Think of yourself as a joy to God! You really are His likeness!
Application Ideas on “God the Only Cause and Creator”
(Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson for June 4, 2006)|
by Julie Ward, C.S. (Westwood, Massachusetts)
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.
GOLDEN TEXT – The Golden Text gives us some important points to remember as we read the Lesson: God made the heavens and the earth; He established it (made it stable); He created it not in vain (It has a specific purpose); He formed it to be inhabited. (Is this its purpose – a dwelling place for His ideas?) Most important is what God says about Himself: “I am the Lord; and there is none else.” Have you noticed how often this statement appears in our Lesson? Why do you think we are reminded of it again and again?
RESPONSIVE READING – Notice all the joy in the Responsive Reading. Do you think of yourself as “a joy” to God? Look for opportunities this week to “be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.” Be sure to claim the promise that, “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble,” for we really are “the seed of the blessed of the Lord.” Nothing we do as His reflection is ever in vain. It bears fruit! And God, like a good gardener, constantly tends and nurtures His seeds so that they “spring forth in righteousness and peace.”
SECTION I – One cause, one creation
(B1 -Bible citation #1) echoes the Golden Text with “beside me there is no God.” There are not various creators with various creations. Just one – perfectly whole, perfectly coordinated. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (B4) Are we actively looking for that goodness every day? After all, that’s why we’re here – to be His witnesses, to “shew forth His praise.” (B2)
God’s creation “consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected.” (S&H 2) Isn’t it wonderful to know that our identity is safe, stable, permanent, untouched by material circumstances? If our lives seem fraught with unanswered questions, we can remember that, “Spiritual causation is THE ONE QUESTION TO BE CONSIDERED, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress.” (S&H 5) Any time things seem to be on hold in our lives, we can consider deeply what Spirit is causing, and expect to see progress.
SECTION II – No other gods!
This section reminds us of the need for absolute obedience to the first and second commandments. Does the clay talk back to the potter? No! Do we sometimes turn things upside down mentally by thinking that man created God in man’s own image and likeness? (B 7)
“Cause does not exist in matter, in mortal mind, or in physical forms.” (S&H 6) Sometimes the trickiest part of this trio is the suggestion that cause exists in mortal mind. It even comes dressed up as spirituality, suggesting that man can create his own reality. But this isn’t Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy says, “Divine Science deals its chief blow at the SUPPOSED material foundations of life and intelligence.” (S&H 8) Why do you think that the “chief blow” must go there? Why is it so important to know what the foundations really are? Just as the previous section gave us “the one question to be considered” (S&H 5), this section gives us “the point for each one to decide” (S&H 11). This isn’t just a one-time decision, but a point that that we must decide many times each day. If indeed cause does not exist in mortal mind, then we can be constantly asking, “What is immortal Mind causing?” Then we’ll find the spiritual reality, the scientific fact. (S&H 9)
SECTION III – God’s creation is permanent, unchanging.
There is no addition or subtraction in God’s creation (B10). “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” (B12) Contrast this with “the fading forms of matter, the mortal body, and material earth.” Mrs. Eddy classifies these as “the fleeting concepts of the human mind.” (S&H 14) If we start with these “fleeting concepts,” everything in life seems unstable, and we never really gain a sense of satisfaction and peace. But Mrs. Eddy gives us the solution: “Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things.” Ask yourself often, “Am I just looking AT fading, finite forms, or am I looking BEYOND them?” This week, seize every opportunity to look beyond them. Let your gaze “rest in the unsearchable realm of Mind.”
SECTION IV – Man is not a creator (no matter how much he may think he is!).
Do you ever feel like you’re running on a treadmill, just running and running, but never really getting anywhere? That’s the state of thought that is described in (B15) – the “Type A” who builds houses, plants vineyards and gardens and orchards and trees, makes pools, and is always finding a new project. But where’s the satisfaction? Often the over-achiever has found that “all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”(B15) What’s missing? As long as we think that we’re the creators, our creation is limited – never quite good enough. But if we begin to see that God is the only Creator, the only Doer, we can pray, “Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.” (B 16)
As God’s work appears to us, it’s always focused, specific, individual. We find that “there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (B17) This takes away the terrible pressure of competition. Each one has his special gift, and not one elbows out another. As you move through this week, be aware of the “diversities of gifts” that you see. Value each one’s particular contribution as his reflection of God’s work. And don’t forget to value your own gifts, and know that they are not personal possessions to use or to squander. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (B18)
While man’s attempts at creation never quite turn out right (S&H 18), God’s creation is always good, stable, unlimited, and “There can be but one creator, who has created all.” (S&H18) And here’s our “IN PROPORTION” for this week (Are you watching for them every week?): “The human capacities are enlarged and perfected IN PROPORTION as humanity gains the true conception of man and God.”(S&H 19) So our only true work is to gain that true conception.
“The admission to oneself that man is God’s own likeness sets man free to master the infinite idea.” (S&H 21) Let’s admit it! We really are His likeness.
SECTION V – Finding the true cause heals.
Jesus had such a crystal-clear understanding that God was the only cause. He said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do:…”(B 20) Knowing this, he could heal the nobleman’s son without going to his side. He knew that God was already there, so health, perfection, and freedom were already there. Note that Jesus didn’t have to ask the father what had caused his son’s disease. “Physical causation was put aside from first to last by this original man, Jesus.”(S&H 22) Do we put it aside “from first to last”? This takes mental discipline. Since “so-called mortal mind” claims to be “the remote, predisposing, and exciting cause of all suffering,” we must follow Jesus in going to the root and removing this so-called mortal mind. (S&H 24) One way to do this is to put less and less stock in the reports of the material senses. There are many rules for healing in this section, and here’s one you’ll want to be sure to follow: “We must silence this lie of material sense with the truth of spiritual sense.” (S&H 25)
SECTION VI – Church, the super-abundance of Love expressed
What qualities of thought accompanied the growth of the early Christian church? The apostles were “with one accord” both in the temple and as they broke bread from house to house. They expressed “gladness and singleness of heart.” They praised God. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (B 22) God gives us all His beauty and bounty, and demands that we share it with others. If Christ dwells in our hearts, we are “rooted and grounded in love,” and that love must multiply. Don’t we want everyone to know the love of Christ, the fullness of his glory? (B24) What are we willing to give in order to have this happen?
Mrs. Eddy tells us that, “Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing.”(S&H28) And how did he heal? “He claimed no intelligence, action, nor life separate from God.” (S&H 28) This week, let’s be alert to claim no, intelligence, action, nor life separate from God. That’s a tall order, but we can begin today. “Truth’s immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and the sinning.” (S&H 30) We are gathered beneath Truth’s wings, and nothing can stop its “clean sweep.” This is a promise, and, “The promises will be fulfilled.” Hallelujah!
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
1314 Parkview Valley
Manchester, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162
Met Posted : 5/28/2006
