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Sing "the song of Christian Science”!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on

“Christian Science”
June 24–30, 2019

Prepared by: Christie C. Hanzlik, CS • Boulder, CO
ccern@mac.com720.331.9356
www.christiecs.com

INTRODUCTION

There never was a time in which Christian Science began. It always has been. The Science of the Christ was discovered, but it was not invented or started. This week’s Bible Lesson explains how Christian Science was revealed to Mary Baker Eddy—its discoverer and founder—and then shared with mankind. In a talk Mary Baker Eddy gave in 1900, she conveyed the idea, “The song of Christian Science is, ‘Work — work — work — watch and pray.’” ('00 2:7-8) One way of understanding this statement is to emphasize that to practice Christian Science, we must be willing to “Work — work — work." But I also love how she begins the statement–the song of Christian Science. The joyful practice of Christian Science is a song that carries us along in our work. Emphasizing the “song” part of her idea helps us feel the effortless joy that can come through our love. “The song of Christian Science” helps us realize, “The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.” (SH 113:5-6)

The Golden Text reminds me of this idea about “the song of Christian Science.” The Psalmist said, ”I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. . . . he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” (GT) Mary Baker Eddy heard “the song of Christian Science," and then sang it with us through her writings.

The Responsive Reading from Isaiah and Psalms continues the theme of the Lord putting a song in our mouths, and directing us. It is interesting to apply these verses to Mary Baker Eddy's path of discovery and her desire to hear the comforting "song of Christian Science.” I enjoyed reading these verses as if they were speaking to Mary Baker Eddy as she was discovering Christian Science…

• “thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

• “Ye shall have a song”

• “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled…God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early."

• “For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

• “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”

• “I, even I, am he that comforteth you” (RR)

SECTION 1: Search and Discovery
The first tenet of Christian Science is, “1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.” (SH 497:3) And the first section of the lesson opens with ideas about the Old Testament covenant between God and man. This covenant was based on love—"I have loved with an everlasting love…” (B3). But even after the covenant between God and man is declared, some Hebrew monotheists seemed to get lost in “the letter” of law instead of feeling "the spirit" of Love binding their covenant with God. In the New Testament, Christ Jesus inspires his followers with a love-based understanding of God. The New Testament writers who grasped Jesus’ inspiration, explain, “[God]hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (B4) They understood that the letter without the spirit is dead.

And, again (like in the Golden Text and Responsive Reading), the first section brings out the idea of "the song" guiding our inspiration, letting the spirit guide our work. “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (B5)

In her early life, Mary Baker Eddy loved the Bible and found comfort in her deep connection with it. But, at the same time, she yearned and yearned for a deeper and more inspired understanding. She knew “The Scriptures are very sacred,” and yet sought a more “inspired Word of the Bible.” As she explains, “Our aim must be to have [the Scriptures] understood spiritually, for only by this understanding can truth be gained.” (S1) She understood that we could get lost in the letter of the Bible if we don’t tune into its sacred song.

Through her search for the sacred song of the Bible, she discovered the Science of the Christ: “For three years after my discovery, I sought the solution of this problem of Mind-healing, searched the Scriptures and read little else, kept aloof from society, and devoted time and energies to discovering a positive rule. The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing. I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration.” (S3)

Mary Baker Eddy's discovery was not an invention. It was not the start of something new. It was the revelation of the full import of the Scriptures, the key to understanding the Scriptures. As she explains, “[Christian Science] is imperious throughout all ages as Christ's revelation of Truth, of Life, and of Love, which remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practise.” (S5) She discovered “the song of Christian Science” as she took the “inspired Word of the Bible as [her] sufficient guide to eternal Life.” (SH 497)

SECTION 2: Following Christ Jesus
The Science of the Christ is the study and demonstration of how Christ Jesus did what he did. Christ Jesus is a light for the world, and Christian Science is the study of what that light means for all mankind. (B5) Christian Scientists seek to understand not only what Jesus said and did, but also the how and why behind his words and works. They take seriously Christ Jesus’ statement, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father….” (B6, W’s PS#1A, #1B) Like Jesus’ immediate disciples, Christian Scientists strive to follow him in the way in their thoughts and actions, and obey Jesus command, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10:8)

The second tenet of Christian Science is, “2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness.” (SH 497:5-8) The “Holy Ghost or divine Comforter,” is what Jesus is promising to us in these statements, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you…. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (B6)

For every one of us, the revelation of Science is the Comforter that we can experience daily as we understand and hold onto it. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Hold perpetually this thought, — that it is the spiritual idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing, based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, overlying, and encompassing all true being.” (S10)

Christian Science is about “the laws of God and to His government of the universe, inclusive of man.” As we understand these laws, we can experience the Comforter. As Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Our Master said, ‘But the Comforter . . . shall teach you all things.’ When the Science of Christianity appears, it will lead you into all truth.” (S7)

Section 3: The Comforter Demonstrated
The third section presents the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood. He senses the woman's yearning for comfort, and meets her yearning with love and understanding. He sees her worthiness, and says, “Daughter…be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

