Justice
June 26, 2003
No power can withstand divine Love.
After the Supreme Court decision abolishing all so-called Sodomy laws earlier in the day, it was tough to get a sober metaphysical meeting underway. There was lots of noise outside our windows at the LGBT Center and our members were in a state of elation. On top of all this, the High Holy Days of the Gay calendar were upon us.
Six to three! We were agog. Furthermore, of the three dissenters, Clarence Thomas said he thought the Texas law "silly" and would vote it down if he were a legislator, while Antonin Scalia fought a one man culture war worthy of Saturday Night Live.
We reminisced about some of our members, now gone, who were early workers in the Gay movement, one of them originating the phrase "Gay is good" as the Stonewall riot erupted on June 27th, 1969.
Finally, we got to the readings which were quite stirring. They included Mary Baker Eddy's take on liberation and part of the Trial scene from Science and Health. Slowly we were able to focus somewhat on the spiritual reality of what the senses were beholding.
This brought the observation from one member that what the Court gives, it can also take away, particularly when it has different justices. It's important therefore that we anchor the victory in a win-win situation for all: it is so in reality, but we have to make everyone aware of it. This brought us to the idea of divine Justice, unattainable if pursued on a material basis but fully feasible when sought in the kingdom of God: "...seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
Buttressed with some spiritual vision, we went through a few of the many legal issues that came up this week. For instance:
1) In the area of discrimination, we looked at affirmative action in admissions to the University of Michigan, the round-up of Arab and Muslim men and the Tulia, Texas drug bust.
2) In the area of Gay marriage, we discussed Prime Minister Chretien's decision to introduce legislation to establish Gay marriage throughout Canada and the court cases in Massachusetts (March 4th) and New Jersey (June 27th) to legalize such relationships.
Briefly, whether the human appearance is positive or negative, we went along with the divine fact that each individual is God's full Self-experience, therefore subject to divine law alone.
We next turned to a report from Emergence members who attended the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church in Berlin. A Gay member of the Bundestag raised the issue of LGBT membership discrimination and was assured by the Chairman of the Christian Science Board of Directors that it no longer exists. Emergence members interacted with editors of the Christian Science Sentinel over lunch and made headway in promoting the need for articles on gender issues from a Science standpoint.
We also discussed a meeting of Friends of Emergence being planned for October 16th to 19th in Key West to look at the organization's mission and activities.
Finally we spent some time on individual testimonies. All of us appeared to draw strength from the new sense of dignity and self-worth now reflected in the Supreme Court's decision. We sensed, even before the decision was announced, a call upon us to explore deeper levels of intimacy in all relationships. It is nice that this can now proceed unthreatened by police powers.
One member was able this week to work out much more satisfying activities with his sex therapist, thereby releasing deeper intimacy, caring and self-knowledge.
Another, in adult entertainment, realizing Spirit as being in control, has seen her business double in the last few months, with a higher grade of clientele and a charming new business partner. Her prayer has been along this line: "I'm one with You — Your child. Show me the way."
Another has been staying close to the unfolding Christ in his own consciousness, letting his life proceed from this center. He's seen his business prosper, his living environment improve (his landlady re-tiled his bathroom unasked and without charge) and even his driver's license renewal fall into line harmoniously.
We decided to investigate Justice again for next week. One member has been summoned to jury duty and we all wanted to go deeper with this topic.
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
A higher and more practical Christianity, demonstrating justice and meeting the needs of mortals in sickness and in health, stands at the door of this age, knocking for admission. Will you open or close the door upon this angel visitant, who cometh in the quiet of meekness, as he came of old to the patriarch at noonday?
Truth brings the elements of liberty. On its banner is the Soul-inspired motto, "Slavery is abolished." The power of God brings deliverance to the captive.
Whatever enslaves man is opposed to the divine government. Truth makes man free.
The history of our country, like all history, illustrates the might of Mind, and shows human power to be proportionate to its embodiment of right thinking. A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator.
Legally to abolish unpaid servitude in the United States was hard; but the abolition of mental slavery is a more difficult task. The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind.
Even penal law holds homicide, under stress of circumstances, to be justifiable. Now what greater justification can any deed have, than that it is for the good of one's neighbor? Wherefore, then, in the name of outraged justice, do you sentence Mortal Man for ministering to the wants of his fellow-man in obedience to divine law? You cannot trample upon the decree of the Supreme Bench. Mortal Man has his appeal to Spirit, God, who sentences only for sin.
The false and unjust beliefs of your human mental legislators compel them to enact wicked laws of sickness and so forth, and then render obedience to these laws punishable as crime. In the presence of the Supreme Lawgiver, standing at the bar of Truth, and in accordance with the divine statutes, I repudiate the false testimony of Personal Sense. I ask that he be forbidden to enter against Mortal Man any more suits to be tried at the Court of Material Error. I appeal to the just and equitable decisions of divine Spirit to restore to Mortal Man the rights of which he has been deprived.
Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God's own way, and let human justice pattern the divine.