Are you talkin’ to me?

Well, yes I am—to answer the question in the title.  But that’s not the reason for the question.  No, it’s specifically about pages 390-393 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy in which the author states a number of commands—commands such as:

Meadow in Concord, MA 11.26.17Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. (p. 393)

Instead of blind and calm submission to the incipient or advanced stages of disease, rise in rebellion against them. (p. 391)

Banish the belief that you can possibly entertain a single intruding pain which cannot be ruled out by the might of Mind, and in this way you can prevent the development of pain in the body. (p. 391)

And since Science and Health was dictated to Mrs. Eddy by God, aren’t these commands directly from Him?  Of course they are!

But who is being addressed?

Could it be some abstract, hypothetical third-party?

On the contrary, they are directed towards each of us.

It is we who have to fulfill every one of these obligations.  It is we who have the responsibility of proving the rules established in this book—this book that provides the answers for the salvation of humanity.  It is we who have to demonstrate the power of Christian Science by healing the sick and reforming the sinner!

And it is we who have to realize that it is not a personal, erroneous human sense of self that could ever accomplish these dictates!  Far from it!  Rather, as the Apostle Paul declaimed:

it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

And as Jesus righteously declared:

I can of mine own self do nothing: (John 5:30)

That’s right; of our own selves we can do nothing!

Now, let’s be absolutely clear about this: we are not helpless victims cast adrift on the seas of error trying to rise above its tumultuous waves.  No!  We are the heirs of God—heirs whose right and responsibility it is to overthrow every “ill that flesh is heir to” by virtue of our being His image and likeness—His entirely spiritual reflection.

And because this is so (and it is!), we are necessarily empowered by Almighty God to accomplish all that He has for us to accomplish.

Mrs. Eddy stated:

The Principle of Christian Science is divine. Its rule is, that man shall utilize the divine power. (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 69)

Now here are some questions we need to ask ourselves—and you knew they were coming, didn’t you!

  • Am I rising in rebellion against error?  Or am I submitting to error’s so-called rule of tyranny?
  • Am I rising in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good?  Or am I acquiescing to error’s lies?
  • Am I banishing the belief that I could possibly entertain a single pain—or for that matter, any belief of error?  Or am I inviting the insidious suggestions of the carnal mind into my thought to have a “tea party”?

And most important: Am I obeying the rule of Christian Science by utilizing the divine power?  Or am I letting it lie fallow—and then wondering why I’m not progressing?

Which of these will it be?

And, yes, I am talkin’ to you!

4 thoughts on “Are you talkin’ to me?

  1. Ken – thanks – as always your blogs are right on point and a great reminder not to just ‘believe’ CS but to do it.

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