My latest JSH-Online audio podcast “Landmarks” has just been posted at its Putting it on record section of The Christian Science Journal. Rita Polatin interviewed me about the landmarks we need to be following and the false ones we need to be glad to be leaving.
You can hear it at: http://journal.christianscience.com/audio/putting-it-on-record/landmarks
Enjoy!
JSH-Online just posted on its News of Healing section a new audio podcast titled “Turning to God led us to each other.” Rita Polatin interviewed my wife, Carolyn, and me about how relying on God brings us all into profound and lasting experiences—experiences that expand and enrich our lives. And of far more import, experiences that enable us to be of greater service to Him and mankind!
You can hear it at: http://sentinel.christianscience.com/audio/news-of-healing/turning-to-god-led-us-to-each-other
Enjoy!
I had the privilege of doing a Christian Science Sentinel Live Audio Chat on the essential topic “Persistence in healing” yesterday. Rita Polatin was the host and many interesting questions came in that reflected a broad cross-section of the types of issues that folks are dealing with relative to persisting in their application of Christian Science.
You can hear it at: http://sentinel.christianscience.com/audio/audio-chats/persistence-in-healing
The first week is subscription-free. From then on you’ll need to have a subscription to JSH-Online.
“Approximation” is an interesting word. It indicates a close similarity—something so near to the original that it might even work as a substitute. And in some areas of life that might be just fine.
But what about it in relation to Christian Science?
Well—Mary Baker Eddy published a prediction in her Pulpit and Press (p. 22) dealing with approximations:
If the lives of Christian Scientists attest their fidelity to Truth, I predict that in the twentieth century every Christian church in our land, and a few in far-off lands, will approximate the understanding of Christian Science sufficiently to heal the sick in his name. Christ will give to Christianity his new name, and Christendom will be classified as Christian Scientists.
So, let’s take a moment and examine what she’s declared.
Her statement that other churches will approximate Christian Science is very specific. Notice that she doesn’t include any type of church or religious system or philosophy other than Christian. Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age Thought, Mindfulness, reikism, yoga, and all of the other et cetera of Eastern and Western esoterica are nowhere to be found. Nor is there an inclusion of any of the systems of material-based medicine or psychology/psychiatry and all of their permutations.
Mrs. Eddy is speaking specifically of Christian churches primarily in the United States.
But there’s an important qualifier to all of this. And it’s the opening phrase that states her prediction will take place if our lives as Christian Scientists attest our fidelity to Truth. In other words, have we been and are we presently healing the public as she did and as Jesus did—a requirement that is part and parcel of living the life of a Christian Scientist?
If we’re honest, we might not be able to answer that question fully in the affirmative.
And we need to ask ourselves another essential question as we reach out to other denominations: Are we doing so to lift their thought to a deeper understanding of God and His image and likeness—an understanding that heals the sick and reforms the sinner—or are we doing it to blend in, or learn from them, or perhaps even for a sense of validation?
If our answer is the former and if we’re demonstrating our claims by the healing work we’re doing, then even though we’re now in the 21st century there will be a transformation of thought that causes others to gain a more profound grasp of the truth of being—of the healing and saving presence of the Comforter.
If, however, it’s the latter then we might find ourselves inadvertently taking in ideas and practices that are not conducive to our individual and collective spiritual progress and proof of Mrs. Eddy’s revelation and establishment of the Science of Christ—a revelation that is for the salvation of humanity from all the ills that the “flesh is heir to.”
As she wrote in Science and Health, (p. 464):
Adulterating Christian Science, makes it void.
And that’s something that I’m sure none of us would want to approximate!
My beautiful Steinway was recently tuned and worked on by a wonderful piano technician. In fact the piano never sounded better—except for a buzz that hadn’t been there in the past and which I hadn’t detected until after he left. I became concerned particularly as the noise spread across an entire octave.
I took all the human steps to see if there was a screw loose on the instrument or if there was something else in the room that was vibrating sympathetically—all to no avail. Such buzzes are often indicative of a serious problem involving the soundboard and which are also incredibly costly to repair.
I called the technician and he graciously said that he would return at another time to try to solve the problem.
