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“THE SUPREMACY OF SPIRIT OVER MATTER”
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“MATTER”
March 18–24, 2024
by John and Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
541 418 1176 JohnBiggsCS@gmail.com
541 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com
Introduction
Let’s explore this invigorating Bible Lesson on the power of Truth over error and Spirit over matter. We will see all the ways that God has been victorious – from Moses to Joshua to Jesus – causing each human consciousness to yield to the supremacy of Spirit, resulting in harmony. Let’s see how we can get the victory over matter (i.e. mortal mind) and let Spirit be supreme in our lives, too.
Golden Text
I love this passage. I feel like it is the sweet, simple certainty which characterized all of Jesus’ instructions to us. “Don’t fret…don’t make it complex. Just keep it simple, sweetheart!” It’s not about comparing how much faith you have, with another’s person’s experience. It’s just, whatever you do have faith in about God, let yourself be honest, clear, and all-in with that faith. Your faith will grow, naturally! And it’s not a blind faith, but a natural faith based in understanding. How wonderful to have the invitation to let this pure faith and this growing understanding be rooted in Spirit, rather than matter.
Responsive Reading
Moses reminds the people that it is GOD who brought them out of bondage, out of slavery, admonishing them to serve no other gods.
The commandments were so important because they were meant to keep the people in line with God – to keep them on track, following a new path of good, keeping them out of mental enslavement, and in a loving relationship with God.
For those who like nature metaphors in the Bible, I find it interesting that it was water that formed the walls of protection around them. This will be contrasted with the wall in the story of Joshua in Section 2 – illustrating another example of true substance. In her Exegesis on Genesis 1, Mary Baker Eddy writes that dry land stands for “absolute formations instituted by Mind, while water symbolizes the elements of Mind.” (Science and Health, p. 507)
Moses tells the people to “stand still” to see the salvation of the Lord. In a way this is telling the people to keep calm, stay peaceful, and see what God can do for you. “Peace, be still” allows us to hear the “still, small voice” of God’s direction.
Section 1 – Dwelling Safely in Divine Spirit
It is possible to dwell in and feel the safety in the divine Spirit. We can know that nothing can interrupt the harmony of God’s universe. So even when the “breaking up of material beliefs” seems to be happening, we can know that we abide in the certainty of divine Love.
Here is an article that shares similar ideas: Finding refuge in Love
So, where is our true selfhood actually dwelling? Calmly and safely in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our true spiritual selfhood, our spiritual identity, is calm, peaceful, strong, and secure. We cannot be led into the temptation of fretfulness or confusion. We can hold to the Rock, the consciousness of Truth, and not be shaken by the storms.
“Thus founded upon the rock of Christ, when storm and tempest beat against this sure foundation, you, safely sheltered in the strong tower of hope, faith, and Love, are God’s nestlings; and He will hide you in His feathers till the storm has passed.”
(Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 152:22–26)
Section 2 – The Power of Spirit
Bible Lens Research has this great historical context to share about the story of Joshua and Jericho:
“Jericho was one of the oldest cities in the known world, with a key location at the entry into Canaan. Its conquest would open that territory to the Hebrews and illustrate the might of the God of Israel to all its inhabitants. God’s unusual strategy for defeating Jericho demanded unquestioning obedience from His people. Not only were they to compass the city over seven days, but they were also to maintain silence. Only the rams’ horns were to be heard. Although Jericho’s citizens (aware of the miraculous parting of the Jordan; see 4:14-17; 5:1) and had blocked their gates, the city was taken without a fight.” (Christian Science Sentinel, March 18 2024 Issue)
“If Spirit is all and is everywhere, what and where is matter? Remember that truth is greater than error, and we cannot put the greater into the less.” (citation S12, SH p. 223)
I love this rhetorical question. The answer is nowhere! Matter isn’t anywhere. We live in a mental realm. So, everything that exists is actually an idea of Mind (Genesis 1 – a spiritual creation). Our perception of it varies as we gain more enlightened thought. What we see and think of as matter is really idea – from plants, to animals, to organizations, to nations, etc. And the obstacles are not material, but mental as well.
