplate what it is to live in Love. That’s where we want to be.
Section 2: Every Need Is Met
God answers every call of distress. Theologian Albert Barnes points out that water is often used “as an emblem of the provisions of divine mercy.” Here, though the “poor and needy” refers specifically to the Israelites’ return from captivity, the point is well taken that God supplies us according to our specific needs (B6). It may seem a very tough decision for Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael off into the wilderness with limited provisions (B7). Though not in this Lesson, God does promise Abraham that all will be well.
Such benedictions sound good in theory, but Hagar, in the midst of the dilemma couldn’t bear to witness her child die of thirst. The narrative tells us that God heard the voice of the child and then the angel message came to Hagar leading her to water. [Check out a video reenactment skit of "Hagar and Ishmael”. You can download a PDF-formatted script with follow-up questions by clicking on the link in the upper right corner of CedarS current metaphysical webpage. This summer, as cabin groups of all ages tour CedarS Camps Bible Lands Park, they have had the opportunity to re-enact stories like this one from the current Christian Science Bible Lesson. Nearly every week this summer, videos of the selected skits have been posted on the CedarS website as well as on a community webpage for TMCYouth.com. These scripts and follow-up questions may be downloaded free of charge by those seeking Bible-centered activities and contemporary applications for Sunday School classes and/or Bible study groups. These Bible skits were written by Sara Romo, a current CedarS counselor, as part of her Girl Scout Gold project. With ongoing support, we hope to keep up this exciting new resource and improve it.]
All of us at one time or another have found ourselves in need of something. I’ve had several instances where exactly what was needed was provided when I turned whole-heartedly to divine Love. Our textbook promises that divine Love truly meets every human need (S6). Sometimes we aren’t willing to listen for God’s angel messages until we are at the “end of our rope.” Sometimes the road is hard, but when we stop looking to matter and rely only on God, the “spiritual intuitions” are right at hand to help (S7). Mrs. Eddy defines angels as “God’s thoughts passing to man” (S8). Sometimes these angel messages are as distinct as voices in the room with us, but the result is a sense of complete peace, understanding, and reliance that all is well. The way we need to go is clearly pointed out.
In Science, we don’t have to plead with God. It is natural to trust that God is supplying us with everything necessary (S9). It’s also good to know that we don’t have to belong to a certain class, or club to receive the benefit of God’s goodness. “Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals” (S10). [As Christian Science Lecturer Geith Plimmer would say"in teh 1970s, "when we are ready to make Love-directed adaptations, we'll be ready to receive Love's bestowals."] We never need despair that we won’t get our share, or that we might be overlooked. If we understand God as Love, we will naturally look to Him in every need and never look in vain.
Section 3: Accepting Responsibility Gives Us the Humility to Return Home
Experience shows us that while, as in the case of Hagar, we may find ourselves in severe conditions that have been thrust upon us, there are also times as in the story of “The Prodigal Son” (B10), that our own choices and behavior get us into unpleasant situations. The Scriptures tell us that God’s love was manifested to us by virtue of the fact that He sent His “only begotten Son” to the world to save us (B8). Even if we may disagree with old theology about the particulars of this statement, it is unquestionably true that Jesus opened the door of salvation to all of us no matter how disobedient we are. Jesus’ entire career was motivated by compassion for mankind (B9).
The story of the Prodigal Son is familiar to most of us. Here is a young man who made extremely bad choices. Most of us have made mistakes, but the situation Jesus describes is one of utmost depravity. This fellow was basically self-centered. He wanted to do things his way, and he was impatient. According to theologian Adam Clarke, it wasn’t unusual for sons to demand their inheritance early, and the parents couldn’t legally refuse. The law providing for early distribution of an inheritance was designed to protect the interests of the children in case the parent was mistreating them. The matter could be brought to legal inquiry, and “if it was found that the father was irreproachable in his character, and had given no just cause for the son to separate from him…the magistrate fined the son two hundred puns of cowries.” So this is one of the reasons the son gathered everything so quickly. He knew he wasn’t justified, and he got out of town as fast as he could. Have you ever tried to avoid being caught for something you knew was wrong?
Without reiterating the story, let’s just think about the pattern of the plot. This young person probably thought he was a “hot shot.” He didn’t have the patience, or the gratitude to recognize the good he had, so in his petulance he sets off to follow his own course. He wastes every cent, and ends up with nothing during a famine in a strange land. Still unwilling to admit his mistake, he joins up with a local who sends him off to do an absolutely awful job and one that is opposed to his religion at that. After turning his back on everything, he realizes he has nothing.
