Join us for the best summer yet!

Become the men and women you were created to be, forever blessed!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on

“Adam and Fallen Man”
for May 13, 2018

By Rick Stewart, C.S., of Dresden, Germany
rickstewartcs@aol.com

+49 351 312 4736

Have you ever thought about the fact that the Holy Bible actually begins with your biography? That’s right, in today’s language you might say your profile is posted in Genesis chapter one. Here is the original post:

#man’s_creation… “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:26, 27, 31 (B1)

So there you have it, your profile clearly states that as the man and woman of God’s creating you are made in the image and likeness of God, both male and female. This profile also states that you were given dominion over all of God’s creation, and that God actually looked at His work and saw it was very good. In other words, He did a good job! #Good creation

But in this profile what is this about “dominion?” Well, let’s take a look how It is presented in The Message (Contemporary paraphrase of the Bible), you are “responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”

So the man and woman of God’s creating are responsible for God’s creation!

This creation is good. This creation is blessed. This creation is not cursed.

And that ladies and gentlemen is what this lesson teaches us. We have a creation made by God. This creation includes man and woman in God’s, Spirit’s image and likeness. And this creation is blessed not cursed. That’s right, the real man and woman are blessed creatures of God and they are not cursed.

Now, even though this #Good creation profile was posted long ago, years and years, there are many people that have for generations accepted another posted profile. It is like your original post was hacked and a counterfeit post put in its place. This counterfeit profile is from another account of creation that describes a materially created man that really messes up and is cursed. This account begins in Genesis 2. And according to this second account of creation you, as man, really messed up and are cursed not blessed. Oh, and by the way in this second post you are not God’s spiritual image and likeness! You are made from matter and are material. And you do not have dominion in fact you are completely subject to matter.

Now if you would like to be blessed, not cursed—and if you would like to have dominion, not subjection—may I recommend that you get down with this wonderful Bible Lesson, “Adam and Fallen Man.”

Golden Text: “you . . . the LORD speaks to me. . . . you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Numbers 22:8 the (to 1st .), 12 2nd

The Golden Text is a cut and paste post that comes from a narrative where the Prophet Balaam was actually asked by a king, Balak, to curse the Children of Israel. Balaam prayed to God and received the answer that he could not curse the children of Israel because they were already blessed.

In the Bible the Children of Israel often represent those who listen and follow God. Mrs. Eddy gives a definition in the Glossary of Science and Health,

“Children of Israel. The representatives of Soul, not corporeal sense; the offspring of Spirit, who, having wrestled with error, sin, and sense, are governed by divine Science; some of the ideas of God beheld as men, casting out error and healing the sick; Christ’s offspring.” SH 583:5

The fact is that God’s children as He created them have always existed as the only fact of creation and they have been blessed. But………….for generations many have taught, accepted and believed a creation story that never took place: of man made from matter, man having lived in disobedience, and man being cursed forever.

Thank goodness that we have the Bible and our Savior, Christ Jesus, to awaken us to embrace the blessed child of God, blessed not cursed. And we have this Lesson to show us how we are indeed blessed.

The Responsive Reading is from Ezekiel and Psalms. Below you will find a version from the New Living Translation.

Responsive Reading Ezekiel 18:1-4 NLT “another message came to me from the Lord: ‘Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? 3 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. 4 For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike.”

Psalms 16:5,6,10,11 NLT – 5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[c] or allow your holy one[d] to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalms 29:11 NLT11 The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.

So as our Bible Lesson unfolds we will find a path to the blessing and away from the cursing.

Section 1: The only Creator, the only creation, blessed not cursed.

As we read earlier regarding Genesis 1 it is clearly set forth how God makes man, spiritual and actually in the image and likeness of God, Spirit. Throughout the Holy Bible there is an ongoing theme of those spiritual seers, the prophets that have continually sought this man, the spiritual man of Spirit’s creating.