In a sense, the woman with the issue of blood was suffering from sin—the belief that she was separate from God and unworthy. Christ Jesus overturned the false human law that suggested she was unworthy and separate from God’s love. He saw her wholeness and worthiness, which he makes clear as he acknowledges her as the “daughter” of God. As she experienced the comfort of Christ, she released the belief of sin (separation) and thus the disease also. Her faith made her whole, and the sin was no longer “punished.” I enjoy pondering how this woman might have felt as Christ Jesus spoke to her and she felt a whole dose of the Comforter washing her clean. [B8, W’s PS#3]

The third tenet in Christian Science is, “3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.
(SH 497:9)

The story of the woman with the issue of blood illustrates how Christ Jesus view of the woman as a Daughter of God freed her from the punishment of sin, the belief that she was unworthy and separate from divine Love. Her faith–shown by her reaching out to Christ to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment–made her whole. Her so-called sin was healed and she was whole.

Healing like this woman experienced is possible for all of us “now as in Jesus’ time” as we understand the Science of the Christ. (S13) Mary Baker Eddy explains, “The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural.” (S13) Physical relief comes as sin is healed. The Comforter answers our desire for healing, for freedom from sin.

Mary Baker Eddy’s discovery of the “operation of divine Principle” enabled her to write strong statements about the healing potency of Christian Science:

• “Christian Science brings to the body the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies. Christian Science acts as an alterative, neutralizing error with Truth. It changes the secretions, expels humors, dissolves tumors, relaxes rigid muscles, restores carious bones to soundness. The effect of this Science is to stir the human mind to a change of base, on which it may yield to the harmony of the divine Mind.” (S14, W’s PS#4)

• "Maintain the facts of Christian Science, — that Spirit is God, and therefore cannot be sick; that what is termed matter cannot be sick; that all causation is Mind, acting through spiritual law. Then hold your ground with the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win." (S15)

She proved these facts in her life and in healing others.

Section 4: Footsteps of Truth

We may sometimes feel like we’re not “good Christian Scientists” because we are not able to demonstrate healing to the same degree as Christ Jesus. But we can all find words of encouragement in both the Bible and in Science and Health as we’re practicing prayer.

As we’re learning, we can take steps forward, little by little, and we don’t need to feel that we have to understand everything right away. In Isaiah, we find the comforting assurance that it’s OK to take baby steps forward in our practice: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (B9)

And when we feel like we don’t quite understand all of Christian Science, we can know we are in good company. Paul the Apostle, who spread the gospel of Christianity, eloquently describes what it is like to feel like we’re understanding only part of the whole view. As he wrote in Corinthians, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (B10) In other words, for now we may feel like we’re seeing through a dingy-dark mirror, but then when we begin to see more clearly, we can see the full reflection (face to face) and know ourselves as God knows us. The New Living Translation (NLT) Bible translates this verse in this way, "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” (B10, W’s PS#5)

As we’re beginning to understand Christian Science, we can know that it may seem like a puzzling reflection in a mirror, but we can stick with it, and it will become clear, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (B9)

Each little bit we understand is like the leaven in Jesus’ parable. Just a tad bit of leaven can make a whole lot of bread rise. (B11)

This section also includes a story about when Jesus’ disciples left on a ship ahead of Jesus, and Jesus caught up with them… “walking on the sea.” Even though they knew him well, it startled them when they saw him walking on water (and catching up to them so quickly), so “they were afraid.” They couldn’t quite understand what was happening–they were “seeing through a glass darkly”–so were afraid. But Jesus told them, “be not afraid.” And then they “immediately” arrived at the land to which they were traveling. [B12, W’s PS#6]

Wait, what!?! Immediately?

I’m not sure what which part of this would be most startling for the disciples: 1) that Jesus walked on water, 2) that he walked on water fast enough to catch up to them in a ship, or 3) that once he caught up to them they “immediately” arrived at their destination. But, these were not unexplainable miracles. As we understand Christ Jesus’ words and works in Christian Science, we can see that these are all divinely natural demonstrations. As we understand the Science of the Christ better and better, we can expect divinely natural demonstrations of harmony and health in daily experience. Again, as we look at the amazing things Christ Jesus demonstrated, we can know that, "Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural.” (S13)

As we understand Christ Jesus’ teachings even a little bit, we can begin to practice and demonstrate the truths of Science for ourselves. We may not understand everything about Christian Science, but even a little bit of understanding is enough to begin multiplying the effectiveness of our prayer. Mary Baker Eddy explains, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little understanding of Christian Science proves the truth of all that I say of it. Because you cannot walk on the water and raise the dead, you have no right to question the great might of divine Science in these directions. Be thankful that Jesus, who was the true demonstrator of Science, did these things, and left his example for us. In Science we can use only what we understand. We must prove our faith by demonstration.” (S17)

SECTION 5: The Vision, The Book [for more on Revelation citations B14 & B15 see W’s PS#7 & #8 to follow]

The book of Revelation is a vision of Christ (the full awareness of Love’s absolute power) triumphing over and annihilating sin, disease, and death forever.