After hitting the bottom, to his credit, he wakes up, and acknowledges his responsibility for the situation he’s in. And he’s willing to go back home and face the consequences. This is a key element of the story. Are we willing to recognize when we’ve made a mistake and take responsibility for our bad decisions? He begins his journey home not knowing the outcome, but willing to ask no more than to become a servant. There is no sense from the narrative, that the father took any pleasure in the suffering of the wayward son. He runs to meet him and gives him a kiss. The son begins his confession, feeling genuinely worthless, but his father takes immediate measures to fully reinstate his position in the family, and calls for a party to celebrate his return.
That would surely be more than one would expect. What is Jesus telling us here? The textbook sums it up well: “The design of Love is to reform the sinner” (S11). Note that it’s not God’s design to punish and drag us over the coals, constantly reminding us of our decrepitude. No. There is a complete reversal of circumstance commensurate with our reversal of thought. When we take responsibility for our situation, and correct our thought and actions, our circumstances change to reflect our new way of life.
While understanding completely that God is Love, Mrs. Eddy fully appreciated the value of “sharp experiences” (S12). These challenging experiences are evidence of God’s love, for they serve to turn us from sin toward heaven. If we waffle back and forth, between sin and repentance, we can’t expect to get very far. Sometimes our suffering becomes extreme until we make the necessary change (S13). The opportunity for salvation from sin was a revolutionary idea for Jesus’ listeners. And so it is for us. Old theology condemns man as being naturally inclined to sin, and then stresses our unworthiness. But Jesus taught us to simply turn from sin, to find Christ and our real selfhood (S15). That’s really a lovely thought.
However degenerate our condition might be, no matter how deep into trouble we are, or how far we’ve strayed from the right path, divine Love will rapidly respond to an honest change of heart. So if you’re in such a condition. Come on back home.
Section 4: Self-Righteousness Just Won’t Do
Now we consider the elder son, who remained at home (B11). How might you feel, if even though you’d like to follow a more libertine course, you’ve still remained obedient, and then someone you know who’d gone off to lead a wild life, gets welcomed back with open arms as if nothing had happened? Would you feel cheated out of a good time? Would you resent the one who returned? According to Robertson’s Word Pictures, the elder son “flew into a rage.” It also says that in his complaint, he says he was “a slave” to his father. Isn’t it interesting that the younger son, after losing everything and suffering, is willing to return home as a servant, but the elder son, who stayed home thinks of it as slavery? That indicates that the elder son really didn’t have his heart in the work at home. He may have stayed out of obligation, and perhaps self-righteousness, indignantly nurturing his resentment against his brother the whole time he was at home. This attitude is that of the Pharisees against the sinners whom Jesus appealed to, and of the Jews against Gentile converts. This attitude can creep up today too.
The Master urges us to be merciful and not to judge others (B12). He cautions that we will be treated in the same way we treat others. Finishing the story, the father entreats the elder son with just as much love as he gives to the younger, and reminds him that all that he has is his.
Mrs. Eddy knew that people can “act holy” without feeling it. She says our lives betray our thoughts (S16). No matter how well we may think we’re behaving, any indulgences in envy, hatred, malice, and so on, “steal away the treasures of Truth” (S17). She tells us that love of self is “more opaque than a solid body” (S18). The human sense of self is a detriment to our spiritual growth and happiness. Like the elder son, our sufferings from envy and self-righteous indignation are “self-inflicted wounds” (S19). We have to remember that we don’t have to compete for God’s love. God loves all equally, and the more we overcome the human belief of competing personalities, the easier it will be to love everyone, even when it looks like they’re being rewarded for something they don’t deserve (S20). I used to be indignant over late night parties in our neighborhood. As I prayed about it, I realized that I needed to heal my own thought, including hidden envy that was based on the claim that they were free to act immaturely while I was expected to be the good guy all the time, even to the point of putting up with their reverie. While on the surface, I couldn’t say I envied them, I followed the angel thoughts that led me to handle it. I realized that I wasn’t lacking anything, and that I shouldn’t begrudge them their happiness, even if it wasn’t as enlightened as I thought it should be. I had to love them. I simply stopped judging, and sought my own in another’s good (S21). First, I was healed of any unsettled feelings, and before I knew it,one by one each of those households moved out of the neighborhood. I don’t know if they’re having parties where they are now, but I can rest knowing that everyone is being blessed.
