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THE SUPREME LAW OF LOVE
Metaphysical Application Ideas for The Christian Science Bible Lesson on

“God”
for June 27 – July 3, 2022

by Christie C. Hanzlik, C.S. in Boulder, CO
ccern@mac.com • 720-331-9356 • christiecs.com


We will never have enough words to describe God sufficiently.  And yet it is crucial that we understand the word God clearly as the word is often misused and abused.  The word “God” makes us think of a man-like being with superpowers. But that is a material—limited and distorted and wrong—understanding of God.  People often describe God metaphorically with concepts such as Shepherd, King, Father, and Mother. But even with these useful metaphors, we need to be alert that we don’t begin thinking of an anthropomorphic being—that would be a limited way of understanding God. In the way that I’m reading this week’s Bible Lesson, God is described as Lawmaker, the source and enforcement of divine law and principle.

To understand the concept of God as Lawmaker, or divine law, it can be helpful to imagine the universe without law. Without law or principle, we would have unmitigated chaos. Planets and stars would bump into each other. We would have no grammar or patterns of speech to understand one another. Athletic competitions would have no rules. Our bodies would not function dependably. Street traffic would be hectic at best. Animals would be wild and untrainable. Businesses would be unstructured—nothing would get done and no one would get paid. Phones and computers would not function. Food could not be grown or prepared, and restaurants couldn’t be organized. Summer camps couldn’t be set up safely. And so on. In effect, without law and principle, the function and purpose and productivity of the universe would be utterly absent.

But we do have order and principle. And this comes from the eternal source—God as Lawmaker. Note the use of the word “law” in the Golden Text, or main idea, of the Lesson: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (citation GT, Psalms 19:7)

Many people throughout the United States and beyond have been talking about law way more than usual. Millions of social media posts are commenting on recent laws affected by decisions made by the Supreme Court of the United States. Well, we can all consider this whole Bible Lesson as a treatment—a salve—that can help us to pray about a higher Principle, a higher source of Law—that overrides, restores, corrects, governs, and maintains all right order. We can appeal to divine Principle and know that, as Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Human law is right only as it patterns the divine. Consolation and peace are based on the enlightened sense of God’s government.” (Miscellany, p. 283:26)

Instead of lamenting or celebrating human law. We can use this moment to ponder and learn more about the omnipotence of divine Law in our lives and the universe.

The “law of the Lord” is different from other kinds of laws such as civil, economic, natural, physical or even traffic laws. Each of the sections of the lesson explains facets of divine Law:

  • Section 1: divine law is eternal and has no beginning
  • Section 2: divine law governs us
  • Section 3: divine law includes the law of Love
  • Section 4: Christ Jesus demonstrates divine Law
  • Section 5: We can all follow in the way of divine Law
  • Section 6: The most important law is Love

As you read this week’s Bible Lesson, consider using a printout and…
1) circle words related to law
2) underline divine laws
3) place a star by instructions for following divine laws


In the Responsive Reading, for example:

  • words related to law include: law, statute, command, commandment…
  • divine laws include: “there is none else,” “The Lord our God is one Lord”
  • instructions for following divine laws include: know, consider, keep, take heed, hearken, obey, do, hear, and “love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

(cit. RR, Deuteronomy 4: 39; 27, 6)


SECTION 1: DIVINE LAW IS BEGINNINGLESS

The first section of the Lesson establishes God as the beginning, the origin, and source of all creation. (citation B1, Gen 1:1) As always, it is helpful to understand that there never was a so-called first moment of the universe. There never was a beginning point. Truth never had a start point.  There never was a moment in which there was no truth and then *poof* now there is truth. And, in the context of this week’s Lesson, there never was a point at which there was no law/principle and then *poof* now there is law/principle.  As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “The infinite has no beginning. This word beginning is employed to signify the only, — that is, the eternal verity and unity of God and man, including the universe.” (citation S1, 502: 22-27)

As an example of a divine law, we read, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (cit. B2, James 1:17) This has long been one of my favorite laws of God, and is worth memorizing. In Bible times, people did not have the same understanding of astronomical principles and assumed that the gods could alter the planets and stars, changing their course and varying their brightness. The author of the book of James is establishing God as the “Father of Lights,” or the creator and origin of the principle of astronomy, which has no variableness. Thus God is established as a trustworthy Lawmaker that is the source of “every good gift and every perfect gift” we have. This simple concept enables us to trust in and lean on God as Lawmaker, knowing that we don’t need to fear change or disruption.

