Offering Each Commandment as Spirit’s Spec written for you by “Spirit, the great architect”(S&H 68, S16) by Warren Huff over 40 years ago as inspired by this citation in studying for his architectural licensing exam
“Architects use the following 10 categories or Specifications (Specs) to guarantee the quality and longevity of their work. As our master architect and sole “builder and maker,” Spirit, God, has done the same for us as His temple—“Gods building” (SH 428:12, Heb. 10:11, I Cor.3:9). I hope you enjoy finding and applying the fun links between these 10 Specs, the 10 Commandments and the healings of your own body and others’.
The 10 God’s-eye views of the spiritual you that follow—written by “*the finger of God”— bring health to the body by looking AWAY from it to God, instead of looking AT the body or TO it, as if it were in control. (*Deut. 9:10, Luke 11:20) In these powerful, 10-Commandments views of the real you, you can see how they work as your Divine Identity Protection Plan set up and upheld by “Spirit, the great architect.” (S&H 68)
1st Architectural Specification (Spec): GENERAL CONDITIONS: Your highest selfhood shall (can) have “no other gods before me.” (Ex. 20:3)
This spec sets forth the principles and laws that govern the whole project. The 1st Commandment was Mrs. Eddy’s favorite text (S&H 340:16) and should guide every aspect of our lives. It has been paraphrased in an animated, podcast series on the 10 Commandments for The Mother Church Sunday School resources by our son Barry Huff as “Don’t put something in God’s place that’s not up to the job.”
Test yourself often on this 1st-Commandment idolatry indicator: “whatever you think about most is your god. Is it up to the job?” Self-absorbed sensuality, body worship, personal sense and belittling of self are some of the idolatrous, self-focused beliefs that are clearly not up to God’s job.
So, stop belittling yourself and keep seeing yourself as happily at one with infinite Mind, God! GENERAL CONDITION AFFIRMATIONS: Declare to yourself often, and convincingly: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made (by God as His/Her “image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26, 27) to have everything I need) and I know it ‘right’ well.”
2nd Architectural Spec: SELECTIVE REMOVALS: Your highest selfhood shall “not make unto thee any graven image.” (Ex. 20:4)
SELECTIVE REMOVAL/DENIALS: This spec specifically delineates everything that must be removed for the project to progress. Daily remove obstacles to progress by denying the claim that any obsession, addiction, false dependency, inherent weakness or habit can be engraved in you or can in-grave you. “With God alone agree!” (CS Hymnal #5:2)
A 3rd-section removal guideline makes way for transformation: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) Further removal instructions are to “divest thought of false trusts and material evidences” (S&H 428:8).
3rd Architectural Spec: CONCRETE: Your highest selfhood shall (can) “not take my name in vain.” (Ex. 20:7) This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with strong, cavity-free concrete as expected. Don’t skimp on putting a full measure of substantial nuggets (aggregate) into you treatments and mix them thoroughly with divine insights and virtues (cement) that bind them together.
Don’t give in to watering down your prayers with mere human solutions just to make them flow with popularity. Building with the rock-solid foundation of the Christ, your labor will never be IN VAIN. Whenever you take on your true God-like nature, you’ll see wonderful, CONCRETE and practical results. Guard against the honeycombing of a weak, mixed outcome by giving yourself a “spiritual shakedown” before you speak or act. Declare and demonstrate that God made your mouth (Ex. 4:10-12) and designed it to be “filled with messages from” (CS Hymnal #324:2) him, not to yield to the unstable inconsistency (honeycomb cavities) of foul language, or of using His name in vain or in any way but in prayer & praise. “For our conversation is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20)
4th Architectural Spec: MASONRY: Your God-ordained selfhood shall “remember the sabbath day” (Ex. 20:8) of Genesis 1 completion when “God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) Barry Huff calls this “the only test we ever had to take” and reminds us that we have “already passed it with flying colors.” (True for all exams!)
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with the “faithful mortar” and quality brick or stonework expected. Building a successful life (or a brick or stone wall) seems like an accumulative process that works up to perfection. However, in showing us how to work out FROM our reflected perfection, “Christian Science presents unfoldment not accretion.” (S&H 68:2)
5th Architectural Spec: METALS (incl. structural steel): Your God-ordained selfhood shall “honor thy father and thy mother.” (Ex. 20:12) & everyone divinely placed in authority.
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with the infallible steel superstructure and unblemished metalwork expected. Your life would sag and ultimately collapse without a proper appreciation for your parents and the other authority figures in your life. Jesus even acknowledged that Pilate’s powerful position came solely from God and therefore was controlled by God. (See John 19:10-11)
Recognize that God has provided you with parents, guardians, camp staff, coaches, teachers, headmasters and law enforcement officers, all to help make things clear to you and to support and strengthen your building.
