Loyal Christian Scientists no doubt steer clear of medicine and drugs, but how many unwisely admit error through the subtle sophistries of certain types of exercise or aerobics (AKA recreation), gluttony via munchies or trencherman excess (AKA eating), or excessive attention to hygiene (AKA practical cleanliness)? If God fills all space, and of course He does, then even the most "innocent" indulgence of anything mortal or material is a sinful repudiation of His omnipotence and omnipresence. "Hidden sin is spiritual wickedness in high places." (S&H 453: 20-21) Even a pea held close enough to the eye will obscure the sun.
One may well take pride in avoiding the obvious snares, pits, and falls, but is he entirely honest about confronting the armies of devilettes which ceaslessly scurry about in frontal attack, infiltration, and ambush to tempt and harry him? Love handles and raffish deshabille may have their charm in society, but they may also mask serious failings. For some individuals a cannoli may be as dangerous a temptation as a snort of cocaine to others. No wisp of error, mesmerism, or aggressive mental suggestion is too insignificant to receive ones scrupulous attention, refutation, and destruction. The devil doesn't show up in a loud, mustard-yellow, polyester leisure suit complete with a "Hello, my name is Old Nick" self-adhesive tag. He is far more likely to slip in unnoticed on his little cat feet to dispense his honeyed, insidious, and sometimes fatal whisperings.
Note: Requests for biographical information have not gone unnoticed. How to respond is being pondered, since not all queries may be motivated by kindly interest, and there is a danger in letting the unruly camel of person get its nose into the tent. One needs to be wise even at the possible expense of appearing to be coy. There will doubtless be more later.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Beware the Snooze Button
Two important Christian qualities, which Mrs. Eddy also strongly emphasizes, are patience and watchfulness. They can easily be relegated, however, to a forty-winks, easy-chair, feet-on-the-footstool mode. Calm vegetation might be a cozy modus operandi to some for patience and watchfulness, but passivity is an almost iron-clad guarantee that spiritual progress isn't being made. It may even be a breeding ground for more insidious forms of error and false belief.
The Student's Reference Dictionary, an abridgment of the "American Dictionary of the English Language", which Mrs. Eddy is said to have used, gives in part more active definitions of both patience and watchfulness. One definition of patience is: perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion. And of watchfulness: vigilance; suspicious attention; careful and diligent observation for the purpose of preventing or escaping danger, or of avoiding mistakes and misconduct. Doing a better job of embodying the Daily Prayer is a good place to start each day in our demonstration of salutary patience and watchfulness.
Note to Helen: Regarding the title of this blog, it is probably obvious that it comes from Luke 5: 5-6 (KJV). More accurate translations say torn or ripped, but the point is the same. It is certain that I have yet to fulfill my duty to become a fisher of men whose net, first of all, has been filled and who, secondly, is able to bring the catch ashore without the net breaking, as exemplified in John 21: 6-11. Mrs. Eddy gives an inspiring explanation of these two events in Miscellaneous Writings 111: 4-14. This blog offers in its way my modest thoughts on how I (and perhaps we Christian Scientists) can do better and be a more faithful fisherman in obedience to my Father-Mother God and the Master Christian.
The Student's Reference Dictionary, an abridgment of the "American Dictionary of the English Language", which Mrs. Eddy is said to have used, gives in part more active definitions of both patience and watchfulness. One definition of patience is: perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion. And of watchfulness: vigilance; suspicious attention; careful and diligent observation for the purpose of preventing or escaping danger, or of avoiding mistakes and misconduct. Doing a better job of embodying the Daily Prayer is a good place to start each day in our demonstration of salutary patience and watchfulness.
Note to Helen: Regarding the title of this blog, it is probably obvious that it comes from Luke 5: 5-6 (KJV). More accurate translations say torn or ripped, but the point is the same. It is certain that I have yet to fulfill my duty to become a fisher of men whose net, first of all, has been filled and who, secondly, is able to bring the catch ashore without the net breaking, as exemplified in John 21: 6-11. Mrs. Eddy gives an inspiring explanation of these two events in Miscellaneous Writings 111: 4-14. This blog offers in its way my modest thoughts on how I (and perhaps we Christian Scientists) can do better and be a more faithful fisherman in obedience to my Father-Mother God and the Master Christian.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
You Won't Find It At The Dollar Store
The Kingdom of Heaven is ever-present. Hence, it is always available to be experienced. Then why doesn't it seem more evident? Because it is not appreciable to sick and sinful mortal thought. Then how does one perceive and gain the Kingdom of Heaven? Two of Christ Jesus' parables in particular, juxtaposed in Matthew 13: 44-46, answer that question: the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.