As we learn to trust the “Father of Lights” as the source of stability, safety and supply, we can rejoice with the Psalmist and say, “O how love Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (cit B5, Psalms 119: 97)

We can find comfort in knowing that there are not competing principles or competing laws.  There is only one source of all Principle. Again, we can understand this concept better if we imagine what it would be like if there were competing laws. Imagine that there is one city in which red lights means cars should stop, but in another city red lights mean go. And then imagine that those two cities were next to one another…what would happen on the streets at which they joined together? It would be dangerous chaos. It sure is fortunate that all the countries in which people drive on the left side of the road are island nations!

The example of traffic laws helps us to see the value in having an overriding sense of law and principle that governs universally. And this is what we have in the eternal and infinite and ever-present sense of God/Principle as Lawmaker. Mary Baker Eddy explains that there is only one God/Principle when she writes, “Principle and its idea is one, and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Being, and His reflection is man and the universe. Omni is adopted from the Latin adjective signifying all. Hence God combines all-power or potency, all-science or true knowledge, all-presence.” (cit. S2, 465: 8-10, 16-6)

About five pages later in her textbook on the Science (or Laws) of Christ, Mary Baker Eddy expands on this concept by writing, “The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history.” (cit. S5, 470: 32)


SECTION 2: DIVINE LAW GOVERNS US

The first section’s citations established God as the source of Law governing the universe. And the second section establishes God as the source of all Law governing us.  The relationship between God and us is inseparable. God says to us through Isaiah’s prophecy, “thou art mine.”  This statement “thou art mine” is a divine law. If these words came from an anthropomorphic deity that had both good and bad intentions, then the statement could sound threatening. But no.  Isaiah reveals more. God adds, “thou was precious in my sight, thou has been honourable, and I have loved thee: Fear not: for I am with thee…” (cit. B6, Isaiah 43: 1, 4)

These statements of God’s love for us are divine law. As God says, “a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law…Thou art my people.” (cit. B7, 51: 4, 7, 16)

The divine law of God’s love for us governs our relationship with God, and also our whole being. God says, “I will put my law in their inward parts,and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (cit. B8, Jeremiah 31: 31, 33)

Mary Baker Eddy was clear that God is not an anthropomorphic being. To move us away from thinking of God as manlike, she described God using seven synonyms: Love, Truth, Life, Soul, Spirit, Mind, and Principle. Principle is the synonym most closely associated with God as Lawmaker. The word “Principle” occurs in this Lesson at least 30 times. Here’s an example of how Mary Baker Eddy uses Principle as a synonym for God: “In divine Science, God and the real man are inseparable as divine Principle and idea. God is the Principle of man, and man is the idea of God.”

Thinking of God as divine Principle—the omnipotent and infinite power that causes, underlies, and maintains all order, discipline and right function—enables us to overcome the false sense of God as a manlike entity.

Further, as we grasp the concept of God as Principle, we can begin to see man—us—as the image and likeness of Principle, the outpouring and expression of order, discipline, and right function. God and man are as inseparable as the sun and its rays. Without the rays, we could not see the sun; without man, we could not see God. With this in mind, man is the outpouring of God—the way to know God. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “God, without the image and likeness of Himself, would be a nonentity, or Mind unexpressed. He would be without a witness or proof of His own nature. Spiritual man is the image or idea of God, an idea which cannot be lost nor separated from its divine Principle.” (cit. S7, 303: 25-30)

Principle cannot be divided up into bits and parts. “God is indivisible.” Principle is indivisible.  When we understand man to be the expression of Principle, it is the whole of man—our whole being and whole identity.  God is not made up of bits and parts. Principle is not made up of bits and parts. And man is not made up of bits and parts. Our being—our identity–is whole and indivisible.  (cit. S8, 336:19-31)

