If you ever feel like you’re facing an aggressive form of evil, be quick to know that aggressive does not mean powerful.
As Jesus taught, the devil is a liar. There is no truth in him (John 8:44). Which means there is no truth to any claim of evil, including the claim that evil can be more powerful by being aggressive.
To be free of evil, the spiritual demand is to see that its powerlessness.
From all outward evidence, the attempt to destroy Jesus Christ through crucifixion was aggressive. Jesus’ enemies were actively plotting his demise, working behind the scenes with devious schemes to entrap, persecute and kill him. And they did crucify him. However, Jesus rose above all the evil attacks, finding peace in a consciousness of infinite Love that gave him so much heavenly poise and dominion, that he was able to forgive all his enemies, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), and trust that everything about him was safe in the hands of God. The aggressiveness of his enemies did not throw him off kilter. He proved his enemies powerless to touch him when he walked out of the grave alive three days later, all per God’s plan from the beginning. He took the “aggressive” out of aggressive.
God is all power. Evil is not, even when it appears aggressive! It’s the same zero no matter how loud it talks or how pushy it wants to be. It can never push God.
This is very thought provoking and powerful Evan. How many times the sneaky’’ material thought
tries to dominate with suggestions that a problem will need to be faced later because It’s too difficult to deal with ‘’right now’’ or, someone or something else has to prioritise my attention. This , I feel , must be seen as the main challenge because it forms a barrier to understanding the permanent power we express as Gods idea. If we overcome any current suggestion , aggressive or otherwise that
anything mortal takes precedence ..or has more urgency …we will see ( and I have seen ) a better outcome. ‘’right now’’ instead. Gods power is All , permanent dominion, embracing Love. There’s no room left , especially for no-thing❣️
Thank you Barbara.! And thank you Evan!
Love it, thank you Evan and Barbara.
Thank you Evan and thank you Barbara!
Yes, dealing with suggestions, one by one, thought by thought, from God’s perspective, allows us realise our pre existence and already wholeness. Thank you Evan for this expansive Viewpoint. Your confirming explanation Barbara, further reveals this. Thank you!
I strive to think only as God thinks.
thank you, Evan. Wonderful idea.
Just what I needed to hear this morning! Thank you
Thank you, Evan. This is especially helpful to me currently: “…be quick to know that aggressive does not mean powerful.” Seems isn’t is! Thank you!
Sometimes the aggressive suggestions come in forms that no one else can
seem to understand .. what may seem so simple to others who do not know
the intricacies of why we feel so challenged by them. Others may do a
certain thing all the time, but to us – we have our reasons for feeling the way
we do. Even Jesus, as spiritual as he was, begged the Lord to not put him
through the challenge he was eventually put through and overcame.
No one else knows what we seem to be going through … “Father, forgive
them, for they know not …” Only God knows His Principle is more powerful
than any aggression anything may be challenging us with at one time. An
oppressive state of mortal aggression can Seem very powerful. This spiritual
viewpoint helps to get us over the hurdles we seem to be facing, so Thank you,
Evan and all for this patient love so needed in understanding.