The next day, while praying, the thought came to me to take the action (the keyboard) out of the piano. I did and found one screw slightly loose, but as I slid the keyboard back into the piano I noticed that the problem hadn’t been solved. Simultaneously I realized that if the keyboard was moved ever so slightly, the problem increased or decreased. I moved it a bit—literally 2 millimeters—secured it and that was the end of the issue. The piano was perfect and sounded glorious!
Two millimeters! Such a tiny amount! And yet, the difference between distortion and harmony—between a false and a right sense of being. Between discord and healing.
The metaphysical points here are numerous. Having exhausted all material methods, I turned to God and the specific directions came—which I obeyed. And which led to seeing beyond the symptom and its superficial solution to the true and effective uncovering and correction of the underlying error—to the practical application of the truth.
How often do we find ourselves looking everywhere when confronted by a challenge, be it illness, employment, relationships, etc.—even while praying—but where we should? Not digging deeply enough. Not persisting to fully see, recognize, acknowledge, accept, and be grateful for what our Father-Mother God is revealing to us. To the very idea which will save us.
How often have we accepted some erroneous thought—even one that might seem on the surface similar to or the same as Christian Science—only to find that we are not being healed or are not healing others? Remember the difference between harmony and inharmony was minute—a mere 2 millimeters! That’s how close error may seem to truth in its attempt to counterfeit it, but in reality and in the practical results brought about they are light years apart!
I learned a valuable lesson from this experience. I had let the concern—the fear—about my piano misdirect my thought. But when I turned to God, was obedient to His leadings, and kept listening and digging deeper to observe what was being revealed to me, the correction took place.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote:
Correct material belief by spiritual understanding, and Spirit will form you anew. (Science and Health, p. 425)
And that correction needn’t be gigantic. It only has to be spiritual!
Landmarks—they can be important signposts for directions guiding us along our way. Or they can commemorate significant events in our world, culture, or in our personal experiences.
They often indicate turning points or achievements that stand out in mankind’s development. Obviously, a word denoting import.
But did you know that Mary Baker Eddy only used the word “landmarks” on two occasions in Science and Health? And each as complete opposites?
Indeed, one could say that they are ‘landmarks’ in and of themselves!
One of them occurs with some frequency in the weekly Bible Lessons:
Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. (p. 324)
While the other is less often cited:
Through the wholesome chastisements of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity, which are the landmarks of Science. (p. 323)
In the first instance, she’s speaking of those false landmarks that would keep us from being healed and making the spiritual progress that we need to and deserve to be making. Those could be any of the plethora of guises that error—evil, mortal mind, the carnal mind: that which claims that there could be another presence or power than God—would impose on our thinking and which, for one reason or another, we’ve accepted as our own thinking and wrongly identified with.
Perhaps, you’ve been dealing with an illness and you keep finding yourself remembering when it supposedly began—including the symptoms, circumstances, and what appear to be the material “reasons” or “causations.” It could be the memories of an accident that keep coming to thought, or of an illness encountered by a forebear in which the fear of heredity and what it might mean to your well-being tries to assert itself on your consciousness. Or maybe you’re holding onto the thought of a relationship that didn’t work out, or employment that seems to be eluding you.
Or even believing that the good health you may be enjoying is dependent on material circumstances, practices, hygiene, diet, and exercise instead of your growing recognition of your indestructible and ever-present relationship with your Father-Mother God in which health is entirely based in God—in Spirit. That’s a subtle one that ensnares a lot of folks!
Each of these examples are false landmarks and they’re ones that we need to let go of—that we need to be glad to leave behind and joyous to see disappear, as Mrs. Eddy advises.
And we do that by focusing on the allness of God and striving to understand and put into practice in our daily lives—moment by moment—those true “landmarks of Science”—“righteousness, peace, and purity.” The immutable landmarks that point out and scribe our real ever-ascending path to experiencing the kingdom of heaven right here, right now.
The landmarks that inevitably bring healing, reformation, and freedom!
New JSH-Online Christian Science Journal Podcast
JSH-Online just posted on its Putting it on Record section a new audio podcast of mine titled “Watch and pray.” Rita Polatin interviewed me about this topic that’s so important for all of us—a topic that enhances our spiritual growth, ability to be healed, and of greater import, our ability to heal others!
You can hear it at: http://journal.christianscience.com/audio/putting-it-on-record/watch-and-pray
Enjoy!