As when the Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22 [B3, W’s PS#3]

Mary Baker Eddy states this,

“There is but one creator and one creation. This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected. These ideas range from the infinitesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons and daughters of God.” S2 | 502:29

“Has God taken down His own standard, and has man fallen?” S3 | 470:19

The proper identification of God’s child as spiritual, unfallen, blessed, and reflecting the dominion, responsibility of God is demonstrable! It heals, it saves, it maintains man. And we see that man is about blessing, not cursing.

As we prepare for another summer at CedarS Camps I have been praying a lot about our campers and our counselors. CedarS embraces the challenge each summer and every day to bring a sense of adventure and spiritual growth to every single activity. Each activity begins with a brief met or spiritual lesson from the counselors. The campers are also encouraged to share their inspiration. The result is that every single activity becomes a time to have fun and grow spiritually.

CedarS founder Ruth Huff wrote,

"The Purpose of The CedarS is to give each camper an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activity." – Ruth E. Huff

The Five Fundamental Concepts of CedarS are:

  1. We regard each individual at camp as a child of God, who reflects alertness, joy, peace, ability, love…
  2. We respect each individual Christian Science young person as a future active worker in the Christian Science movement.
  3. We stand firm in our desire to use Christian Science in all of our actions and to be good examples.
  4. We believe that all have certain interests and talents, and we want to do all we can to further these and at the same time to introduce new activities and interests.
  5. We expect to make camping at the CedarS fun!

Mrs. Ruth E. Huff, Founder, 1962

That purpose and those fundamentals are what bases CedarS selection of a wonderful crew of counselors every summer. And for my kids one of the most inspiring elements of CedarS is always their counselors. Young people who have made it their goal to reflect the qualities of real men and real women. It is inspiring to get to know young people who have chosen to embrace the character of the Genesis 1 man or woman. There is nothing quite like a wonderful role model standing before you and sharing their sense of divine Love in every adventure. [Click this YouTube link to hear and see Warren Huff sharing an “Answered Prayer (AP) History” of this divine Love lived at CedarS from Opening Day to now. It was first presented yesterday at a Principia Parents Association meeting.]

Section 2: False posts, fake news, man is not material.

As you study the citations in this section you will begin to understand the material nature of the Genesis 2 account of creation. With the insights found in the citations from Science and Health you can make the differentiation between Genesis 1 version of man and the counterfeit mortal picture beginning in Genesis 2.

“But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
B4 | Genesis 2:6, 7, 16, 17, 21, 22

Mary Baker Eddy observes, “God’s man, spiritually created, is not material and mortal. The parent of all human discord was the Adam-dream, the deep sleep, in which originated the delusion that life and intelligence proceeded from and passed into matter.”
S5 | 306:30–2

Since Genesis 1 establishes a creation based on Spirit as God and man as spiritual it seems ludicrous for an account of the Lord God making man of the dust of the ground to be presented. But Science and Health helps us learn the lesson of creation as we compare a misty and dusty picture of man to the spiritual record.

The mists of matter and mortality can seem to cloud our vision of man as spiritual and good. But that is where our putting on the new man comes into play or actually into demonstration.

Citation B6 invokes us to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

Just a few months ago a dear friend here in Dresden called. Her husband was in the hospital in a coma. For several generations her family had known and practiced Christian Science. She studied the Bible Lesson daily and often her husband joined her in that study. She asked if I could pray for them and I replied of course I could pray in support of both she and her husband. A brain operation was planned for what they diagnosed as an aneurism. I explained to my friend what Mary Baker Eddy says in Science and Health about surgery,

“Until the advancing age admits the efficacy and supremacy of Mind, it is better for Christian Scientists to leave surgery and the adjustment of broken bones and dislocations to the fingers of a surgeon, while the mental healer confines himself chiefly to mental reconstruction and to the prevention of inflammation.”

