The Answer is NO!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on “Are Sin, Disease and Death Real?” Oct. 2-8, 2006
Prepared by Corde Hanzlik, C.S., Austin, Texas
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.
The answer is NO, of course. Sin, disease, and death are not real. Every time we have this Lesson, it becomes an opportunity to give the boot to this trumped-up triad of unreal impositions! (See S30) We have a continuation of the light theme from two Lessons ago starting with the Golden Text all the way through to section 6. The whole Lesson! Light is always such a clear, understandable metaphor. Even one small candle in a dark place seems very bright and can lead the way. Think about what little glimmer of light and happiness can you share today. Share an even brighter light and everyone can see how beautiful and colorful God’s glorious creation is! Unlike mere physical light, the metaphorical, absolute Light of spiritual joy and God-directed understanding is always praiseworthy and ever-present. With all of the light of Truth, we are able to see in the Lesson that the three “bad guys,” sin, disease, and death, are nothing more than darkness destroyed.
The Christ light can brighten our every day in every way thanks to the brilliant beacon of light that Jesus shined in his day. As we read in the Responsive Reading, he knew how to follow Jewish custom. What he chose to read was safe. But, what a shocker for the listeners to hear his pronouncement that the scripture was now true and come to fulfillment! For the real savvy, they would have understood that he was the answer to the prophecy he read.
Section 1 Let there be light…. Can we help but let it?
God hears when we call, but we tend to get impatient sometimes. He does listen and respond. (B1, B2) Actually He answers before we call. In the beginning was light. (B3) God spoke it into instantaneous existence. Like on a friend’s bumper sticker: “The BIG BANG: God spake and it was done!” That light still shines. There is no darkness. It is good. No alternative. Any dummy can see this light! (B4) What right do we have to be impatient?
“Let there be” as if we can stop the sun from rising! The music (of the spheres) will play on. Without iPods! (S&H1) Truth and Love are the authoritative light. The separation of light and dark is in marker 3: Truth=light; error=darkness. Mind enters the equation to expose the falsity of mortal mind. (S&H4) Are we going to be subject to human darkness? No way! We have the light, the good light of immortality. We are not fooled. (S&H6)
Section 2 Surely this section doesn’t apply to any of us. We are not sinners!
God only gives His sons and daughters salvation. We are the holy people, the redeemed! (B5) How do we know? Because of regular reminder of the Genesis 1 Sabbath day, “in the beginning.” The light is the Word of life, no darkness. Jesus cleared the way for us to know and prove that we are not sinners. (B6, 7) Sometimes the most difficult part of realizing our freedom from a sinful past is memory. In Romans Paul encourages us to let go. We are not servants of sin. We are free! (B8)
As the Science of the Christ links us to our Maker, the darkness of guilt is gone! (S&H7, 8) We have always been God’s beloveds. Do the claims of mortality have any reality or existence to hold onto us? No. So the light-man of God’s creating has always been, that is if God has always been. Which He has. We certainly don’t want to make any mistakes. (S&H9, 10) God’s kingdom is consistent, constant. There is no opposite inconsistency. What is the result when an individual has one foot on the dock and one foot one the boat when the boat pulls away? He gets soaking wet for his divided stand. (Editor’s note: A word for devil in Spanish is diabolis, which literally means to try to throw or shoot something in two opposite directions at the same time. Talk about “missing the mark,” the meaning of the Greek word “sin,” as mentioned this week in the myBibleLesson.com. What issues or temptations would try to pull you in opposite directions at the same time?) Let’s choose the right stand. (S&H11)
Section 3 What kind of a friend are you? Would you move roof tiles for a friend? Probably!
