Politics
October 29, 1998
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Early in our study and sharing on politics we saw how easy it is to get swept up in personal sense, with all its fear and, frankly, exhilaration. We also saw that politics could be taken out of the court of matter and evaluated from the standpoint of Spirit — along the lines indicated in the trial scene in Science and Health (see page 434:8-14).
Politics could then be seen as prayer — the craving of mortals for not only safety and well being but, shall we say, one-upsmanship and power plays. God's man — the only man there is — already encompasses all good through reflection — hence the mortal craving, as the Facts press upon the flimsy (i.e., non-existent) barriers of belief. The student of Christian Science will see all needs and wants supplied by practicing or being the God-man-universe continuum, the city foursquare wherein harmony reigns as all people, places, things.
Some of us wondered how to make choices in the voting booth. It seemed that as mortals we'd choose those candidates who best reflected our interests. But as Scientists we can do much more than that! One member, for instance, recalled how as he rushed to the polls several years ago, he was suddenly aware that he should there and then cast his vote for Man, the image and likeness of God. A great sense of the intactness of the universe broke over his thought and he proceeded to the polls and pulled the levers that seemed right for him. He has ever since been aware that his main and really only duty is to vote or live the Reality of divine governance.
Based on the foregoing, the student of Christian Science, with all the humility implied in Mrs. Eddy's homeopathic experiments — the least amount of matter (or political calculation) yields the greatest power of good — is not bound by any fetters in mediating the Truth of Being which says, "I am all. A knowledge of aught beside Myself is impossible," (Unity of Good, by Mary Baker Eddy, pg. 18:26-27).
We discussed how The Mother Church and branch church government situations, patterns for us how to work spiritually in politics. We have the illusion of dualistic organizations needing our votes. Even in the case of Boston, where a self-perpetuating Board of Directors resides, there can be forms of voting via contributions, subscriptions, and attendance. But for change, we need the deepest realizations of Truth and Love. And really, even in branches, the same applies — there's nothing worse than evolving church policy on human limited bases.
As for all the ugliness in the political campaigns, the anti-Gay amendments in Alaska and Hawaii, and the risks of religious bigots seizing the governments — well, what would a student of Christian Science do/see/be? These are all par for the course on the dualistic, human belief level. Science cuts to the core and establishes the only human level as the divine effect, wherein harmony and perfection alone exist.
Healings:
One member has been talking to a Christian Science friend for a year about some romantic relationships which recapitulate otherwise inaccessible childhood feelings. During a presentation on regeneration at this year's Emergence conference, our member realized clearly the Science embedded in that concept. Regeneration comes from a Latin word referring to origin or parentage — he saw the need radically to reorder his derivation, and his friend encouraged him to let go of his human history in favor of the divine. He has been doing this the last few days and has been surprised to find memories of childhood incidents wafted into consciousness, without any trace of the previous painful tinge, but in fact very positive constructions on them.
Another member prays daily for God's guidance in his unfolding career in the arts. He had been planning an extended stay with his family in another state but found them cool to his plans. Initially he was disturbed, but with further prayer now sees the wisdom of being here to pursue the career.
Another member felt someone at a branch church was "malpracticing" him when he arrived late at the Sunday service. (He has had problems with this person before.) He thought immediately about the pamphlet entitled "Target Out Of Range" but saw this as inaccurate — sort of new age or mesmeric semi-metaphysics. In Science, there is no target, nor anyone shooting at it. Everyone is infinite divine idea including all right ideas. Everyone includes everyone — not as dualistic mortals, but in the union of divine Mind. This did the job and yielded a great increase in Knowledge.
One member was called to jury duty and prepared himself to see everyone as held in the gospel of Love. He lost his standpoint during a voir dire interview where he judged a plaintiff as being out to bilk the city for damages sustained in a sidewalk accident. All his biases kicked in but he at least partially handled them after being excused from the case. On his way home he slipped on a sidewalk and cut his hand. He knew instantly that a residue of error had to be dissipated. What came through as he turned to God was that everyone is God's idea having not only safety but all supply. The cut closed quickly after cleaning at home and he was most grateful for the increased Truth brought into consciousness by the incident.
