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BIBLE CHARACTERS AND PERIODICAL SUPPORT TO THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

BIBLE LESSON*

November 25, 2012

C. Norman Wood, 214 Lower Field Road, Dunnsville, VA 22454703-898-8818, [email protected]

SUBJECT: ANCIENT AND MODERN NECROMANCY, alias MESMERISM AND

HYPNOTISM, DENOUNCED

Bryan-Jones, Noel D. (CSB and Lecturer), Christian Science Denounces Mesmerism, Journal,

Vol. 63 (May 1945), p. 224.

--Mrs. Eddy, in her unfolding revelation of the Science of Mind, was led to investigate the claims

of animal magnetism, and her service in revealing to humanity the exact nature and powerlessness

of this human error is incalculable.

In Science and Health she writes (p. 484,) "Animal magnetism is the voluntary orinvoluntary action of error in all its forms; it is the human antipode of divine Science."

---She further states (ibid., p. 103), "As named in Christian Science, animal

magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind."

--The importance which our Leader attached to the correct understanding of animal magnetism, its

impotence and basic unreality, is indicated by the fact that twice a year the subject of the Lesson-

Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly is "Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism

and Hypnotism, Denounced."

As Christian Scientists earnestly study this Lesson-Sermon, they gain an increasing

understanding that the sum total of evil is a negation, no thing, place, person, or entity, and that theomnipotence of God, good, is limitless in scope, presence, and quantity.

GOLDEN TEXT: David expresses confidence in God despite his distress(Ps 31: 1 [to ;], 18[to ;])RELATED SCRIPTURE: Ps 71: 1-3; Luke 23: 46

TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: A psalm of David, for the director of music, c. 1000 BC.

The Psalmist seeks protection and trusts in God is the theme of this psalm. (Essential

Bible Companion to the Psalms)

The introductory verses [1-4] of the psalm are filled with many familiar and favorite

Davidic expressions. There is the expression of trust, In thee, O lord, do I put my trust[v.1].

(King James Bible Commentary)

Smith, Ethel Colwell, Expressive silence, Sentinel, Vol. 43 (23 August 1941), p. 1015.

--Our Leader, referring to the true concept of God, divine Love, has written ([Miscellaneous

Writings], p. 124), "As we think thereon, man's true sense is filled with peace, and power; and we

say, It is well that Christian Science has taken expressive silence wherein to muse His praise, to

kiss the feet of Jesus, adore the white Christ, and stretch out our arms to God."

--Nowadays much is heard of self-expression.
mailto:[email protected]://journal.christianscience.com/concordapi/view?q=Animal+magnetism+is+the+voluntary+or+involuntary+action+of+error+in+all+its+forms%3B+it+is+the+human+antipode+of+divine+Science&book=tfccs.main.shmailto:[email protected]://journal.christianscience.com/concordapi/view?q=Animal+magnetism+is+the+voluntary+or+involuntary+action+of+error+in+all+its+forms%3B+it+is+the+human+antipode+of+divine+Science&book=tfccs.main.sh


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Instead of being a medium for laxity and imperfection, true self-expression means

expressing the goodness and perfection which reflect God.

---The Psalmist says, "Let the lying lips be put to silence;" and Luke records that

Jesus cast out devils, "and he rebuking them suffered them not to speak."

Why should we prolong error by listening to its self-assertion?---Jesus said to his followers, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples

indeed."--The words "expressive silence wherein to muse His praise" are a sermon in themselves.

One who trusts God refuses to be alarmed by verbose evil.

---Clamoring confusion disappears before gratitude and praise.

SECTION I: Jeremiah warns against false prophets(Jer 23: 23, 24, 32

TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Dictated by Jeremiah to the scribe, Baruch, c. 600 BC.

The false prophets were not to think they could hide their devices from God, who declares

Himself omnipresent and omniscient [God at handGod afar off, v. 23], in both an immanent and

transcendent sense. (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

Lightness (v. 32) is explained in the Revised Version as vain boasting. (DummelowCommentary)

Health-Care Reform, Monitor (22 July 1994), p. 17.

--Health care continues to be newsworthy as debate and discussion over the merits of various

health care plans take place.

--It is indeed God who heals all our diseases and redeems our lives from destruction.

Such spiritual healing and redemption is at handever availableas noted in the words

of the prophet Jeremiah.---He writes of God: Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven

and earth? saith the Lord (23:23,24). We do not need a medical insurance plan or an appointment to call on God.

---We need not wait in a reception room until He has time for us prior to receiving

his help.

Gods care is effective, thorough.

---And it is available right now!

SECTION II: Jesus and the temptation by the devil (Matt 4: 1-11)

RELATED SCRIPTURE: Ps 91: 11, 12; Heb 2: 18; 4: 15

PARALLEL GOSPELS: Mark 1: 12, 13; Luke 4: 1-13

TIME LINE: January-February, 27 AD in the Year of Inauguration (Jesus 1st year of ministry),

the preparation period in the wilderness of Judea.

Devil/Satan

(See 5.27 notes)

Mason, Frank E. (CSB and Assistant Pastor), The Temptation of Jesus, BIBLE LESSONS,

Journal, Vol. 6 (December 1888), p. 465.

--Immediately after Jesus' baptism he was led into the Wilderness to be tempted. The realization of his awful responsibility dawned upon him.

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--Satan, material belief, had for thousands of years held despotic sway over mankind, oppressing

them with burdensome and cruel tasks.

--Jesus must be tempted in every point like ourselves, in order to nullify and prove the nothingness

of each claim.

Hunger, pain, suffering, physical and mental, must be known and met.---From the belief of birth to the belief of death, every method, every mode of materialism, must

be counteracted by the production of their opposites. If the opposite, the positive, is not perceived,the negative will seem correct, and will assert itself as true.