Jesus’ healing example in this section gives us a dimension of his work that we all must follow, like his disciples, – detaching sickness and sin from thought and body. We are never guilty to deserve sickness as a punishment. Jesus healed the belief of sin to cure the palsy. As was the prevalent thought of Jesus’ time, if someone was sick it was because they had sinned. He handled that. The scribes didn’t like his interference with what they thought was God’s law. Again, Jesus took the lead to heal the man. “Go into thy house” = think for yourself, be God’s idea, man! (B9, 10,11)
All of the markers in the Science and Health follow the Bible teaching so beautifully. We must follow the instructions, the how-to of healing. Cling! (S&H14) As we know, “The power of Christian Science and divine Love is omnipotent.” (S&H16)
Section 4 We must be persistent in our expression of life!
It is easy to be discouraged by delayed healings. But what is the basis of healing? Changed thought: changed to be at one with our Father-Mother God; spiritualized thought and re-formed understanding of who we are; then of course, realizing who we have always been, His idea. God is always caring for us. No matter what! As we gain the right sense of God and our being, we realize all is well. “God wipes away all tears from their (our) eyes.” (B14) Remember the cartoon on the wall in PAL House (the CS care facility) at camp? Charlie Brown is complaining to Lucy that his head hurts, his arm hurts, his stomach hurts, so much so that he didn’t think that he should play baseball. He had really taken in a dour, material sense of life in matter. Lucy says, “Play ball anyway.” and walks away. She turns back to say. “Don’t let your body push you around!” “There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away.” (S&H17) We must press on. Does Mrs. Eddy mean that we should be ignorant of bodily conditions and theories? To a degree, yes, like children. They are so free. It is what we do with that knowledge that makes the difference. We must know that it is false and baseless. Mortal belief has nothing to do with life or Life! We can “speak the truth to every form of error” as Lucy did because we know the unreality of mortal claims. We have the light, pure understanding. (S&H19) Love doesn’t know sin, sickness or death! (S&H20)
Section 5 We have the victory over death through the Christ!
Last section had the example of Jesus to show us the way. This section has the Christly understanding that empowered Jesus and empowers us. It is the Christ link, our oneness with God that gives us the authority to deny death threats or the threat of death. We are not penalized for sin – paid the wage of pain or death for doing wrong. The Trial in last week’s Lesson proved that man is innocent. (B15) No, God loves us no matter what! There is no death! (B16) Thank you Jesus for giving us our Christ example! “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”(B17)
Jesus gave us the map to overcome all the gobblety-gook of matter. (S&H21, 22) Truth can never be destroyed. What in marker S&H 24 that is destroyed? “The human concepts named matter, death, disease, sickness, and sin.” Just the human concepts! There is no real matter, death, sickness, sin. Here comes the light again! The darkness of the death-dream disappears. (S&H25) Sin gone, disease gone, death gone!
Section 6 Light = salvation!
There is the name brand on clothing, “No fear.” We Scientists have believed this forever. This section is our no fear section. Why? We know that God is All. He is everything to us. There is no place for any contrary enemy to be or to hide. Let’s sing to God! (B18) Whom do we trust? If you can’t trust God, whom can you trust? Aren’t we grateful to be abundantly satisfied with all that God provides for us? Especially the fountain of light and right understanding! (B19) Amen!
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Perhaps we should all try our hand at poetry to describe our understanding of God and His light. (S&H 27) Then send it to CSPS (Christian Science Publishing Society) for the Sentinel or Journal. The editors would love to have your input. Testimonies too! Marker 28 (S&H) is a wonderful description of what darkness is. When we find that the darkness of any problem has no reality, we are the victors. We can never lose the light. It is interesting in the next marker, 29, the way Mrs. Eddy uses the word opportunity. If all we have in our thought is light, right ideas, how can there be any room or time for sin, disease or death? There can’t. We have the promise of scientific demonstration when we expose (bald) the false impositions of mortal belief. (S&H30) We see and express our true spirituality free from sin, disease and death! Sin, disease and death are not real, forever! |
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 citations referenced (i.e. B1and 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.)
Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Director director@cedarscamps.org
CedarS Camps Office (where you can mail support or requests)
19772 Sugar Drive
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 532-6699