Hmmm…So you really think it was God’s plan that Jesus suffer such a gruesome crucifixion experience? And I guess I don’t view Jesus crucifixion as “taking the ‘aggressive’ out of aggressive.” I view the times when the crowd wanted to kill him and he escaped those experiences as taking the aggressive out of aggressive. But I struggle with why it would be “God’s plan” that Jesus be crucified. I get that it was a way to prove life is eternal. But I was just thinking the other day…”God, wouldn’t a better way to have been to just allow Jesus to continue existing along side us until the last ‘mortal’ ascended?” Kind of like a rescue person waiting in the life raft until the last person made it safely to shore before the rescue person too exited the life raft for the safety of shore? If Jesus were walking around today, continuing to teach and heal, wouldn’t that be a better way to prove to people that life is eternal? How many more people would have been converted to following the teachings of Jesus had God chosen to do that? I think many, many more, if not everyone! It also doesn’t seem to me that the world is any better today than it was when Jesus was physically present. So it’s almost as if Jesus “supreme sacrifice” was for nought. Sure, it’s been helpful to a handful of people. But the majority of people are just as selfish as they were in Jesus time, people kill each other maybe even more today than in Jesus’ time, there are still people starving and suffering today like they were in Jesus’ time. Every one of the disciples except John (according to most historians) died gruesome, violent deaths at the hands of people that hated God’s idea. So what gives, God? You’re God! Couldn’t you think of a more effective way to help suffering mortals gain salvation from error? Your current approach doesn’t appear to be working! I attend CS services via zoom in CS churches throughout the world and all I see are gray haired people. I’m guessing in 20-30 years, there won’t be many CS churches left. So what happens then, God?
God never causes us to suffer. God loves us and saves us from suffering! Which is exactly what Jesus proved on the cross. His crucifixion was prophesied. Jesus knew the crucifixion was coming. He told his disciples about it ahead of time. But it was not a defeat. It was the final destruction of the belief that there is any life, truth, or intelligence in matter. He faced the crucifixion fearlessly, knowing, that his life was safe in Spirit, and could never be touched by the evils of the world. He did this for our benefit, that we could learn to lose all fear of matter and evil too. His resurrection was a total triumph for all of humanity. It’s incredibly inspiring to understand the spiritual significance of what Jesus went through for our benefit. It changed the world for the better. And also, the world is a better place than ever before. Researchers have proven that there are fewer wars than ever over the history of the world. Humanity is making progress. Yes, there is much to do, but we’ll get there. Truth and Love will have the final say, as they always do.
The future of CS is very bright. I have no doubt about that! This is a very material age that doesn’t necessarily appreciate the benefits of spiritual mindedness, but that will change. Progress requires it. It’s such a joy to keep living Christian Science and experience its blessings and healings every day. I pray and work for others to discover the same!
I love your optimism, Evan! Thank you for your response.
Thank you Evan. So clearly put as always. B.x
Thank you, dear Evan for your so clear reply to James’ comment. And I think , we needed this wonderful explanations!
I’m so glad and deeply thankful for the Truth you gave us, correcting James’ comment so lovingly ! I do believe that , too, what you mention so confidently!
And all Christian Scientists have the duty to pray for the whole world with the Daily Prayer given us by Mrs. Eddy in the Manual of The Motherchurch!
James, your post is very thought provoking–I’ll admit having similar questions but hadn’t considered an alernative to the crucifixion, yet your suggestion makes so much sense, at least to me. I find little comfort in that it seems we, too, must undergo and overcome our own ‘crucifixion’ in order to find our own eternal life; that is hardly my definition of love/Love. I came into CS precisely BECAUSE it taught of God as love, something none of the denominations I’d previously been a part of preached. I could never equate suffering with love. Under no circumstance could I subject one of my children to a gruesome death to prove a point. Thank you for a decidedly interesting post. As for CS churches, perhaps one should consider reading ‘Mr. Young Goes to Boston’ and then ask yourself why so many folks know absolutely nothing about CS.
Dear James and Nan….so doubt and misunderstanding about your true selfhood or Jesus’ life work is an aggressive suggestion of mortal mind.
Surely the ‘’death ‘’ of Jesus was to show us that the material body is not our true life, is and cannot be immortal. However many were able to see and speak to him after the resurrection. His material presence could not still abide with us materially but his teaching , and that of our Church , brings us in line with the Christ, Truth and Love which is our true being. As this understanding of our spirituality becomes tangible , as individuals we see the mortal sense of things drop away. Death has nothing to do with it.
By the way , although many of us have ‘’grey hair’’ there are many Sunday schools and youth camps
Plus…look at our lecturers on u-tube…an inspiration for us all.