Section 5: Compassion for All Opens the Door to Healing
Divine Love doesn’t leave anybody out. Everyone who needs help is cared for, even the strangers (B13). As the elder son learned, God doesn’t have favorites. Everyone is part of the family. God is the friend of the friendless, helper of the poor, comforter to the sorrowing. Jesus didn’t reserve his healing ability for his close associates. He liberally gave wherever he perceived a need B14). One such need was in a city called Nain. On his arrival, Jesus came upon a funeral procession (B15). The situation was particularly hard, because the dead man’s mother had nobody left to take care of her. Jesus compassionately responded to the need, and revived the young man.
As we’ve said, Jesus doesn’t reserve his healing ability for those he knows. He gives to everyone, and he expected everyone of his followers to emulate his example (S22). In The Student’s Reference Dictionary—an abridged version of the Webster’s Dictionary Mrs. Eddy used—“magnitude” and “amplitude” (S23) means extent of directions and largeness respectively. We see that Jesus’ life was not one-dimensional, nor was his love for mankind. It went out in all directions in full measure. Mrs. Eddy tells us that we must love our fellow man if we expect to be healers (S24). She didn’t view the demand for us to be healers as a casual suggestion. She says we’ve enlisted to take a stand for the allness of God and to prove our fidelity through healing (S25). Do we love enough not only to share Christian Science, but to take on the mantle of healers? If we accept that we do live, and move, and have our being in God, (S26) healing should be natural to us.
Section 6: One Family—Inseparable from God, and Living in Love
Why do we hesitate to offer healing to those in need? Most likely it’s because of fear. We are doubtful that our efforts will be successful, and fear is based on selfishness. We wonder, “How foolish might we look if we don’t succeed?” The apostle Paul, took a risk. He completely reversed his course in life and boldly put on his healing garments. He knew that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (B16). He knew that nothing—not a single aspect of human opposition to divine Love—could separate us from that Love, and that we would ultimately conquer every foe.
Although Paul’s authorship of Ephesians (B17) is debated, the message is clear—it’s a prayer that we come together as a family of Christians and feel the power of love that allows us to fully express it. As we mentioned in the beginning, Mary Baker Eddy often said that love was the key element in her healing work, and she urged us to partake and demonstrate that healing love too.
Is there anyone who would neglect the promise of “true happiness?” Our Leader promises that “true happiness” is achieved as we harmonize with our divine Principle, Love (S27). Rather than building up walls of doctrinal debate, making judgements that separate those who think they understand from those they think do not, judging our fellow man and church members from a basis of self-righteousness, and hiding our healing light under a bushel, we need to realize one God, one Father-Mother Love over all. This will bring us into unity of faith and action (S28). As divine Love raised Paul out of belief in material sense, and opened to him the ever-presence of Life and Truth, we too can wake up to the healing power of Love (S29). The material lie is never real. It is only our ignorance that hides reality from our view. The Student’s Reference Dictionary defines “doctrine” as “a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master.” Both our chief instructor, Mary Baker Eddy, and our Master Christ Jesus, tell us that the principle laid down for us is that “divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation or object…” That means that healing must take place. Nothing can stop it. Reasoning with perfect clarity and consistency, our Leader states that since divine Love is infinite, everything in existence “is in and of God, and manifests His love” (S30). There it is. That’s how we heal. That’s how every leaf declares that God is Love. It’s not a human quality. It’s a divine reality. As we allow ourselves to express that reality we’ll find ourselves living in Love.