Fulton, Maisie D., "The Saviour of the World," Journal, Vol. 70 (August 1952), p. 425.

--(Matt 4:8,9), The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the

kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee,

if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

In this way evil presents itself not only as something to be known, but as something to be

worshiped, and suggests that knowledge and worship of evil are advantageous.

---It is true that the admittance of evil or matter as something to be known would

lead to the worship of evilto fearing it, making allowances for it, bowing down to it; But Jesus,

clear in the understanding of Spirit as All, refused to give audience to this plea of mortal mind forentity and power.

His steadfast refusal to take cognizance of evil was consistent with his divine nature, and

this unfaltering obedience to his divine Principle, Love, caused the wilderness to become for him

the entrance to a glorious and triumphant career, evolving unutterable blessings for all mankind.

DeLacy, Marceil Ruth, "Martyrs and tragic heroes," Journal, Vol. 100 (July 1962), p. 392.

--The history of martyrs can provide inspiring examples of people who put conscience and Truth

above fear of death.

The harm would come only in misinterpretation of the message of tragic sufferinga

misinterpretation that would lead one to magnify and cherish a suffering sense of life, as if the

endurance of pain were a special virtue.---Such a misinterpretation would see the glory of Jesus' life as culminating in the

agony of his crucifixion rather than in his resurrection and ascension.

--The recognition that God is the sole source of both honor and dominion and that He bestows

these impartially and abundantly on those who do His will frees mortals from the futile search for

personal adulation.

One of the lures with which Satan tried to tempt Jesus was personal glory. Jesus rejectedthis offer by quoting the Scripture, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou

serve. [Matt 4: 10]

SECTION III: Jesus heals the demon-possessed man, and heals the multitudes (Luke 4: 33-36,40, 41)

RELATED SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 22-24PARALLEL GOSPEL: Mark 1: 23-28

TIME LINE: The Year of Popularity and Fundamental Principles (Jesus 2nd year of ministry),

April-May 28 AD in Capernaum.

a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil

(3rd use 2012, see 7.1.12 notes)

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Miller, Albert E., The Teaching of Sound Doctrine, Sentinel, Vol. 5 (19 February 1903), p.

392. (Reprinted from the Oil City, PA,Blizzard)

--The teaching of Christian Science in respect to healing the sick is identical with that of Jesus.

He not only healed others, but in turn taught his followers how to heal.---His promise is, "The works that I do shall he do also and greater works than

these shall he do." In promising his disciples that certain signs should follow them that believed (or

understood) his teaching, he designated, among other things, that "they shall lay hands on the sick,

and they shall recover."

---The Christian Scientist cannot be blamed for trying to prove the teaching of the

Bible on this point to be more than mere theory.

Jesus proved it possible to apply a demonstrable understanding of God to the daily affairs

of men, and he urged his followers for all time to do likewise. If prayer is not to be classed among

remedial agencies, the teaching of the Bible on this point will have to be rejected.

Booth, Ms. Chestnut (previous Dean of Students, Principia), "Casting Out [Modern Day]Demons," BIBLE FORUM, Journal, Vol. 125 (September 2007), p. 10

--when Jesus commissioned his 12 disciples.He had charged them with casting out devils, or

demons.

Being able to free people from the afflictions of evil spiritswhat we might think of

today as disease, insanity, mental "pollution"was to be a key sign of the Messiah and his truefollowers. At his ascension, Jesus said that everyone who believed in his disciples would also cast

out demons. I wondered if I [were] taking the command seriously enough.

--Did Jesus believe in demons?

Jesus consistently taught that each individual is the child of the loving, spiritual,

omnipotent Father who delivers each of us from all evil.

--We can obey Jesus command to cast out this worthless one by understanding that the false

accuser can have no effect on those who know the truth about Gods love. This is the perfect love

that "casts out fear" and gives us authority for casting out any fear that evil is real or able to opposeGod's goodwill toward all.

SECTION V: David urges his subjects to help the poor(Ps 41: 1, 2, 7, 9-12)

TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: A hymn of instruction by David, c. 1000 BC; it ends book 1 of the

Psalter.

In Psalm 41 the psalmist testifies to the Lords deliverance from illness, though foes

desired his demise. (Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms)

David makes a statement of fact [Blessed is he that considereth the poor, v.1] and thengives proof for that statement [vv. 2,3]. (King James Bible Commentary)

Pogson, Reuben, Christian Science, and the Gospel to the Poor, Journal, Vol. 23 (November

1905), p. 479.

--AMONGST the many aphorisms which Shakespeare gave to the world none is truer than the

statement that "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."

--It may be thought that Christian Scientists do not orally preach the gospel to the poor, and that by

this seeming neglect they are doing nothing for those in actual want.

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This charge can well be borne by Scientists until the world understands the power of

silent mental work in Christian Science and learns that the actual demonstration over lack of supply

with a bondaged brother does a thousand fold more towards lifting the burden of poverty from off

the shoulders of the masses than do all the stereotyped wordy sermons of which the poor man

knows there are too many already. Of the private generosity of Christian Scientists as individuals,the writer has certain knowledge, but we know that the mere giving of money is the easiest excuse

to an awakened conscience. It is often harder not to give, to bear the silent reproach for meanness,while you strive to show the victim of the belief in poverty the way out of it in the only way, the

Christ-Science way.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

The Bibliography is provided only in the first Sundays Lesson each month.

*The weekly Bible Lessons are made up of selections from the King James Version of the

Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary

Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

The Responsive Reading is from theNew Living Translation.

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12.11.25 Bible Characters-Ancient