It is perhaps worth noting that the man who stumbles on the treasure in the field does not simply sneak off with it, but re-burys (the KJV says hides) it. Then he sells all that he has and buys the field. No doubt many men and women desire the Kingdom of Heaven, but only if they can get it on the cheap. It apparently isn't worth to them "all that they have".
What does it mean to sell all that one has and buy it, since it is certain the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be bought with money? Here J. R. Dummelow's Commentary is most helpful. "Their teaching [those two parables] is that it is not enough to be outwardly a Christian or to be under Christian influences. The true Christian must be inwardly convinced that his religion is the most precious of all things." To buy the field the man "sells all that he has, i.e. gives up all that can hinder him in his quest . . . ." To buy the pearl of great price the merchant "Selleth all that he hath] i.e. gives up every sin or self-indulgence which hinders him from giving himself wholeheartedly to Christ."
"Christian Science may be sold in the shambles. Many are bidding for it,--but are not willing to pay the price." (Mis. 269: 25-26) "Seek Truth, and pursue it. It should cost you something: you are willing to pay for error and receive nothing in return; but if you pay the price of Truth, you shall receive all." (Mis. 342: 24-27)
It is perhaps worth noting that the man who stumbles on the treasure in the field does not simply sneak off with it, but re-burys (the KJV says hides) it. Then he sells all that he has and buys the field. No doubt many men and women desire the Kingdom of Heaven, but only if they can get it on the cheap. It apparently isn't worth to them "all that they have".
What does it mean to sell all that one has and buy it, since it is certain the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be bought with money? Here J. R. Dummelow's Commentary is most helpful. "Their teaching [those two parables] is that it is not enough to be outwardly a Christian or to be under Christian influences. The true Christian must be inwardly convinced that his religion is the most precious of all things." To buy the field the man "sells all that he has, i.e. gives up all that can hinder him in his quest . . . ." To buy the pearl of great price the merchant "Selleth all that he hath] i.e. gives up every sin or self-indulgence which hinders him from giving himself wholeheartedly to Christ."
"Christian Science may be sold in the shambles. Many are bidding for it,--but are not willing to pay the price." (Mis. 269: 25-26) "Seek Truth, and pursue it. It should cost you something: you are willing to pay for error and receive nothing in return; but if you pay the price of Truth, you shall receive all." (Mis. 342: 24-27)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Beatific Berceuses or Cacophanous Concertos?
A twelve-tone lullaby by Arnold Schoenberg, if there were such an anomaly, would be more likely to induce nightmares than sweet dreams. Similarly, only a tin ear would ever confuse Messiaen with Mozart or Stockhausen with Schubert. Notes blending in harmony are, or should be, easy to distiguish from dissonance or atonality. It might be worth considering how often the inharmonies we experience are a result of the clash in our minds of disparate thoughts, speech, or actions which do not blend in concord.
No matter how many pure thoughts we may entertain, a single devilish or even "innocent" impish one can result in a discordant emulsion of sickness, disease, or discord. We should not forget or ignore the treachery of mortal mind, false belief, which would ever attempt to confine (Mrs. Eddy's word) or hedge us about with its unreality as a means of marring and molesting (Mrs. Eddy's words) the pure idea which is God's man, His reflection. The slightest impurity renders the whole impure. It is written that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2: 10)
Dura lex sed lex. Hard words. Yet we can be grateful that Christ Jesus has shown us the Way, that Mary Baker Eddy has given us the means in Christian Science, and that our dear Father-Mother God has endowed each of us with the necessary ability to work out his own salvation. "The work to be performed is ours,/The strength is all His own." (Hymn 354)
No matter how many pure thoughts we may entertain, a single devilish or even "innocent" impish one can result in a discordant emulsion of sickness, disease, or discord. We should not forget or ignore the treachery of mortal mind, false belief, which would ever attempt to confine (Mrs. Eddy's word) or hedge us about with its unreality as a means of marring and molesting (Mrs. Eddy's words) the pure idea which is God's man, His reflection. The slightest impurity renders the whole impure. It is written that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2: 10)
Dura lex sed lex. Hard words. Yet we can be grateful that Christ Jesus has shown us the Way, that Mary Baker Eddy has given us the means in Christian Science, and that our dear Father-Mother God has endowed each of us with the necessary ability to work out his own salvation. "The work to be performed is ours,/The strength is all His own." (Hymn 354)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
"Now, dear God, here I am, use me." MBE
"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." So wrote Thoreau in Walden about a century and a half ago. Yet today millions, sadly including Christians, are still on the run, remorselessly hectored and affrighted by named and nameless fears and the ruthless tyranny of medical doctors and medicine. Christian Science and the omnipotent and omnipresent Father-Mother God wait with loving patience for those "honest seekers for Truth" who humbly submit to the leading of the "kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom".