SH 401:27-32

In obedience to this passage from our textbook I told my friend I would be supporting her prayerfully, allow the surgeons to do their work, and that I would pray for her husband along the lines Mrs. Eddy pointed out. I also encouraged her to take her Bible Lesson into the intensive care unit and read and pray. And when possible to read to her husband. At first she hesitated to do this but she obediently listened. And she found that there was a great, supportive interest from the nurses and a great joy as she did this.

My prayers were very simple. I affirmed the facts of God’s creation. Man is spiritual and immortal. Man was not cursed to die and was not a mortal sinner. That the Christ, Truth speaks continually to God’s beloved and blessed child.

Her husband awoke and together we continued our prayers. And she read to her husband. He visited a rehabilitation center and we continued our prayers. After the rehabilitation the entire family, many of them for the first time, visited our church service on Sunday and Wednesday and Thanksgiving. Several shared their gratitude.

And this morning it was with great joy to hear that they were leaving for a three week vacation to the Island of Rugen and taking their bicycles.

With great joy they have together shared with others what faith in the truth can do. Man is not condemned. Man is not fallen. Man is the blessed and beloved child of God.

Section 3: The serpent is just hot air, don’t fear. We are blessed, not cursed.

Sometimes we might feel like we are just being run over by evil. Perhaps in these days teh cause is not so much placed at the feet of “the devil”. But evil in any subtle guise is not to be tolerated. And this section of the lesson makes that clear. It is time to see through the fake news of the devil and his false posts.

The Prophet Malachi is quoted in this section, “prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy.” B9 | Malachi 3:10–12

I love that phrase, “rebuke the devourer.” Let’s get started.

We might remember how Jesus referred to this so-called entity as a liar and the father of lies. Mrs. Eddy make is clear there is no such thing as a talking serpent in God’s creation and she equips us for the fight against this seeming liar.

“Whence comes a talking, lying serpent to tempt the children of divine Love? The serpent enters into the metaphor only as evil. We have nothing in the animal kingdom which represents the species described, — a talking serpent, — and should rejoice that evil, by whatever figure presented, contradicts itself and has neither origin nor support in Truth and good. Seeing this, we should have faith to fight all claims of evil, because we know that they are worthless and unreal.”

SH 529:21

“That false claim — that ancient belief, that old serpent whose name is devil (evil), claiming that there is intelligence in matter either to benefit or to injure men — is pure delusion, the red dragon; and it is cast out by Christ, Truth, the spiritual idea, and so proved to be powerless.”

SH 567:18-23

As many of you reading this know, many years ago a revolution of sorts began in Europe. It was known as the Reformation, 1517 -1648. A key element of that Reformation was the thought of the German Reformer, Martin Luther. And eventually a Bible in the language of the people available to normal folks was one outcome of that Reformation.

In a recent newspaper interview I had here in Dresden, a sect expert speaking for the church expressed his opinion that healing as a message in the Bible was not something to be found in Lutheranism. Since that time I have found so many references to healing by Martin Luther I am not sure what history our sect expert was looking at.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

“From his study of the Bible, Luther was also convinced the same faith that led to salvation could be used for divine healing.

In his book, This Day in Religion, Ernie Gross tells the story of the divine healing of Friedrich Myconius a co-worker of Martin Luther in the reformation.

Friedrich who pastored in Gotha and Leipzig, Germany fell deathly ill in 1540 and by the description it sounded like he had tuberculosis, a death sentence in that day. As he became increasingly ill, Friedrich was unable to speak and finally in trembling hands wrote a letter to Martin Luther as a last good-bye to his co-worker in Christ.

When he received the news, Luther immediately responded with a letter of faith proclaiming healing for his friend:

“I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church… The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name God.”

Myconius said that as soon as he read Luther’s words, he was instantly healed and would actually outlive Luther by two months.” https://opentheword.org/2017/11/02/martin-luther-not-only-believed-in-salvation-by-faith-but-also-divine-healing/

Section 4: Jacob’s wrestling with false character traits until the Light dawns.