Mary Baker Eddy draws a comparison between the way in which mathematical principle governs numbers and the way in which divine Principle governs us.  She writes, “In Science man is governed by God, divine Principle, as numbers are controlled and proved by His laws.” (cit. S9, 318:28-30)


SECTION 3: DIVINE MIND INCLUDES THE LAW OF LOVE

Sections 1 and 2 established God as the source and Principle that brings order and purpose to the universe, including us. The third section emphasizes the fact that God as divine Principle is loving. “God is love.” (cit. B9, I John 4: 6-21)

God is love and we are the outpouring, the entity of God so therefore our purpose and function is to love. As we read in James, “This royal law is found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” (cit. B10, James 2:8 NCV)  We are the fulfillment of this royal law. As Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Love one another” (I John, iii. 23), is the most simple and profound counsel of the inspired writer….Love fulfils the law of Christian Science, and nothing short of this divine Principle, understood and demonstrated, can ever furnish the vision of the Apocalypse, open the seven seals of error with Truth, or uncover the myriad illusions of sin, sickness, and death.”  (cit. S14, 572: 6-8, 12-17)

God is “the divine Principle of all that really is,” and with the understanding that “God is love,” we can know that the principle, or law of Love, brings reliable reassurance.  As Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love.” (cit. S 13, 275: 10-17; S15, 384: 5-6)


SECTION 4: CHRIST JESUS DEMONSTRATES DIVINE LAW

The first three sections introduced the idea of God as the loving Principle underlying all existence. The fourth section explains how Christ Jesus taught about divine Law. In Jesus’ words, “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said.” (cit. B12, Matthew 5:17 NCV)

Christ Jesus showed us the way to understand God as Principle, and made the way to follow the law of Love clear through demonstration. The fourth section includes the account of Christ Jesus healing the ten lepers. Recall that he healed all ten of them of leprosy, and yet only one of them turned around to acknowledge and give thanks to God. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed, but one returned to give God thanks, — that is, to acknowledge the divine Principle which had healed him.” (cit. S17, 94:20)

Mary Baker Eddy explains further about the connection between Christ Jesus and divine Principle. She writes, “Jesus established what he said by demonstration, thus making his acts of higher importance than his words. He proved what he taught. This is the Science of Christianity. Jesus proved the Principle, which heals the sick and casts out error, to be divine. Few, however, except his students understood in the least his teachings and their glorious proofs, — namely, that Life, Truth, and Love (the Principle of this unacknowledged Science) destroy all error, evil, disease, and death.”  (cit. S20, 473: 18-3)

In other words, Christ Jesus was the expression, or outpouring, of divine Principle and demonstrated and proved the law of Love through healing.


SECTION 5: WE CAN PRACTICE DIVINE LAW IN OUR LIVES

The first four sections developed the idea of God as Principle, the law of Love that maintains the universe, including man, and how Christ Jesus demonstrated the way to understand this divine Law of Being.  The fifth section explains how we can learn from Christ Jesus’ demonstration of divine law and apply his teachings about divine law in our lives today.

The section opens with a prayer that we can all pray as we strive to understand God’s laws better: “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end…Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”  (cit. B16, Psalms 119: 33, 34, 49, 50)

Often the weekly Bible Lessons—including this one—contain the idea of Jesus seeing crowds and being “moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd…”  The way that I understand this phrase is that Christ Jesus saw the crowds as sheep who did not yet know that they already have a tender-loving Shepherd, and then he began to teach them many things about their divine Shepherd.  (cit. B17, Mark 6: 34, 56)

The Christ, which Jesus best embodied, is constantly making us aware of our divine Shepherd, the divine Lawmaker and Principle of all being.  And we can hear the Christ—the still, small voice—teaching us today.

For Mary Baker Eddy, this Christ-voice revealed the Science of the Christ and taught her the laws of divine Principle and Love and the way of Christ-healing. As she writes, “In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science. God had been graciously preparing me during many years for the reception of this final revelation of the absolute divine Principle of scientific mental healing.” (cit. 22, 107: 1-14)

We can all be praying to know that we too are being graciously prepared to receive this Christly teaching, and that we too can be receptive to the Science of the Christ, the understanding of the absolute divine Principle of scientific mental healing.