This fad and that have become the quest of desperate moments, anodynes to quiet fears and pains. Mrs. Eddy wisely warns us: "A fad of belief is the fool of mesmerism." (My 218: 22) Multitudes pass their lives drugged, stultified, and stupefied by these beckoning fads, the unholy gods they have come to cherish. Those who have named the name of Christ can help: indeed it is their duty to do so. They must follow their Shepherd and in meekly following lead others by example to the peace and safety of the fold.
The growing tendency for extremes in all things needs to be stilled. There seems to be either apathy and lethargy or murderous fanaticism and hateful bigotry. There seems to be either drought or flood, parching, cloudless skies or violent storms. The monsoons fail to arrive or they come and put half a country under water and tens of thousands perish. There seems to be less and less evidence of simple normality. One is either a hero (and the threshold for anointment these days is about the level of, well, a threshold) or a schmo. And yesterday's hotly sought dosage, dram, or diversion is found wanting today. If Christian Scientists are not willing to unsee and correct these false beliefs, who else is able to do so?
"The true Science--divine Science--will be lost sight of again unless we arouse ourselves. This demonstrating to make matter build up is not Science. The building up of churches, the writing of articles and the speaking in public is the old way of building up a cause. The way I brought this Cause into sight was through HEALING: and now these other things would come in and hide it just as was done in the time of Jesus." (MBE, "Notes on the Course in Divinity") The source of this quote may be regarded as spurious to many, but the thrust of it rings true.
This fad and that have become the quest of desperate moments, anodynes to quiet fears and pains. Mrs. Eddy wisely warns us: "A fad of belief is the fool of mesmerism." (My 218: 22) Multitudes pass their lives drugged, stultified, and stupefied by these beckoning fads, the unholy gods they have come to cherish. Those who have named the name of Christ can help: indeed it is their duty to do so. They must follow their Shepherd and in meekly following lead others by example to the peace and safety of the fold.
The growing tendency for extremes in all things needs to be stilled. There seems to be either apathy and lethargy or murderous fanaticism and hateful bigotry. There seems to be either drought or flood, parching, cloudless skies or violent storms. The monsoons fail to arrive or they come and put half a country under water and tens of thousands perish. There seems to be less and less evidence of simple normality. One is either a hero (and the threshold for anointment these days is about the level of, well, a threshold) or a schmo. And yesterday's hotly sought dosage, dram, or diversion is found wanting today. If Christian Scientists are not willing to unsee and correct these false beliefs, who else is able to do so?
"The true Science--divine Science--will be lost sight of again unless we arouse ourselves. This demonstrating to make matter build up is not Science. The building up of churches, the writing of articles and the speaking in public is the old way of building up a cause. The way I brought this Cause into sight was through HEALING: and now these other things would come in and hide it just as was done in the time of Jesus." (MBE, "Notes on the Course in Divinity") The source of this quote may be regarded as spurious to many, but the thrust of it rings true.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"As adherents of Truth . . . ."
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God [Heb 10:31]; but a blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when He setteth His Word before us, to read it; when He stretcheth out His hand and calleth, to answer, Here am I; here we are to do thy will, O God.
The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know Him and serve Him . . . ."
For this quote I am indebted to James Moffatt, who directed me to its source, the "Preface of the Translators to the Reader" of the King James (Authorized) Version, 1611, of the Bible, in his magesterial and eloquent "Introduction" to his own inspired translation of the Bible. Though fairly lengthy, this Preface should be a part of every KJV/AV Bible, but, shamefully, almost never is. Instead we get without fail the short, somewhat fawning, and largely irrelevant (today) "Epistle Dedicatory".
To attempt to comment or elaborate on the above passage would be impertinent. The humility, dedication, and scholarship of those translators shines throughout their Preface and their glorious translation and attests to their selfless dedication and diligence. Given the enormous sacrifices so many have made over the centuries to bless mankind with translations of this priceless book, any Christian Scientist who gives or has given the Bible short shrift should be mortified at his apostasy. A good annotated version of the Preface is available on the internet and is well worth perusing at least once.
The indelible importance of the King James Version (AV) of the Bible to Christian Scientists and the glow the Preface puts upon it make a felicitous topic for The Broken Net's 100th posting. "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." (S&H 497: 3-4)
The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know Him and serve Him . . . ."