I think the best person to address this is Evan, however one thing I do know is that God is right here with us all Now. He has bestowed only good on us all., for we are the loved of Love eternally.
Blessings to you both.B.x
Oops.. in my reply I should have typed ‘’mortal ‘’ not immortal , a few lines down. ❣️
Thank you for your kind and loving comment Barbara. Much appreciated!
Nan, your mention of the book Mr. Young Goes to Boston got me curious. I was fascinated to discover that Mr. Young was the movie/TV actor Alan Young, best known to TV audiences as the star of the very popular 1960’s comedy show “Mr. Ed.” Remember the talking horse who talked to no one but his owner Wilbur? That Wilbur was Alan Young, a Christian Science lecturer and one- time communications director at the Mother Church. I found a Youtube recording of a CS lecture he gave in the 1970’s, ‘Can You Simply Trust?’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekm0XW-l65s
Thank you Evan for the deep-dive post.
Thank you Barbara for your lovely response.
Well said, Barbara.
If I can add a bit more, Mrs. Eddy tells us that if Jesus had believed that Lazarus had lived or died in a material body, he could not have have raised him up. Jesus knew that matter has no lift to lose because it is not the image and likeness of God. Spirit. The belief
of life in matter is what Mrs. Eddy calls “the Adam
dream: related in the 2nd chapter of Genesis, and
this narrative is meant to warn us not to believe in
lies about God’s perfect Creation. Matter, being not
real, (see the Scientific Statement of Being)
could not suffer, as matter is inert and mindless.
Jesus knew this clearly, and what he demonstrated
for others in raising them from the seeming dead, he
knew was true for himself as well.
Mrs. Eddy says that what troubled him most was
that people seemed not to be understanding his message – his life work which God sent him to do to save the world from material evil suggestions, and
show them that God, Divine Love, is our life, and is
loving, protecting and caring for each of us. Our job
is to demonstrate it for ourselves, by following his
teachings, and being eternally grateful for what he did
for us. As this week’s Lesson tells us, our job is to
believe in him, If we believe in him we love him and
naturally we wish to emulate him and shine forth
the light from within us, which he instructs us to let
shine out.
Also, we must see ourselves and others are ageless
and immortal. For that is what we are. God is governing us and giving us all our understanding of
spiritual being, and we have to trust in Him and His
Son, Christ Jesus.
Dear Maggie
Sometimes I find it difficult to put into words what I’m thinking, but I just wanted to send a positive comment to our friends comments here.
I Love the way you’ve expanded the conversation and my thoughts .
Spirit View is a treasure. B.x
What you said was excellent, dear Barbara,
But there is so much that can be said about this, and one can’t put it all down. I think
if we share a few things we have learned,
it should give seekers some inspiration, and
hopefully spur them on to find out more for themselves. love, Maggie
I think we all sometimes have that feeling, BarbaraUK, where We know
what we mean, but sometimes it doesn’t come across that way. I love
what you had written, too. And to Evan’s inspiration that “This is a very
material age that doesn’t necessarily appreciate the benefits of spiritual
mindedness, but that will change. Progress requires it” … The thought
that Mrs. Eddy wrote in S&H pg.96 comes to mind, “This material world
is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side
there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science
and peace. The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine
and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness and death, which assume
new phases until their nothingness appears. These disturbances will
continue until the end of error, when all discord will be swallowed up in
spiritual Truth”. I can see this happening in many ways these days, …
(although mortal thinking and hatred, which seems to be a disturbance
that needs healing) is, becoming more of CS – “common sense” and
eliminating the false inharmony that would keep the world from
experiencing Love and peace. Then wars will cease, selfishness, greed,
and every other form of erroneous thinking that seems to plague this
harmony will shine forth in a glorious way that the entire world will feel.
Evan I love what you said, that just because error tries to be aggressive, that does not give it any actual power.