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
power of divine Principle, as it did over nineteen hundred years ago, by healing the sick and triumphing over death. Jesus never taught that drugs, food, air, and exercise could make a man healthy, or that they could destroy human life; nor did he illustrate these errors by his practice. He referred man's harmony to Mind, not to matter, and never tried to make of none effect the sentence of God, which sealed God's condemnation of sin, sickness, and death.
In the sacred sanctuary of Truth are voices of solemn import, but we heed them not. It is only when the so-called pleasures and pains of sense pass away in our lives, that we find unquestionable signs of the burial of error and the resurrection to spiritual life.
There is neither place nor opportunity in Science for error of any sort. Every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power. These proofs consist solely in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death by the power of Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them. This is an element of progress, and progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil.
In the midst of imperfection, perfection is seen and
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus xx. 3.) The First Commandment is my favorite text. It demonstrates Christian Science. It inculcates the tri-unity of God, Spirit, Mind; it signifies that man shall have no other spirit or mind but God, eternal good, and that all men shall have one Mind. The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal. One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, "Love thy neighbor as thyself;" annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.
In Revelation xxi. 1 we read:—
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
The Revelator had not yet passed the transitional stage in human experience called death, but he already saw a new heaven and a new earth. Through what sense came this vision to St. John? Not through the material visual organs for seeing, for optics are inadequate to take in so wonderful a scene. Were this new heaven and new earth terrestrial or celestial, material or spiritual? They could not be the former, for the human sense of space is unable to grasp such a view. The Revelator was on our plane of existence, while yet beholding what the eye cannot see,—that which is invisible to the uninspired thought. This testimony of Holy Writ sustains the fact in Science, that the heavens and earth to one human consciousness, that consciousness which God bestows, are spiritual, while to another, the unillumined human mind, the vision is material. This shows unmistakably that what the human mind terms matter and spirit indicates states and stages of consciousness.
This sacred city, described in the Apocalypse (xxi. 16) as one that "lieth foursquare" and cometh "down from God, out of heaven," represents the light and glory of divine Science. The builder and maker of this New Jerusalem is God, as we read in the book of Hebrews; and it is "a city which hath foundations."
The term Lord, as used in our version of the Old Testament, is often synonymous with Jehovah, and expresses the Jewish concept, not yet elevated to deific apprehension through spiritual transfiguration. Yet the word gradually approaches a higher meaning. This human sense of Deity yields to the divine sense, even as the material sense of personality yields to the incorporeal sense of God and man as the infinite Principle and infinite idea,—as one Father with His universal family, held in the gospel of Love. The Lamb's wife presents the unity of male and female as no longer two wedded individuals, but as two individual natures in one; and this compounded spiritual individuality reflects God as Father-Mother, not as a corporeal being. In this divinely united spiritual consciousness, there is no impediment to eternal bliss,—to the perfectibility of God's creation.
This city of our God has no need of sun or satellite, for Love is the light of it, and divine Mind is its own interpreter. All who are saved must walk in this light. Mighty potentates and dynasties will lay down their honors within the heavenly city. Its gates open towards light and glory both within and without, for all is good, and nothing can enter that city, which "defileth, . . . or maketh a lie."
Many there were who had entered the valley to speculate in worldly policy, religion, politics, finance, and to search for wealth and fame. These had heavy baggage of their own, and insisted upon taking all of it with them, which must greatly hinder their ascent.
The journey commences. The encumbered travellers halt and disagree. They stoutly belay those who, having less baggage, ascend faster than themselves, and betimes burden them with their own. Despairing of gaining the summit, loaded as they are, they conclude to stop and lay down a few of the heavy weights,—but only to take them up again, more than ever determined not to part with their baggage.