Bible Lesson 10/30/16

BIBLE, PUNISHMENT, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Everlasting Punishment:

With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer (Isaiah 54).

God--The Christian Science God is universal, eternal, divine Love, which changeth not and causeth no evil, disease, nor death (Eddy, 1906, p. 140).

man--Divine Love corrects and governs man.  Men may pardon, but this divine Principle alone reforms the sinner (Eddy, 1906, p. 6).

reformation--Justice requires reformation of the sinner.  Mercy cancels the debt only when justice approves (Eddy, 1906, p. 22).

purification--Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin (Psalms 51).

recompense--Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and they assuredly call down infinite blessings (Eddy, 1906, p. 15).

forgiveness--Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive (Psalms 86).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Coming to Grips

HOMOSEX, REALITY, WRITING

What’s my reality? What do I want to write about? I have never wanted to be a fiction or play writer. I don’t want to play with writing, or with communication. I do want to write. I want to write my vision of reality, my understanding of reality. If I could communicate reality to you, I would. If I knew how to, I would tell you the truth about the world we live in. Or, maybe I will simply communicate my truth to you, with the understanding that it is mine and not necessarily yours. I understand that you have your own truth to live. I also understand that we have to live together in this world, like it or not. Us living together is the nature of things. Us living together is a kind of reality too. How we manage to live together in this limited time and space is our reality.

I am a homosexual. I took the stand a long time ago that, if I were to be sexual, I would be homosexual. This is not some noble pose. Nobility’s got nothing to do with it. Pride’s got nothing to do with it. I’m not necessarily proud to be a homosexual. I like homosexual sex. I find men and boys very sexually attractive and I always have done. Homosexuality is not a recent discovery, epiphany, or conversion for me. I have lived with it for most of my life. I didn’t turn 22 and decide that I wanted to have sex with men. I learned about sex from Rusty Barnes when I was 10 years old, and I’ve been interested in doing it with other males ever since.  Homosexuality came easily to me. It was not a mystery. It was one of the early facts of my life. It was not a moral issue for me, unless being true to oneself is considered a virtue. I don’t want to make more out of being a big homo than it deserves. I do kind of want to keep my homosexuality in its place. I don’t want to be overwhelmed by it, and I don’t want to exaggerate it. It’s just sex after all. Everybody needs to calm down about this whole sexual thing. But, I do want for you to explore its significance with me.




Photo:  Morkel Erasmus/Shutterstock.com

Bible Lesson 10/23/16

BIBLE, PROBATION, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Probation After Death:

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8).

Enoch--By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; . . .  For before his translation he had this testimony, the he pleased God (Hebrews 11).  Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them (Eddy, 1906, p. 291).

crucifixion--There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith (Eddy, 1906, p. 9).

resurrection--If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain (I Corinthians 15).

ascension--After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16).

demonstration--Be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12).  Every step towards goodness is a departure from materiality, and is a tendency towards God, Spirit (Eddy, 1906, p. 213).

enlightenment--Now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light (Ephesians 5).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Bible Lesson 10/16/16

BIBLE, ATONEMENT, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Doctrine of Atonement:

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1).

unity--Atonement is the exemplification of man's unity with God. . . .  What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds (Eddy, 1906, pp. 18, 4).

Christ Jesus--Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, . . . that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? (Isaiah 51).  The atonement requires constant self-immolation on the sinners part (Eddy, 1906, p. 23).

crucifixion--The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners (Matthew 26).

resurrection--God hath quickened us together with Christ (Ephesians 2).

life-practice--The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done (Eddy, 1906, p. 202).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Bible Lesson 10/9/16

BIBLE; DISASTER; CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?

The word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (Psalms 18).

prayer--As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me (Psalms 55).

sin--Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies (Psalms 40).

disease--Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. . . .  He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing (John 9).

death--And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: . . .  Now I know of a surety, that the Lord . . . hath delivered me (Acts 12).

angels--He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways (Psalms 91).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

When Worlds Collide

POLITICS, SUCCESS, VIRTUE, HEALTH

When worlds collide, when worlds fall apart, what does one do?  I pray.  I strive to see myself and others in Spirit.  I strive to see the spiritual idea.  The only realities are the divine Mind and idea (Eddy, 1906, p. 109).  Science, disciple, mankind.  Insight, pray, act.  God rests in action (Eddy, 1906, p. 519).  Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace (Isaiah 55).  Human life is action.  Death is inaction.  While we live, we act rightly or wrongly.  While we live, we turn to Divine Science to show us how to act.  It isn’t always immediately clear what needs to be done humanly.  Life and its choices are not always clear-cut and trouble free.  During difficult times, we reach out for divine guidance, we reach out for light (enlightenment), and we continue to act humanly to the best of our ability and understanding.

Divine Science and the way of wisdom are not political.  The highest value is not politics.  Human government is not the be all and end all.  Human government is not the truth of being.  It is a charade.  It is a fool’s paradise.  Human power is fleeting and uncertain.  Popularity is a sham.  We do our civic duty and go on with our lives.  Life goes on regardless of political processes, transitions, and power plays.  One continues to find the right way to live in spite of political and cultural aberrations and obstacles.  We don’t have to be fooled by the world’s foolishness and self-importance.  We can live and work as we should, whatever else the world is up to.  The political stage is rife with patent fools and charlatans clambering for success and power over others’ lives.  Maybe it is the general public’s contempt and disregard for politics that has degraded it to the dangerous position it now holds.  Political power is a potential threat to individual liberty and the success of society.  One succeeds in spite of political machinations, not because of them.

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Bible Lesson 10/2/16

BIBLE, UNREALITY, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Unreality:

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away (II Corinthians 3).

satisfaction—I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psalms 17).  Evil can only seem to be real by giving reality to the unreal (Eddy, 1906, p. 470).

action—Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace (Isaiah 55).  God rests in action (Eddy, 1906, p. 519).

comfort—As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you (Isaiah 66).

mercy—Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin (Psalms 51).

brotherly love—Owe no man any thing, but to love one another (Romans 13).

obedience—This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (I John 5).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.