As you stated, evil is “the same ZERO no matter how loud it talks or how pushy it wants to be. It can never push God.” Yesssss. That means it also can never push us, as God’s expression.
It reminds me of bullies, who can appear loud and pushy and scary, but inside they are very insecure and frightened, that’s why they act that way, to cover up their feelings of being weak and powerless. Error is the same, it tries to get loud to get our attention, because it fears that we will see the actual reality that God is lovingly in charge, we are safe and All Is Well.
Also brought to mind when God told Elijah (1 Kings 19) that He was not in the loud, aggressive, dramatic things (strong wind, earthquakes, fires) but in the still, quiet, gentle voice that comes to us. So we don’t HAVE to be impressed with or believe what seems aggressive.
Love to all ❤️
My view is that the pendulum is on a rather rapid swing from the liberal and I say hedonistic model of conducting one’s affairs, that has been the societal norm since the 1970’s.
Demographically, this human body is classified as a Boomer. Attended three universities, at the first, debauchery of a sorts was de rigeur, God was not part of the scene. After the second university and armed with more educational system of the pharaohs I was a high-flyers on Bay St, in Toronto’s financial district. I adopted a combative readiness, aka aggressive style, as that behaviour was cultivated and rewarded. God was not part of the scene.
I paint this picture of society as I experienced it, and know it to be variations on a theme for millions of people.
I fast forward to today and for me, God is all there is. Literally and figuratively. In the beginning, God, amen. That is it. There IS NOT Anything else. Now I comprehend this, and certainly am not alone. I posit a good portion of the above-mentioned millions.
Jesus lived in a spiritual time, Mary Baker Eddy lived in a spiritual time, Bibles abounded. We are entering a spiritual time. God has orchestrated a magnificent unfolding each and every moment, and people are ready, people are willing, and people are actively exploring God.
Christian Science is without peer in my view and as the momentum builds for people to investigate, explore, and comprehend one’s purpose, wonderful things are happening !
And Evan, when you were speaking with David Brown on the topic of how to pray, and you threw him a curve ball by asking him, “Do you realize you are living your eternal life RIGHT NOW?!”. Based on his reaction, I half expected brain matter to be on his microphone, as your question took him by surprise, and that was a beautiful loving question, not at all aggressive, yet extremely poignant. Thank you for sharing your in tune insights then and daily.
Cheers folks
Thanks John B for sharing your insights and story. I agree that Christian Science is without peer among the various things I’ve explored over many years.
People do have a hunger for spirituality. At a Wednesday testimony meeting I sometimes attend, there are usually only a handful of people that show up. I made the comment once during a testimony I gave that if the people walking by out on the street actually knew/understood what was going on in here, they would be breaking down the doors to get in.
Do you happen to have a link or a reference to the Sentinel Watch episode you mentioned with Evan and David Brown? Thanks.
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/183242ohb5s?s=copylink
All mankind should hear this
Thank you for suggesting this link, dear John B and Lori, for
finding it and sharing it. It is definitely a wonderful blessing
to hear and soak in it’s spiritual message – described in a
very down to earth kind of way that is understandable.
Thank you dear Evan for sharing your knowledge with us
and for letting us partake of these blessings.
‘…if the people walking by out on the street actually knew/understood what was going on in here, they would be breaking down the doors to get in.’
Precisely, Rose–but they DON’T know what’s going on. Our lovely church is situated in a beautiful old wealth neighborhood, almost hidden from view on a small side street; the RR is in the church and only open on Saturdays from 10-12, with the option of contacting the Librarian if needed. I was fortunate to come upon a litle store front in a quaint little town on the outskirts of Atlanta–RR matterials were well displayed in the window and although it was closed, a box outside held many of the periodicals. This was not just the location of the RR but where the Society met in the back. Some may recognize the First Reader’s daughter, cooking show host, Nathalie Dupree, who was a frequent visitor. If more churches were able to have more visible, free-standing RRs, CS would surely see their church population expand. Plus there used to be radio broadcasts but I don’t hear of that anymore or perhaps I’m just not aware of how to find them. Folks still listen to the radio despite claims otherwise. From my experience and perspective, Boston makes litle to no effort to further Mrs. Eddy’s work to mankind in general and the world at large.