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy reveals an exegesis on Revelation— “The Apocalypse”—Mary Baker Eddy explains that its author described things that hint toward the discovery of divine Science. As she explains, "This angel or message which comes from God, clothed with a cloud, prefigures divine Science. To mortal sense Science seems at first obscure, abstract, and dark; but a bright promise crowns its brow. When understood, it is Truth's prism and praise. When you look it fairly in the face, you can heal by its means, and it has for you a light above the sun, for God 'is the light thereof.'” (S20)

Through her discovery of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy helps us to understand the inspired Word of Revelation. She writes, "This angel had in his hand 'a little book,' open for all to read and understand. Did this same book contain the revelation of divine Science, the 'right foot' or dominant power of which was upon the sea, — upon elementary, latent error, the source of all error's visible forms? The angel's left foot was upon the earth; that is, a secondary power was exercised upon visible error and audible sin. The 'still, small voice' of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe's remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, 'as when a lion roareth.' It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear. It arouses the 'seven thunders' of evil, and stirs their latent forces to utter the full diapason of secret tones. Then is the power of Truth demonstrated, — made manifest in the destruction of error. … Mortals, obey the heavenly evangel. Take divine Science. Read this book from beginning to end. Study it, ponder it.” (S21) As I currently understand these words, Mary Baker Eddy is explaining to us Divine Science’s role in annihilating sin, disease, and death forever.

We may not necessarily understand this full vision all at once. And we may not understand the whole of Science today. It may feel as if we’re looking at "a glass darkly,” but the vision has been revealed and we can see it. Mary Baker Eddy explains that the teaching she is offering “is in advance of the age.” It is metaphysical thought beyond what we may yet be able to fully know now, but it will unfold. It is not impossible for us to understand. As she states, "No impossible thing do I ask when urging the claims of Christian Science; but because this teaching is in advance of the age, we should not deny our need of its spiritual unfoldment. Mankind will improve through Science and Christianity.” (S22)

Just because we don’t understand it all now does not mean we cannot ever get it. Divine Mind is right now speaking to us, unfolding the facts of Science, in just the way we need to hear. In Mary Baker Eddy’s words, "The necessity for uplifting the race is father to the fact that Mind can do it; for Mind can impart purity instead of impurity, strength instead of weakness, and health instead of disease. Truth is an alterative in the entire system, and can make it 'every whit whole.' (S22) It is through Mind, not human striving, that Science is unfolded to us.

We can all watch and pray to have that Mind which was also in Christ Jesus. The sixth tenet of Christian Science is our reminder to tune in to Mind for the full revelation, and the action steps we can take while we’re doing so. It reads, "6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” (SH 497:24)

SECTION 6: The Promise

Christian Science provides a promise of wholeness, of peace and of harmony throughout our experience. We do not have to wait for this promise. It is available to us now, bit by bit. This week’s Lesson concludes with encouraging statements from both the Bible and Science and Health about the promise of salvation.

Read this promise from Isaiah—what a prophecy!: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory….Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified." (B16) While we may not yet be able to see this full vision described in Isaiah, it is a promise of what we gain as we understand more fully the revelation of Christian Science.

Isaiah’s prophecy is not just blind hope…it’s a vision full of understanding. It is the promise of the Comforter then and now. Understanding the Comforter is Christian Science. And, as we read in the sixth section, "Christian Science brings to light Truth and its supremacy, universal harmony, the entireness of God, good, and the nothingness of evil.” (S23)

Our work—"the song of Christian Science"—is to bit by bit, gain a little each day in the right direction. As we accept this task, we are “enlisting” to do our part. We are "[enlisting] to lessen evil, disease, and death; and [we] will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good.” (S24)

If we are wondering whether or not we are making progress along these lines, we can ask ourselves, "Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love? If so, then the way will grow brighter 'unto the perfect day.’ [Our] fruits will prove what the understanding of God brings to man.” (S25) These questions lead us daily to “Work — work — work — watch and pray.” And through this work, we can joyfully sing “The song of Christian Science.” ('00 2:7-8) This song is our Comforter.


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[Warren: Wow!! Thanks to the generous support recently received from CedarS Newsletter subscribers and supporters, CedarS time-sensitive need is being met to upgrade to new safety standards for the four Ziplines to and from CedarS Bible Lands Park (BLP)!! This activity will annually bless thousands of visitors! It will make Christian Science Sunday School students, teachers and church members more Biblically literate and alive each summer and fall. And it will show “shoulder-season” visitors of all faiths how Christianly practical and Bible-based Christian Scientists are. From Mary’s Chapel behind Dawn Lodge all users can zip back in time to the Bible and BLP, climb its switch-back “Time-Travelers’ Trail” and learn A.P. (Answered Prayer) History lessons to take “back to the future.”


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