Therefore “Let your love for one another be at full strength.” I Peter 1:22 (Phillips translation) Here’s Jesus’ test of our Christianity: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
6th Architectural Spec: WOODS & PLASTICS: Your highest selfhood shall (can) “not kill” (Ex. 20:13) or get angry, hateful or even verbally abusive. (Matt. 5:20-24)
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with the sturdy wood framework and beautiful wood finish work desired. When bearing what Christ Jesus calls his easy yoke and light burden (Matt. 11:30) of being a stress-free reflection of God, there’s no unbearable pressure or tension that can cause a spiritual idea to snap in anger and so kill another’s joy or to splinter a precious friendship. In a world crying out for peaceful solutions, let’s take every opportunity we can to be flexible, forgiving peace- makers instead of brittle “goat-getters” and war-mongerers.
7th Architectural Spec: THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION: Your highest selfhood shall (can) “not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14) and lust after bodily pleasures. (Matt. 5:27-28)
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with the dry, cozy and efficiently climate- controlled home you expect.
You wouldn’t dream of living in a house without a roof or without insulated, weather-tight elements. So, never accept leaky-roof or no-roof thinking! And stop letting the winds of temptations blow right through you! Allow God’s love to insulate and adultery-proof you like it did Jesus. See how he “threw the book” at temptations in Matt. 4:3-11 by using memorized, scriptural nuggets that he had made his own.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes after the root of adultery when it is little, when it is just lustful temptations. (See and consider memorizing Matt. 5:27-29) Paul tells the Romans “to be carnally (bodily) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Memorize Rom. 8:6.) Knowing therefore that sensuality is really just a clever terrorist that comes disguised as good, as pleasurable, and as our own thought, makes it harder for this warring killer “to elude detection” (S&H 252:19). In a rush to be adults, many teens so mentally download the alluring images of beautiful bodies that they “buy into” the adult-ery and the unexpected slavery of body worship and the theft of their identity. By being alert to this thief and murderer in our midst, we will not commit ADULT-ery by letting the belief leak in that we need anything material or adult-rated to make us happy and peacefully satisfied.
Insulate and seal yourself by repeating often that “In God I have everything I need and I know it.” If the mission of Terror and error (Pharaoh and Herod) is to get rid of the childlikeness that is praised and practiced by Christ Jesus, let us give all our alertness and strength to protect and defend childlikeness in ourselves and others. (See Misc. 110:4!)
8th Architectural Spec: DOORS & WINDOWS: Your God-ordained selfhood shall “not steal” (Ex. 20:15) or “steal another’s thunder,” or her ideas, or his joy.
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with the type, size and quality of windows and doors you expect. Since thieves and hackers use windows and doors (in computers too) in order to gain illegal access, it’s important to always “stand porter at the door of thought.” (S&H 392:24) We can also refuse to see the world through the window of “the haves” versus “the have nots.”
Mentally lock your door against the pride of supposed ownership of scarce resources. Mentally inoculate yourself hourly against “affluenza,” the worldwide epidemic that is spread by a bazillion dollar ad campaign and is based on the false premise that acquiring or possessing things brings happiness. Temptation to steal should be healed by the revelation that happiness can only be found in giving, not in getting. (See “Happiness is unselfish.” Science and Health 57:18 and “I am able to impart truth, health and happiness and that is
my rock of salvation and my reason for existing.” My. 165:20) The U.S. rebuilding of its WWII “enemies” with the Marshall Plan and Elisha’s peace plan for Syria (II Kings 6:21-23) prove that giving works wonders in bringing about lasting peace. Not to live to get or steal but rather to Live2Give –puts into practice CedarS theme of Live Love Infinitely!
9th Architectural Spec: FINISHES: Your highest selfhood shall “not bear false witness.” (Ex. 20:16)
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with unblemished painted surfaces, floors and ceilings, all beautifully finished as you expect. You show yourself to be a refined and finished person by bearing only true witness and seeing only God’s finished, perfect product, which is the way that Christ Jesus saw and healed. (See S&H 476:32)
This high standard not only frees us from gossip, destructive criticism and “white lies” designed to impress others, but also alerts us to stop pre-judging others based on their race, religion and ethnic background.
10th Architectural Spec: SPECIALTIES: Your highest selfhood shall (can) “not covet” but is naturally grateful for others good. (Ex. 20:17)
This spec sets forth the quality control standards needed to end up with your home’s unique elements (such as its kitchen and other appliances, modular storage & security systems, garage door opener, etc.) all as perfect and properly installed as you’d demand. It appears that terrorists in many parts of the world are COVETING their neighbor’s SPECIALTIES, their lands, natural resources, prosperity… Little do they realize that their jealousy and violent acts are campaigning against their demonstration of all the good they wish to possess.
To counteract this mortal tendency of jealousy, let’s demonstrate by example a civilized and most effective solution. When we see others possessing and demonstrating some good that we desire and have yet to fully express, let’s not follow the terrorists by effectively being attorneys arguing against ourselves in the false belief that good is limited and we don’t have it.
Instead, let’s sincerely say “Thank You God, That’s Mine Too!” (or “T.Y.G. –T.M.T.”) This type of “T.M.T.” is much more explosive than the T.N.T. of a car bomb or other such devise. “That’s Mine Too” is a grateful declaration that as a divine idea, good has an unlimited source and is universally and unconditionally available. As we think in this way about our neighbors and their sovereignty we too can “wish above all things that thy mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul (divine i.d) prospereth” (III John 1:2)]