Is career material or is it the expression of spiritual qualities, talents, and ideas?
Is body/identity matter or is it the embodiment of spiritual qualities and ideas?
Is business/organization matter, or is it a harmonious and productive idea – a venue for expressing collaboration, resourcefulness, and energy?
The falling of the wall indicates what is true substance. When we look at the wall metaphysically we could see that the wall could have represented something standing in the way of progress – a barrier to God’s will and demonstration for His people. Well, if that’s the case, then of course the wall couldn’t stand! It had nothing to stand on.
There are a few other examples in the Bible that are similar. The example of Peter praying from prison is a great one. Did the metal chains or iron gate have power or substance? The things that we perceive as so tough and strong are really nothing when they are looked at through the lens of God’s allness.
There are many other examples in the Bible that illustrate the dominion and superiority of Spirit over matter – such as Elijah causing the ax head to float when it was dropped in the water (representing true adhesion, cohesion, and attraction) and Jesus walking on top of water, etc.
All of these things wake us up to the fact that we live in a metaphysical realm and the oppressions and limitations that we face (such as the wall of Jericho in this story) are not really as substantial as they seem to be in the face of understanding God’s Almightiness.
There is a practical application of these ideas found in the article:
Breaking the ‘fourth wall’ of unbelief
Section 3 – The assurance and simplicity of heaven
It’s so good to always remember this fundamental point of Jesus’ ministry, given here in Bible citation 12: the kingdom of heaven is here! If we can’t see it, we can repent – literally, turn around. This is not condemnatory, but simply instructional. Now, as heartening as that message is, sometimes human nature wants to complicate things or make a big show out of things – and that’s just what the folks at Nazareth wanted from Jesus, detailed in Bible citation 13. Do this! Do that! Prove it to me! On the one hand, the Science back of all Jesus’ works is entirely demonstrable in every respect; we should not feel afraid to stand up for that fact. On the other hand, Christianity and its healing efficacy is not some sideshow or some billboard stuck on a highway.
Jesus, with his consistent wisdom and practice of looking to our Father-Mother for every guidance, saw that there was no sincerity in the crowd gathering around him at the synagogue. And then, here’s the really important thing: he continued to look to God when things got out of hand! He didn’t suddenly think that he needed to DRASTICALLY PROVE the presence of God with, perhaps, bursts of fire and light that would wow and amaze the people. He just, passed through the crowd, letting his assurance of the goodness of God’s will literally carry him.
God, divine Love, loves you. You are the expression of His ideal, His expressed nature. When we’re confronted with claims of confusion, “pridefulness”, personality, etc, we can “…pause, wait on God.” (Science and Health, p. 323:9-10) and honor His shepherding care. (The full passage I pulled that excerpt from actually starts from an entirely different context – that of “beholding the infinite tasks of truth” – and I find it wonderful that no matter WHAT we’re facing, it’s always best to wait on God and see how He moves us!)
The Sentinel Watch podcast for March 4, 2024, “Overcoming conflict: Every prayer counts,” with Judith Hardy Olson, has some wonderful ideas and experiences that can help us feel that sense of security and certainty of God’s guidance, no matter what we seem surrounded with.
Section 4 – A living faith we can commit to
The story recounted in Bible citation 15 is a very moving one to me. “Why couldn’t we heal the boy?” those dear disciples asked. “What did we do wrong?” Jesus’ instruction is quite clear, and yet it can be hard to hear if we take it personally, like if we take it as a personal condemnation along the lines of, “You didn’t do good enough.” But we don’t need to take the bait of that tempting personal sense of self-criticism, and can simply learn from what Jesus was instructing. Faith as a grain of mustard seed.