For this quote I am indebted to James Moffatt, who directed me to its source, the "Preface of the Translators to the Reader" of the King James (Authorized) Version, 1611, of the Bible, in his magesterial and eloquent "Introduction" to his own inspired translation of the Bible. Though fairly lengthy, this Preface should be a part of every KJV/AV Bible, but, shamefully, almost never is. Instead we get without fail the short, somewhat fawning, and largely irrelevant (today) "Epistle Dedicatory".
To attempt to comment or elaborate on the above passage would be impertinent. The humility, dedication, and scholarship of those translators shines throughout their Preface and their glorious translation and attests to their selfless dedication and diligence. Given the enormous sacrifices so many have made over the centuries to bless mankind with translations of this priceless book, any Christian Scientist who gives or has given the Bible short shrift should be mortified at his apostasy. A good annotated version of the Preface is available on the internet and is well worth perusing at least once.
The indelible importance of the King James Version (AV) of the Bible to Christian Scientists and the glow the Preface puts upon it make a felicitous topic for The Broken Net's 100th posting. "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." (S&H 497: 3-4)
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Consolationless Consolation Prize
We read in II Kings 13:18-19 that when Joash, the king of Israel, came to Elisha he was asked, in part, to strike the ground with some arrows. Joash did so three times, but Elisha was angry with him because he had not struck the ground five or six times. Elisha prophesied that as a result of his striking the ground only three times Joash would defeat Syria three times, but not utterly defeat them.
Though it isn't obvious that Joash did anything wrong, it is apparent Elisha detected an unwillingness on Joash's part to persist to the complete defeat of Syria. The lesson seems to be that a desire to alleviate the effects of error only to some convenient degree is not sufficient or wise. Error, false belief, must be pursued until its total nothingness is seen and demonstrated. Anything less only allows for error's resurgence, and in perhaps more virulent forms.
Even though our primary motive for prayer, study, and growth in understanding may be to mitigate mortal mind's aggressive suggestions, we must not make the mistake of easing up prematurely in our work to totally destroy error. False belief incompletely handled and annihilated may be subtly tolerated and hence nurtured. If we decide to put our hands to the plow we must resolve never to slacken our effort until the victory is complete or even indulge in a quick backward glance. Joash was apparently willing only to kick the can up the road a ways and leave it in the first drainage ditch into which it rolled inconveniently. We know where this kind of unprincipled, self-gratifying, and cowardly approach to things has gotten the U.S. politically and financially. We can't afford to indulge the same follies in our dealings with mortal mind.
It might seem naively quixotic to be pursuing the Adversary to its final destruction in an age when a dotty governor is hoping to conjure up some demented menage a trois with his Argentinian soul mate and his now inconvenient wife. That goofiness makes one look back almost fondly to those happy days when we were only asked to ponder, with a straight face, what the meaning of is is. Either we resolve to follow Christ in the Way all the way and sedulously do it, or we don't. There are no silver and bronze medals for well-intentioned lollygagging or the aimless ciliations of a paramecium. A self-indulgent fondness for human weaknesses and foibles only adds to our indebtedness to God and delays the ultimate realization of spiritual perfection.
Though it isn't obvious that Joash did anything wrong, it is apparent Elisha detected an unwillingness on Joash's part to persist to the complete defeat of Syria. The lesson seems to be that a desire to alleviate the effects of error only to some convenient degree is not sufficient or wise. Error, false belief, must be pursued until its total nothingness is seen and demonstrated. Anything less only allows for error's resurgence, and in perhaps more virulent forms.
Even though our primary motive for prayer, study, and growth in understanding may be to mitigate mortal mind's aggressive suggestions, we must not make the mistake of easing up prematurely in our work to totally destroy error. False belief incompletely handled and annihilated may be subtly tolerated and hence nurtured. If we decide to put our hands to the plow we must resolve never to slacken our effort until the victory is complete or even indulge in a quick backward glance. Joash was apparently willing only to kick the can up the road a ways and leave it in the first drainage ditch into which it rolled inconveniently. We know where this kind of unprincipled, self-gratifying, and cowardly approach to things has gotten the U.S. politically and financially. We can't afford to indulge the same follies in our dealings with mortal mind.
It might seem naively quixotic to be pursuing the Adversary to its final destruction in an age when a dotty governor is hoping to conjure up some demented menage a trois with his Argentinian soul mate and his now inconvenient wife. That goofiness makes one look back almost fondly to those happy days when we were only asked to ponder, with a straight face, what the meaning of is is. Either we resolve to follow Christ in the Way all the way and sedulously do it, or we don't. There are no silver and bronze medals for well-intentioned lollygagging or the aimless ciliations of a paramecium. A self-indulgent fondness for human weaknesses and foibles only adds to our indebtedness to God and delays the ultimate realization of spiritual perfection.
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