In this wonderfully instructive event Jacob shows us there is hope for all of us. After all Jacob had been a real rat as to how he treated his brother and father. Wouldn’t you agree? I mean when you read what Jacob and his mother did, it sounds like a soap opera but Jacob was ready to wrestle and win, wrestle and be blessed. Read it and see……Genesis 25-50. And the wrestling match chapter is in the lesson!

The power, the Light that Jacob encountered in his wrestling match with his sense of self has a name. You know it. What is the presence that leads us, guides us, inspires us all from the beginning of time until now. It is simply, the presence of the Christ. And this presence comes to us in the way that it is needed. This presence awakens us to our true identity. This Christ always comes in a way we are able to receive and understand. And this Christ transforms us and brings us to the blessing, the understanding of our true nature as God’s beloved child.

Mrs. Eddy writes:

“Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy.” S18 | 249:6–8

Newness, it can come in so many ways. For example, when I was around 11 or 12 I learned a real lesson about what it means to be a real man, the man of God’s creating. But it was a surprising lesson.

My brother Scott is five years older than me. So when I was 11 he was 16. And he often really got my goat, he irritated me. And he knew how to do it. He often made it difficult for me to control my temper. And one day he got me so mad I really cussed him out, every curse word I knew I hurled at him.

Being the wise guy that he was Scott simply said, “You are just talking like that to try and show what a big guy you are. A bunch of cuss words does not make you a man!”

His words only made me madder. But I realized he was completely right. That was why I was so mad I remember consciously thinking, “I am not going to let him say that about me again. I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.”

So I began to really watch how I was talking. I did not want to give my brother any more ammunition about me trying to be a big man through cursing.

You know cursing, profane talk, often is really breaking of the 3rd commandment from the Bible. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” And something very funny happened. Because of my conscious watching of my mouth, not speaking curse words, or as we would say, consciously not cussing, I found myself in a curse-free mental state. I learned to control my temper and what came out of my mouth. And the bad habit of profanity simply faded.

I know it was not Scott’s intention to heal me of cursing, but he did. I learned that as you begin to think about what you say before you say it, you soon find there is no reason to curse. Cursing does not make you a man. (or a woman.) There is nothing gained by profanity or a foul mouth.

Currently there are individuals using words in social media, in movies, TV that are adjectives and verbs I always say you would never use in front of your grandmother. Living here in Germany I often point out that words even small kids use are not words you ever need to say again in your entire life. And they are just doing it in mimic of what they hear.

These words may seem cool, but usually it is just a sign of a very small vocabulary. And is a reflection on your quality of thought.

When your goal is one of trying to be the reflection, the image and likeness of your Father-Mother, God then it might be time to watch what comes out of your mouth. Don’t you want to be known more for blessing than cursing?

Section 5: Persistence in seeking Truth brings blessing.

In this section we learn to claim and affirm that we are actually all God’s children. When a Canaanite woman seeks Jesus help in healing her daughter the Master turns her away, it would seem. But Jesus certainly was a pretty smart guy. So maybe he was just testing, or encouraging this mom to express her sincere desire. See citation B17. When Jesus first turned her away she responded in a way that made him realized she was not going to give up that easy. His answer, “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

When people call me for prayerful help I often encourage them to call whenever they need help. Bang on the door, keep calling, write as many emails as it takes. We are not interested in allowing the curse of disease or discomfort to hang around any longer. Once evil, the devil, the disease realizes we are not going to play around the lie rebuked by the truth usually “beats a fast retreat.” We have no patience with mortality’s claim to an identity! Man is immortal, Godlike, healthy and with God-given dominion. Let’s claim the blessing and drop-kick the cursing. I always know someone is ready for a healing when they are ready to contact me daily without fail. They are persisting in asking for help because they are expecting help.

I love this version of the story from The Message,

From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit.” Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy.” Jesus refused, telling them, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. “Master, help me.” He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” She was quick: “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well.” B17| Matt. 15:21-28 MSG –

A former President of the Mother Church said to me one time, “Rick, I always like to call a hungry practitioner. I know they are going to give me full attention in their prayers!”