This week’s Bible Lesson “Christ Jesus” is filled with many wonderful passages, but one that has particularly struck me is from the 10th Chapter of the Gospel of John in which the Jews pose questions to Jesus.
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
This is one of those moments in the Bible where we can learn about the methods of animal magnetism—of evil—in order to be alert to its ploys and thereby defend ourselves and others accordingly. How? By recognizing that error—in this case being voiced by the mesmerized Jews—was accusing the immaculate Jesus of making them doubt that he was the manifestation of the Christ, when in fact it was nothing other than their own belief in error and matter that was the source of their disbelief. The guilty accusing the innocent!
His reply cut right to the heart of the matter:
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
And what was their reaction? They were inflamed and sought yet again to stone him. Why? Because they had no intention of hearing Jesus’ answer, feign as they might. Their real motive was to have a ‘reason’ to accuse and condemn him!
So, here’s a question that we all might want to ask ourselves: Are we allowing that kind of thinking—the imposition of the world’s thinking—to enter our thought?
“What?” you may be thinking, “I’m a Christian Scientist and that’s not possible!”
But are we sure?
Are we in any way bowing down to or being intimidated by error’s method of questioning and doubting the presence of the Christ as revealed in Christian Science rather than answer today as our Master did two millennia ago by our doing the works that he commanded us to and which Mary Baker Eddy also required of us? Works “whose proofs consist solely in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death” (Science and Health, p. 233)? In other words, are we willing to go forth and preach the gospel by proving the Word of God through public healing as each of them did?
If we find ourselves reluctant or hesitant to answer in the affirmative to those demands, then it might be time for some self-examination. And in doing so we can be sure that any such resistance isn’t coming from God or from our true identity and nature as the image and likeness of divine Love.
So it comes down to this: We’ve already been told plainly.
I remember hearing decades ago about the reactions of some jazz pianists after they heard the great jazz pianist Art Tatum play in after-hour gatherings attended generally only by fellow musicians, and quite frankly being puzzled by their responses. Tatum’s technical prowess was on the highest level of any classical musician—Vladimir Horowitz and Artur Rubinstein were great admirers of him and were in awe of his technique and improvisational artistry. Yet some jazz pianists, upon hearing Tatum, gave up playing the piano and took up other instruments averring that they could see no point in continuing since Tatum was so far beyond them.
So why did this puzzle me?
Because when I was a classical pianist and composer, hearing great musicians—including Tatum—inspired me. It made me realize what was possible and it broadened my thought about what I myself might accomplish. Rather than discourage me, it caused me to work harder.
I can recall, as if it were yesterday, hearing for the first time in the early 1970’s a recording of the legendary Italian pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli playing Ferruccio Busoni’s piano transcription of the famous Bach D minor Chaconne for violin. My reaction? I was blown away! I had never heard such speed, clarity, power, and expressiveness before. Just hearing that and realizing what was possible caused my own playing to immediately improve. A sense of limitation had been broken through. And it inspired me to practice harder!
Now comes the question. When we see what Jesus achieved, or what Mary Baker Eddy did, in healing the sick and reforming the sinner, and their demand on each of us to do likewise, is our reaction one of inspiration or discouragement?
When we hear of or speak with those who are striving to be more effective healers—who perhaps see more clearly than we do the demands of following in our Master’s and Mrs. Eddy’s paths—do we think the bar has been raised too high or do we dedicate ourselves to striving to be really consecrated healers and warriors, leaving all for Christ?
The world desperately needs what Christian Science healers have to offer. And each of us who study Science and Health is equipped with the understanding of how to heal the public if we apply ourselves. Will it always be easy? Of course not. Yet ask yourself if it was easy for Jesus or Mrs. Eddy. Far from it! But the reward for doing so is far beyond anything that you and I could possibly imagine at this point!
I’ll end this post with Mary Baker Eddy’s own words from her Miscellaneous Writings (p. 16)—words that make it clear what is required of each of us!
Now, dear reader, pause for a moment with me, earnestly to contemplate this new-born spiritual altitude; for this statement demands demonstration.
