Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Scotching Satan's Serpentine Seductions

Mrs. Eddy tells us that the nothingness of nothing is plain, but nowhere that I recall does she say, or even imply, that the subtlety of subtlety is plain. Would that it were. It is the nature of the beast, animal magnetism, to anesthetize consciousness, in somewhat the pernicious way carbon monoxide acts--silent, odorless, and unseen. Thus the necessity that our watch be wakeful, spiritually active, and imbued with a keen sensitivity to anything that is unlike God, which of course means we had better be well acquainted with Him. Other things than gentle lambs come in lamb's clothing.


If the old westerns are to be believed, one of the tricks employed by Indians attacking a circled wagon train was to hang off the side of their horses on the side away from the beleaguered defenders so that only a horse was visible to them. The Indians would then shoot either under the neck or over the back. (That paleface's speaking with forked tongue--or worse, much worse--invited retaliation, is beside the point here.) A horse is all mortal mind, animal magnetism, wants us to see.

Mrs. Eddy sounded the tocsin repeatedly in her writings on the dangers of a flaccid sentinel. In addition to the quote in the previous entry there is the well-known citation on page 442 of Science and Health, lines 30-32, and page 114 of Miscellaneous Writings, lines 21-26. It should also be remembered that a sentry or porter is posted at the front door, not the bedroom door or closet door. The discovery of an intruding evil in the act of ransacking our mental drawers or snuggling up with us in bed is not the ideal time or place to deal with it, though we grow from those kinds of experiences too.

After my last posting I thought about Mrs Eddy's unexpected, to me, choice of the word "criminal" in the quote from Science and Health used. The Student's Reference Dictionary has, in part, this definition of criminal (noun): "a violator of law, divine or human." And, in part, from criminal (adjective): "That violates moral obligation; wicked." Our in-baskets need to be constantly subjected to diligent scrutiny, else we too might be wondering like King George III how the devil that apple got in our dumpling.

Note: "'Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock Turtle replied, 'and the different branches of Arithmetic--Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.'" (Lewis Carroll, from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

19 comments:

Longtime viewer said...

You're back on soon, and with a very fine essay. Thanks, Christian...

Hartford, CT said...

This will bless many of your readers I just know. How can ever be grateful enough for our forever Leader and all she has given us to help us get closer to God and detect what error would try to do.

Thanks! (CA) said...

A helpful entry from on obviously devoted student of Christian Science.

L. R. said...

Arresting title, Christian. You bring up a wonderful point, about keeping thought attuned to God. (My words, not your precise phrase.) Mrs. Eddy says that Christian Science brings God much nearer to man, and I have certainly found this to be the case in my own life.

CS - New England said...

I think our Leader would approve of the blog you are making available to the Field, don't you? Of course, you are a humble person it seems and probably don't think of things like this. Nevertheless, I think it would please her to see the work you are putting in.
With my thanks,

FL practitioner said...

"...a keen sensitivity to anything that is unlike God" -- this is very good.

Jan said...

A friend said I'd like your website. And I do!

Boston suburb said...

A very strong blog posting, Christian. If we do what our great Master did--live to do what our heavenly Father tells us to do, keeping His will uppermost in thought--evil just cannot carry out its designs for us.

An Ohio supporter said...

Thanks for this, Christian. In addition to Christ's command to Watch, we have what Mrs. Eddy points out in MY on the topic. Her excellent article is on page 232, "Watching versus Watching Out".

Dorothy (PA) said...

If Mary Baker Eddy chose the word "criminal" (and she was precise in her use of words we know), then she obviously discerned just how wicked wickedness can be. Think of what she had to confront at times! But God always brought her through, to our lasting benefit.

West Coast said...

Like that thought of getting better acquainted with our heavenly,loving Father. Doesn't our Leader say in some of her writings that we should make Him our first acquaintance? Seems I recall this.
Anyway, thank you for a first-rate job.

A. T. (New Hampshire) said...

God bless you, Christian, for your steady output. And so well written.

Still impressed said...

You do have the most interesting blog posts. Always get a kick out of seeing how you phrase certain CS truths.

Like your blog! said...

Nice little essay, Christian. Keep 'em coming!

Anonymous said...

Why do we suppose our Leader gave us instructions to defend ourselves daily against aggressive mental suggestion? She knew!

Best (UK) said...

Thanks, Professor of English Somewhere: Another fine essay for your readers.

Anonymous said...

This is not a criticism, Christian, but I have wondered, do you have healings in Christian Science? I notice you never mention this, and obviously you are a devoted student of our Leader's teachings. Why not share a demonstration with us?

So grateful! said...

Dear Christian,
You helped me so much at the start of your blogging when you suggested we get into Prose Works more deeply. Well, I had let this lapse, and I did what you said. I can't tell you the blessings that have come in the past 2 years.
Thank you, thank you! And may God continue prospering your outreach on behalf of Christian Science.

Anonymous said...

Blog or clog ?

I have appreciated some of your insights yet as all public prayer there is the danger of it being only that.

Becoming a dancing bear with an acrobatic vocabulary is perhaps a purpose without a task. All Christian Scientist should be healers and if there is a "clog" preventing that becoming a reality , it needs to be unclogged and maybe unbloged.

"My words fly up. My thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go."

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:1-4 etc.