Just as the principle of mathematics was true 5,000 years ago and will be true in 5,000 more years, the divine Principle of being is true eternally.  It is the Christ—our awareness of Principle and Love—that enables us to understand the underlying reality of being. Christ awakens us to realize the truth of being, the truth of who, what, and why we exist. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “This awakening is the forever coming of Christ, the advanced appearing of Truth, which casts out error and heals the sick. This is the salvation which comes through God, the divine Principle, Love, as demonstrated by Jesus.” (cit. S26, 230: 1)


SECTION 6: THE MOST IMPORTANT LAW IS LOVE

The first five sections helped us to understand God as the reliable and loving Principle of Being, demonstrated by Christ Jesus and available to us today. The sixth and final section adds an exclamation point, and concludes the Bible Lesson by reminding us that the most important law is the law of Love.

The sixth section includes the account of Christ Jesus talking to his disciples and explaining that while we should honor the commandments Moses gave us, this obedience would be insufficient if we weren’t also willing to give up mere personal attachment to follow him in the way of Love.  (cit. B18, Luke 18: 18-22)

This concept of being obedient to the Mosaic laws and also striving toward the higher law of Love is a recurring theme in the new testament.

  • From the book of James, we learn the joy that comes from following the law of Love: “But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.” (cit. B19, James 1: 25 NRV)
  • In Galations, we read, “The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (cit. B20, Galatians 5: 14)
  • In first John, we read, “Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us.” (cit. B21, I John 5: 3)

Combined, these ideas help us understand the joy and meaning we experience as we adhere to the law of Love.  In other words, the law of Love lifts us and brings joy and meaning and light to our lives. As we read in Proverbs, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;” (cit. B22, Proverbs 6: 23).  This is my current-favorite-new idea from this week’s Bible Lesson—“the law is light.”

At the beginning of this Met, I mentioned that it is sometimes easiest to understand law or Principle if we imagine what the universe would be like without it—without principle, the stars and planets would all bump into each other and so forth.  Well, now, at the conclusion of the lesson, we find the idea that to understand divine Principle best, we need to see that divine Principle corrects, overrides and overturns all flimsy pretentions of principle.  Organizations and rules and policies that don’t proceed from divine Principle must be overturned and corrected. As Mary Baker writes, “Take away wealth, fame, and social organizations, which weigh not one jot in the balance of God, and we get clearer views of Principle.”  She continues, “To ascertain our progress, we must learn where our affections are placed and whom we acknowledge and obey as God.”

As I understand this concept, it means that to advance and progress, we must witness divine Principle overriding and overturning that which needs correcting. God’s Law of Order is in operation and corrects and governs properly. When something appears dysfunctional, we don’t assume that this dysfunction must be God’s will. Instead, we pause to affirm that divine Principle is always harmonious, restorative, and blesses all. And we expect to see progress—the overturning of fuzzy-fake principle and false authority.

The proofs of Principle is the constant unfoldment of God’s Law of Order in the universe, including us.  The Law of Order, the Law of Love is in operation, and must overturn and correct anything unlike divine Principle, which is only loving. Our role is to be the outpouring, the expression of the activity of Principle.  We do this naturally. It is a function of our being. As Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power. These proofs consist solely in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death by the power of Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them. This is an element of progress, and progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil.” (cit. S29, 233: 1)

And, the lesson concludes with a definition of God, a statement that tells us what God is.  Mary Baker Eddy writes, “The creative Principle — Life, Truth, and Love — is God.” (cit. S30, 502: 27-28).  In other words, God is not a manlike deity. God is the creative Principle—Life, Truth, and Love.


GEMs of BIBLE-BASED application ideas from COBBEY CRISLER and others will HOPEFULLY BE POSTED and SENT soon. Check on CedarS INSPIRATION website, or in your email, if you have  SUBSCRIBED FOR IT HERE.


Ken Cooper POETIC POSTLUDE contributions related to this Bible Lesson will ARRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERY WEEK going forward. When they do arrive, the poems will be POSTED on CedarS INSPIRATION website & be EMAILED TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE FOR THEM HERE.


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