Here you stand face to face with the laws of infinite Spirit, and behold for the first time the irresistible conflict between the flesh and Spirit. You stand before the awful detonations of Sinai. You hear and record the thunderings of the spiritual law of Life, as opposed to the material law of death; the spiritual law of Love, as opposed to the material sense of love; the law of omnipotent harmony and good, as opposed to any supposititious law of sin, sickness, or death. And, before the flames have died away on this mount of revelation, like the patriarch of old, you take off your shoes — lay aside your material appendages, human opinions and doctrines, give up your more material religion with its rites and ceremonies, put off your materia medica and hygiene as worse than useless — to sit at the feet of Jesus. Then, you meekly bow before the Christ, the spiritual idea that our great Master gave of the power of God to heal and to save. Then it is that you behold for the first time the divine Principle that redeems man from under the curse of materialism, — sin, disease, and death. This spiritual birth opens to the enraptured understanding a much higher and holier conception of the supremacy of Spirit, and of man as His likeness, whereby man reflects the divine power to heal the sick.
That’s right—vestures of thought! In other words, what are we clothing our thought in—material vestures or Christly vestures?
Now this may seem to some like a poetic metaphor, but it is anything but that. It’s an important question that we need to ask ourselves since our ability to heal and be healed in many ways hinges upon it.
What are we accepting as the truth? What are our thoughts infused with? Are they from God or from error? Are they radiant in the light of the Almighty or are they tinged with the erroneous assumptions and suppositions of a life separate from God—the God in whom “we live, and move, and have our being”? (Acts 17)
These are not some abstract or philosophical meanderings. They are essential to our spiritual progress.
Perhaps you’ve been dealing with the effects of a disease, or of aging, or of a relationship problem and haven’t been seeing the results you’ve been hoping and working for. If that’s the case, you need to examine your thoughts and turn deeply to God.
Are you accepting the testimony of the five material/personal senses—even in part? Are you believing that the picture being presented to your consciousness—a picture of illness, or diminished capacities, or loss—has even an iota of reliability, credence, or reality? If so, then you’re working against the results you desire. The results you deserve.
Have you inadvertently accepted—even tacitly—the conclusions of medical studies and observations as the final word? Or even a plausible explanation to be left unchallenged in your thought by the truths of Christian Science?
A couple of weeks ago, I encountered two different people saying basically the same thing to me when I was engaging in outdoor activities. What was it? “Oh—it’s good that you’re outside on this sunny day so you’ll get your Vitamin D!”
Frankly, the comments took me by surprise. So what did I do? I cheerfully redirected the focus by replying that I was just out enjoying the beautiful day. But I made sure to quickly mentally refute this medical claim in my own thought and deny that it could be part of those two individuals’ true thinking. Why? Because that claim would seek to reduce the spiritual sense of the day’s joy and beauty to be but a supposed beneficial physiological effect.
A day or so later when relating this to a fellow Christian Scientist they proceeded to tell me that it’s been shown by medical studies that a certain race of people who live in arctic climes and who, as a result, get very little sun have a deficiency of that vitamin which in turn has led to bowed legs in that population.
This, my friends, is an example of how easily our thoughts can be clothed in matter-based thinking if we’re not watching carefully.
Now, did my friend think that this is what had happened to their thought? No, they saw the medical research’s findings as a logical and reasonable explanation for this defect in that population and defended it is as such until I pointed out that as Christian Scientists we cannot afford or dare to accept such conclusions—not if we’re to be the healers that Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy expected us to be. Why? Because there is only one cause, God, Spirit, and God would never bring about such results on His creation. A creation that is entirely spiritual and good!
And that fundamental truth awakened them!
But how could such a basic concept of Christian Science have been forgotten by this individual—a life-long Christian Scientist? Error—evil—had mesmerized them into dropping their guard and allowing that falsehood to slip in and clothe their thinking materially. Had permitted this lie, this vesture—unbeknownst to them—to be working against their own desires for healing.
In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy wrote:
Selfishness and sensualism are educated in mortal mind by the thoughts ever recurring to one’s self, by conversation about the body, and by the expectation of perpetual pleasure or pain from it; and this education is at the expense of spiritual growth. If we array thought in mortal vestures, it must lose its immortal nature. (p. 260)
So before we allow our thought to be arrayed in vestures, let’s stand before the mirror of Christian Science—a mirror that reflects only the true image and likeness of God. A mirror that shows us if we’re putting on the right attire!
Vistas 