Listen for the Ring of Truth to never “buy into” a lie!
A Lesson Sermon Met on the Subject: “Truth” July 21-27, 2003
by Gary Duke, C.S.
Golden Text (Freedom): “…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) This quote is the very first sentence of Science and Health (on the page preceding Contents) which indicates how strongly Mrs. Eddy must have felt about its message. It is also a preview of coming attractions in Science and Health! “…through Christ, Truth, man will reopen with the key of divine Science the gates of Paradise which human beliefs have closed and will find himself unfallen, upright, pure, and free…” (S&H 171:5-8)
Resp. Rdg. (What is truth?): Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor/procurator, asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) He certainly asked the right man! But he asked with the wrong motive (debating or self-talk vs. true listening) so he didn’t receive an answer. We might want to ask, “Am I debating with God (or another individual) and thus unreceptive to the divine messages of truth always available to me?” A headmaster witnessed a teacher discipline a student. Afterwards the headmaster asked the teacher, “What healing did you have in mind?” The teacher admitted he hadn’t thought in those terms. Later the teacher realized he had been efficient but not effective in his discipline and missed a learning opportunity for both he and the student to grow in grace. So before anything important, we might want to ask, “What healing do I have in mind?” After this manner, we’ll better be able to answer the question, “What is truth?”
Section 1 (What is God?): Mrs. Eddy says, “…’What is Truth,’ convulses the world.” (S1) Truth in this case is capitalized meaning God. If we know the truth about God, then we know it for ourselves and our neighbor and we won’t be tempted to look for the source of truth in an individual, a group or from some inanimate thing like alcohol or another dead-end source. Instead we can always seek the truth about God from our pastor, the Bible and Science and Health. The pastor will respond with truth in its purest and wisest form, which when implemented, will yield happiness and freedom.
Section 2 (Healing Sickness): “By the truthful arguments you employ, and especially by the spirit of Truth and Love which you entertain, you will heal the sick.” (S7) What was the spirit behind the four friends who removed a portion of the roof to lower their paralyzed friend to Jesus in the crowd? (B7) We can just imagine the dust and pieces of roof caving in on the crowd below and the irritation of many who felt these “intruders” from above were ruining their lecture. The four friends probably realized the disturbance they were creating but simply would not be denied the healing truth for their paralyzed friend. Do we have that similar desire to seize the truth with all our heart, soul and mind? Or are we routinely stopped by the “crowd” (people, popularity, time, things and other worldly thinking)?
Section 3 (Healing Sin): How do we heal sin? “Both sin and sickness are error, and Truth is their remedy.” (S11) Just prior to that statement Mrs. Eddy says, “Usually to admit that you are sick, renders your case less curable, while to recognize your sin, aids in destroying it.” And after it is destroyed, we experience the privilege of forgiveness as outlined in the third tenet, “We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.” (S&H 497:9)
Section 4 (Honesty): “Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help.” (S18) The Bible gives us many examples of leaders losing their spiritual power with the dishonesty of human weakness. King Saul turned to a spiritualist instead of God which soon lead to his death; King David killed Uriah to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba which lead to infighting throughout the rest of his reign; King Solomon’s worship of foreign gods lead to the divided kingdom and the eventual dissolution of the entire nation. In our country, dishonest financial dealings have brought down huge companies and sent their officers to jail. But there is hope, as in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and elsewhere. When people come forth to admit their mistakes, stop doing wrong and repent by honestly changing their ways, they are free again to operate with spiritual power.
Section 5 (Church): Why do we need to join The Mother Church, a branch church or attend a Christian Science Organization (CSO) at college? Can’t we be spiritual without these affiliations? Mrs. Eddy’s definition of church is helpful when pondering these questions. “CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.” (S23) After studying the definition, we find church offers: structure, Principle, proof, elevation, awakening, apprehension, demonstration and healing. And not only for ourselves but others are infinitely blessed. If a burning log is removed from a roaring fire, the flame soon dies out of the solitary piece. Another analogy is this country, only 227 years old ~ 2 long lives or 3 average length lives stretched back to back. Alone, 2 or 3 lives may not accomplish much but with the synergy of many others this great country was built. The same analogy is true with The Mother Church and its branch churches around the world.
Section 6 (Reward): What is the reward of practicing the truth of Christian Science? “When the Science of being is universally understood, every man will be his own physician, and Truth will be the universal panacea.” (S30) Many who have had healings in Christian Science grasp the concept of being ones’ own physician. The idea of a universal panacea, a remedy for any difficulty, may be less fully explored. Turning to Truth for any difficulty, from personal to international challenges, allows us to embrace the uncertainty of human events with the certainty that spiritual law is effectively governing and we are free to “…act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.” (S&H 264:11)