Hello! New on the scene here, but abundantly grateful Evan!
Hymn 229
Oh Love whose constant beam
shines on the eyes that will not see,
and waits to bless us while we dream,
nor leav’st us though we turn from Thee.
Thank you all for your Love and compassion!
Mahatma Gandhi once said, Never let one walk through your mind with dirty feet. Jesus did so much before his ultimate demonstration, including washing the feet of his beloved disciples.
Glory be unto God and his abundant mercies!
To James in a few words. All depends on which lens you are looking through, the material or the spiritual? The sun does seem to go around the earth, but does it? Jesus said if he didn’t go the comforter would not come. The impersonal savior was the Christ, the indestructible man that was independent of the personal Jesus. Nothing bad happened to the Christ, the real man, the crucifixion and the resurrection showed the overcoming and nothingness of hate, evil and death. Jesus’ mission was not to preserve a mortal body forever. He rebuked his followers for following him for the loaves and fishes and said blessed are those who have not seen, but yet believe. MBE quote “Mortal existence is a state of self deception, not the truth of being” and “Become conscious for a single moment that life and intelligence are purely spiritual, neither in or of matter and the body will utter no complaints.” Jesus mission was to prove who God is and what he does for man. Our need is to understand that man is not mortal or material, man is spiritual and immortal. and to look at the ageless of the spiritual qualities that man is made up of. Does Love, Truth, kindness, joy, patience, etc. age?
Thank you, Evan! Aggresive does’t mean powerful! There are so many examples through the history. And the story of Jesus Christ is the best example. Only good and love are powerful. Only GOD is POWERFUL. What a great truth to keep in mind!! And thank you all for your comments!
“… the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” ~Bible
A great SpiritView discussion, above. And then this quote came to thought.
How wonderful it is to glimpse (and accept) that “God is light, (Truth!),
and in Him is no darkness at all.” ~Bible
Grasping in some degree, and accepting, the Christianly-scientific truth is most comforting, as I know you all agree. When we are challenged to wrestle, a little or a lot, we know Truth always win, always remains Truth. There simply is no fighting the Facts!
Evan: your insights and conviction and example are profoundly helpful and needed. Thank you.
Thank you! So helpful!! So hopeful!
I came to this discussion late and have only just been reading all the very interesting comments. Thank you James for starting this off. I read an online news item recently which said that more and more young people are now going back to churches in search of answers. This is so hopeful. In my church Sunday School we have one pupil, a very lively 4 year old, who solemnly told her grandparents that Easter wasn’t about bunnies and Easter eggs but about 3 days. She had been learning about Jesus in the tomb. I have been in CS since I was her age. I have struggles these days but I can’t give up on it now as it’s my way of life. I know it’s the truth. Thank you all for your comments. Linda. X
Thank you, Linda for sharing the beautiful story of Easter, and how the immortal being many know as a lively 4 year old is displaying truth.
Our children, 15 & 11, so wild to type an age, knowing now of their immortality, have been in CS Sunday school online with the Mother Church, and yesterday we went to view the movie, King of Kings, and we were presented with a choice of seats…we were the audience! As such, it was a vocal participatory event. Our kids chimed in, corrected some lines, spoke to God as doing the work, and engaged with vigour! It was a glorious experience. They attended 7 weeks of CS camp last year and going again this year. We are so blessed to have this knowledge and truth that Christian Science reveals.
You touch many lives every day, and if I may say, those struggles are neither yours, nor real, they are opportunities for you to accept that you are always one with your loving God.
Like Jesus said, be of good cheer.
Thank you John for your kind comments.