[Warren’s Endnote Example: I learned a lesson in Love when I began my first job in an architects's office in Kansas City. My immediate supervisor Joe seemed quite jealous that our mutual boss seemed overly impressed that I had just graduated from Princeton University, so Joe did all he could to give me a hard time and to make my work look bad before our mutual employer. By the 3rd day it had escalated to his smearing the lettering on drawings that I had worked on all day and poking a hole through one with the corner of a drafting triangle. (Pre-C.A.D. days) On my drive home that night I prayed the "Daily Prayer" and was struck by the line "rule out of ME all sin" — not rule out of Joe all sin! (Church Manual, 41) I thought about Bible characters who had been unjustly treated and how they had responded. Joseph had been thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery, and later was thrown into prison unjustly, but he refused to stay discouraged, kept finding ways to be of service to thiose around him, and forgave his brothers. Part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of Joseph in the Glossary of Science and Health is "pure affection blessing its enemies." (589:21) I also thought about how unjustly Jesus was treated and yet how he responded in the Garden of Gethsemane by healing an injured ear of one of his captor's that had been cut off by Peter. I looked up and soaked up Mrs. Eddy's Glossary definition of "Gethsemane", especially the part that reads "love meeting no response, but still remaining love." (586:24) I determined that going forward, no matter what, happened, I would remain loving. All I could do was smile the next day when Joe acted ugly again. When I heard that it was his anniversary and that his car was in the shop, and that he had left his wallet at home, I happily offered to loan him money and my car to shop for a present for his wife. From then on we became good friends and after-work partners for racketball and waterskiing behind his boat. Joe even liked coming to Christian Science lectures with me. For a more recent example of living Love by a current camper in CedarS Basketball Camp, check out an article in the Christian Science Sentinel of January 28, 2013 by Brittany Duke entitled "Make the Right Call: REJECT ANGER" . It is also reprinted as MyBibleLesson's featured article for this week's Bible Lesson on "Love".]
[The above application ideas are from a Christian Science Practitioner who has served and is currently serving as a Resident Practitioner at CedarS Camps. They are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and daily demonstrate the great value of studying and applying the Christian Science Bible lessons throughout the year, not just at camp! YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of possible ways to share Bible Lesson applications with older, as well as younger, Sunday School classes by clicking the "Subscribe Now" button (lower left) athttp://www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/
Warren Huff, CedarS Director & editor of these notes & of the bracketed, italic additions.]
[Happy results from our recent LETTING NEEDS BE KNOWN:
CAMPERSHIPS: Wonderful contributions needed for camperships have recently been given! Now, CedarS can fulfill its top priority of having a camp filled with Sunday School students having fun experiences in applying Christian Science to take home in transformed lives! Click here to apply online for the camperships now available for CedarS remaining 5th and 6th(one-week) session programs, for which one can enroll online.
[OUR LIVESTOCK FENCING NEEDS:
On the opening Sunday of our 4th (2-week) session, a grateful grandparent gave the $4,000 needed to build a suitable new fence around our Bible Lands Park so that it could be noiselessly and sustainably “mowed” by 12 sheep that have been offered on loan from our immediate neighbor! What a Biblically-appropriate, “green pastures” scene and petting area this will provide for all visitors to our Bible Lands Park! And over $31,000 has been given recently by a foundation & 3 other individuals who saw the need to do more than just “band-aid” long sections of our dilapidated pasture fencing for our herd of wonderful horses that serve our campers every day. Won’t you match their generous support as you are able to help provide even a small part of the remaining $14,900 needed to finish upgrading the fences around our horse pastures and our riding rings? Just say “fencing for horses”]
BIG THANKS in advance for MAKING A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT ONLINE,
BY PHONE at 636-394-6162,
OR BY MAIL at:
CedarS Camps Inc.
19772 Sugar Drive
Lebanon, MO 65536
[And PLEASE remember, it's NOT TOO LATE to enroll or encourage others to enroll or to simply apply online for and get CAMPERSHIP AID; but to help finalize affordable flights* and arrangements, CedarS needs campers who are "on the fence” about coming for the last session of regular camp (our only one week session, 5th session) to SIGN UP ONLINE ASAP! Explore easy ONLINE Enrollment for campers & families as well as for Parents, Grands or Sponsors to join our team in home-style accommodations! Any FINANCIAL AID requested is guaranteed to be available as needed! *You may even want to join our “club” of Frequent Flyer mile donors who are standing by to give their miles (that may be expiring soon anyway) to worthy campers so that they can travel to camp and back with life-transforming results!]
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[Additional Director's Note: You can sign up to have these application ideas emailed to you free — by Monday each week in English; or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION: in German, thanks to Helga and Manfred; or in Spanish, thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio, or in Portuguese, thanks to helpers of Orlando Trentini in Brazil. A voluntary French translation by Rodger Glokpor, a Christian Scientist from Togo (West Africa) has just been offered. Thank you, Rodger and all translators! Go to http://www.cedarscamps.org/ and click "Newsletters" to sign-up for a free translation into these languages. This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 13-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson "Mets" (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (Ask and look for "Possible Sunday School Topics "and "Possible Younger Class Lessons" in emails to follow.) These weekly offerings are intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and 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 "and Sunday School ideas are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way serve as 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 and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and in a variety of useful formats as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the "Met" (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-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 the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.]