And I add as a patient, “Keep banging on the door till they answer.”

Section 6: We have what we need in Spirit. We are blessed.

What a great wrap up in this last section.

“For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.” B18 | Psalms 92:4

“I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” B19 | Psalms 17:15, W’s PS#6

Mary Baker Eddy states “When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness.

“Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.” S26 | 264:15, 24

Blessedness, the state of being blessed.

Recently I had occasion to call a Christian Science Practitioner for prayerful help. All I can say is Wow! I had been praying over some major challenges, opportunities, one of these was that in breaking up a dog fight I had severe wounds and knew I wanted to approach the healing with Christian Science. At first there seemed to be major concerns but as I prayed a great stillness settled in.

And then when I called for prayerful support the stillness and confidence increased. Step by step all issues regarding the wounds were resolved. Pain was never an issue. And the healing progressed from day one. Until the healing was completely evident. I truly felt blessed. The curse of injury was quickly removed from my thought. The healing supported not just my identity as God’s beloved child, untouched, innocent, completely safe and secure. But it also allowed me to demonstrate my dominion, responsibility towards God’s creation.

If you ask me, God’s child is unfallen, pure, perfect, a glorious picture in the image and likeness of God, Spirit. And this fact remains present to prove. Through the presence of the Christ we learn that we are indeed blessed not cursed (or cursing.)


For Your Information and Support, PLEASE:
1. MORE CAMPERSHIP FUNDS ARE NEEDED AS MORE APPLICATIONS COME IN DAILY! Thank you for giving camperships that are so much needed and appreciated for our fast approaching summer of 2018. Especially helpful are your much-needed MONTHLY gifts, past and ongoing, that can be started and adjusted as you wish at:www.cedarscamps.org/giving ] All of your gifts add up to big blessings in the lives of today's Sunday School students!

2. CedarS “Adopt the Herd” Matching Fund is not yet met.

In the time since Giving Tuesday you helped raise over $60k for the Riding Program, which will be doubled through the Adopt the Herd Matching Fund, for a total of $120k to help feed and care for CedarS wonderful horses. We still have ~$5k to raise to take advantage of the $65k Adopt the Herd match. (More info at http://www.cedarscamps.org/giving/adopt-the-herd/)

With advance and ongoing gratitude and love,
Warren, Gay, Holly & your CedarS Family

P.S. If you haven't yet given, or are blessed with more to give, we still have many needs, big and small, that you can help meet by clicking on https://www.cedarscamps.org/giving/tree/.

[You can also reach a member of the Founding family nearly anytime by
PHONE at 636-394-6162.

or MAIL your tax-deductible support to our 501-C-3 organization
(Our not-for-profit, Federal Identification Number is #44-0663883):

The CedarS Camps Office
1314 Parkview Valley Drive
Ballwin, MO 63011

[THANKS TO YOU PRECIOUS DONORS FOR YOUR ONGOING, GENEROUS and NEEDED SUPPORT OF CedarS IMPORTANT WORK!]

[CedarS weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CedarS, as well as to CedarS alumni, families and friends who have requested it. However, current and planned gifts are a huge proof of your ongoing LOVE made visible and are greatly appreciated!! They not only defray the costs of running this service but also provide greatly needed camperships and essential program and operations support.

[The Met application ideas above are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and daily demonstrate the great value of studying and applying the Christian Science Bible lessons throughout the year, not just at camp! YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of possible ways to share Bible Lesson applications with older, as well as younger, Sunday School classes by clicking the "Subscribe Now" button (lower left) at http://www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/

American Camp Association

MAIN OFFICE
(November - May)
410 Sovereign Court #8
Ballwin, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162

CAMP OFFICE
(Memorial Day Weekend - October)
19772 Sugar Dr.
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 532-6699

Support our mission!

CedarS Camps

Back
to top