Today, I’m thinking of that not only in terms of its size – such a tiny seed! – but also in terms of what you do with a seed: you plant it. And you trust the fact that seeds grow. You might say that a seed planter is consistent in their effort and actions – not frantically checking the seed every day, but being simple and straightforward, consistent with their premise of “good seed, good soil, good tree.” So, with faith. What do we have faith in? Perhaps we have a sincere, convicted, understanding-based faith that God truly is good. Not just “good” as an adjective describing good, but literally good itself. Or, perhaps we have that faith in the nature of God as Love – that the being-ness of Love, the existence of Love, is what God is. (Of course, these facts are not either / or – we can have faith in all these wonderful things!) In any case, being clear on our faith and the understanding which propagates it, we can confidently plant that faith and stay with that atmosphere of devotion to God. We can agree not to worry, not to un-plant that seed of faith. God IS good. He IS Love. And while it’s not on us to know exactly how Love will illumine our sense of things, we do know that Love will – so we love to stay firmly looking to divine Love.
The August 5, 2006 Sentinel Radio program was titled “Freedom from worry.” All four accounts shared in the program are lovely, but I’m specifically thinking of the fourth account, at the end of the program. The way the speaker talks about freedom from worry – staying with the certainty of God’s allness and power – really resonates for me with these ideas from this Bible Lesson section about faith and staying with our faith.
Section 5 – We reflect the certainty of Christ
I like how we have the words “scientific certainty” here (see citation S32, 496:15). I think we all want to apply metaphysical treatments with scientific certainty.
Certainty is defined as:
A fixed or real state; truth; fact.
Exemption from failure;
Full assurance of mind; exemption from doubt.
(1828 Webster Dictionary)
That sounds like a great standpoint to have! The spiritual idea – the Holy Ghost and Christ – enables us to have scientific certainty. So, we aren’t relying on our own human will, intellect, or pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps. It is the Truth knowing itself. It is the Truth witnessing itself. The Truth bears witness to itself (and we just get to be the audience—in the front row seats)! God already knows that every form of error is unreal and untrue. And God delights to help us see and know it, too! So, the Truth is enforcing itself in our consciousness. The Truth is enforcing the knowledge of its allness in our consciousness. It defends our consciousness, enforcing good. So, we can always feel uplifted, inspired, listening to the still, small voice that will lead and guide us into all Truth.
Our efforts may seem “feeble” when we think that matter is something, that can tell us something, can do something, or believe something. Life and intelligence in matter is an educated belief. We must rise above it, as our Lesson-closing citation about “scientific certainty” is telling us to do. Then, we can reach the immortal, true idea. That is what gives peace, healing, and satisfaction.
This passage from Paul assures us of what he rested on for absolute conviction of spiritual understanding. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (cit. B18, Philippians 4:7, 13) It occurs to me that this is never something that can be “outgrown”. It didn’t matter how many churches Paul helped form, or how many places he visited, or how many people were healed, he still needed to rely on Christ every day. It didn’t matter what decade it was. The Christ was the Spirit and power that Paul expressed. The Christ is the power and Spirit that Jesus manifested and expressed. The Christ is needed every day of the year. It is needed to solve every global challenge (environment, poverty, war, etc). And we can start by having the Christ be supreme in our consciousness as well. The Christ is the activity of good, the activity of Truth and Love – pushing back on materialism causing every thought [not very other thought] to yield to the supremacy of God’s allness and goodness until God’s kingdom is expressed in all hearts and minds. It is the revelation of good, which every idea of God can yield to.
When we recognize this, we can “aid in the ejection of error…. maintain law and order, and cheerfully await the certainty of ultimate perfection.” (Science and Health, p. 96:31)
Have a blessed week!
GEMs of BIBLE-BASED application ideas (from Cobbey Crisler & others) will be emailed later this week. You can always check for in-process GEMs before then at CedarS INSPIRATION website, whether or not you’ve SUBSCRIBED here for this free, inspirational offering.