“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”     (Matt. 5: 48).

This statement by Jesus as he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, is deemed by many as an impossibility.    Why?  Man cannot be perfect because he was conceived in sin, and God is not and cannot be the father of a sinner.  Further, Jesus is God–the Almighty who transformed Himself into a mortal and came down on earth to save sinners–those who were once created perfect by him, but strayed from that perfection through human will.  Even though this is a commonly held view, it is not one that I hold or respect.  Thus,  this article will explore how an opposite view can lead to higher levels of thought that enable one to gain inspiration and discover the wonder of what it means to understand the Sermon on the Mount.

Several questions will be explored:

1.  What does it mean to be blessed?

2.  What elements of the Sermon show us how to live with one another?

3.  Does the Lord’s Prayer cover the needs of mankind?  

The Sermon on the Mount is a comprehensive approach to how one should live his life while here on earth.  It requires humility, courage, patience and the ability to quench human appetites and replace them with divine aspirations.  Some readers have divided it into five parts:  the Beatitudes, new laws, The Lord’s Prayer, money and warnings.  This writer will seek to answer the questions above, which largely focus on three areas, The Beatitudes, The Lord’s Prayer and guidelines for living with one another.

The Beatitudes and What It Means To Be Blessed

“Blessed” is the key word in most of the Beatitudes, so what does it mean to be blessed?  Most definitions include “to revere; to honor; to cast favor on; to consecrate; to set apart for a holy purpose.”   All indicate a positive impression of, or favorable response to something or someone.  For our purposes, let’s concentrate on  “revere” and “asking a divine favor for.”  While we will not include all of the Beatitudes, but focus on the more commonly used ones to gain an understanding of the message Jesus was espousing then, as well as now.

 The Scriptures say that when he saw the multitudes, he went up into the mountains.  Was he trying to get away from them, or was he trying to reach a level of height where his voice would carry so that all could hear?  I choose the latter.  The first words he spoke were:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  For many years, I struggled with the meaning of this statement.  The key to the struggle was the word “spirit.”  I saw spirit as something good, and poor as something lacking or negative.  So, how could one be blessed if he were lacking in spirit?  I simply didn’t get it!  It was not until I realized that spirit was written with a small “s” that my thought began to change.  When a capital “S” is used, one can conceivably be assured the word refers to God.  However, the small “s” can be one or the other, depending on the way it is used in the text.  In this instance Jesus is saying, “Only those people who turn away from the ways of the world–those who lack evil spirits, will be honored or have favor cast upon them,  and that favor is the acquiring of an inner peace or a sense of harmony.  So, if the acquisition of material things is one’s motive for doing things, he possesses a “poor spirit” and will never acquire peace.  Why?  Because as soon as he acquires one material thing, his heart will desire another, and he will never be satisfied.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Most individuals do not perceive mourning as a blessing, but find it rewarding to know that when and if they do mourn, comfort is assured.  Mourning expresses sorrow or grief, and occurs most deeply when one experiences the loss of a loved one.  Why does Jesus consider mourning a blessing?  As I pondered this question, it became clearer that since no one likes to feel deep pain and suffering, he will seek relief from it.  In many cases, this leads to spiritual enlightenment and moves one to higher levels of thought.  In so doing, he achieves spiritual growth and a greater understanding of God.  This indeed is a blessing!  Spiritual growth brings comfort because it gives a better understanding of Life–life that is eternal and not temporal.

Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.   This meekness is not spineless or submissive, but denotes patience, humility, slowness of anger and great inner strength.   It takes courage to be humble–not humbling oneself before man, but before God.  A noted attribute of humility is lack of human will–surrendering to the will of God.  Can one ever not be blessed when he follows the path that God has laid out for him?  Jesus says the reward for meekness in to “inherit the earth.”   This inheritance is a gift from God–a gift that enables one to have dominion over the earth.  Jesus possessed such dominion and so can we, but are we willing to pay the price of meekness?

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.  If you want to be righteous, you have to hunger and thirst after it.  How do you do that?  By having a burning desire so strong that you place nothing else before it.  It takes hold of your consciousness and does not let go until it is complete, whole.  There may be many sacrifices before this completeness is achieved, but whatever the price, you are willing to pay it, for you recognize that the reward is a consciousness filled with the Holy Ghost–the Christ.  It is a feeling like nothing else!  Jesus knew this feeling,  That is why he paid the price by carrying the cross.  Mary Baker Eddy paid the price through ridicule, criticism and human suffering.  Each of us will walk in their shoes, to the extent we hunger and thirst after righteousness.  Are you ready to do so?

Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.   This is the most misunderstood of all the Beatitudes.   First of all, what is a pure heart?  How do you get one?  A pure heart is an inner consciousness that is free of the perils of sin, sickness and death.  In that moment or hour, sin, sickness and death have no reality for the person because he is connected with God–at one with God as Jesus put it.  At a human level, he may know they exist, but their power to cause pain, suffering , decay and destruction have no existence for him.

When my daughter passed away from a medical diagnosis of breast cancer, I grieved for two years.  But during that period, I actively sought a clearer understanding of life–Life as God.  When I achieved that, (when my heart was purified) the grief disappeared.  I knew her physical body had passed away, but her divine nature lived, for it is eternal.  I saw the godliness of her, so what was there to be sorry about?

Jesus is telling the disciples and the multitudes that favor will be cast upon them only when they purify their inner selves, and through this process of purification, they will gain a higher understanding of God–see God.  God is only seen when evil is erased from thought.

Each beatitude should be looked at in this way, studied and pondered until you gain a greater understanding of its meaning.  In so doing, you will discover that they are the blueprint for receiving a blessing.  Each beatitude is two-fold.  First, it gives the seeker a job to do, and secondly it says, if you do it, this is your reward.  Another way of saying the same thing is, “If you want to wear the crown, you must first carry the cross.”

Some people believe they are blessed when they receive material things.  A material item is just that–a material item.  It has no spiritual significance.  A blessing is a divine activity.  Later, one may see the results of this divine activity in a human experience or condition, but spirituality must precede such action.  This is the essence of the Beatitudes–to emphasize spirituality over materiality–using good to overcome evil, and life to erase death.  One cannot climb the mountain of grace and mercy, while holding on to the valley of arrogance and persecution.  In order to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, each person must fill his own shoes with love, compassion and humility.  There is no other way.  Jesus is “the way,” but every person must stay in the pathway–by himself.

Learning to Live with One Another 

The Sermon on the Mount is the foundation of man’s ability to live with his fellow man.   The basis of this ability can be found in the following statements:

1. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment.
2. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
3. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
4. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for and eye, and a tooth for a tooth:  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:  But whosoever smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
6. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
7. When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

These are strong statements of love, human sacrifice, divine committment and devotion to the one God.  Who is ready to live them day-by-day, hour-by-hour?  How do you love the person who persecutes you?  You don’t love the person persecuting you, you love the person instead of the one persecuting you.  Who is that person?  The one that God created–the one made in His image and likeness–the perfect man.  Seeing that man at the moment of persecution, takes courage, love, inner strength and a knowledge of the perfect man.  It is not easy being a Christian, but it is rewarding.  Sometimes those rewards are far beyond the moments that one is being “despitefully used,” but they never cease to come–however, not always in this world.  Two words define this experience–faith and long-suffering.  Again, I ask,  “Are you ready?”

 The Lord’s Prayer

The highest prayer is not one of faith merely;  it is demonstration.

Mary Baker Eddy

 The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples, and is believed by many to be a prayer that meets every human need.  Is this true or false?

 

The first sentence informs us that not only did Jesus consider God his Father, but ours also.  What more could one want besides having God as a Parent–a Parent who not only knows what we need, but also can supply it?  There is nothing God cannot do!  This statement alone, will meet every human need.

 

Thy kingdom come.  What did Jesus mean by this statement?  What is a kingdom?  The answer lies in another one of his statements: “The kingdom of heaven is within you.”  He is saying, “Your kingdom, your divine consciousness is right here, right now.  Look no further.”  The problem is mankind does not believe that, so it looks for it somewhere else.  This kingdom is a gift from God and God does not give it, and then take it back.  It is always present.   Being aware of this knowledge and availing oneself of it, is a blessing.  There is no place where God is not present because he is omnipresent–only a thought away.  Try it, it does work.

 

The third line of the Prayer reminds us that not only is God present when things are going great–”in heaven,”  but when they are not, “in earth.”  God’s desire is always to provide goodness, love and mercy to His children.  He is Love, thus, knows only love.   It is we who separate ourselves from God, through human will and evil thoughts–thus bringing into our experience evil actions and conditions.

 

Give us this day our daily bread.  I see bread as truth, the answer to all error.  Therefore, if we are cognizant of the true nature of God and the true nature of the man He created, we will mentally hear everything that we need to think, say and do.  God speaks to the human consciousness through the presence of the Christ–the Holy Ghost.  We just have to listen .   .   .   and obey.

 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  To forgive means to destroy mentally, evil thoughts that lead to evil actions.  A debt is something that we owe.  Thus, we are indebted to God when we separate ourselves from Him, and this debt is paid when we cast evil thoughts out of  consciousness and follow His direction.  Only then, is the debt paid.   We forgive our debtors (those whom we feel owe us something) by recognizing that if God created everything and everyone, no one owes use anything, for we are all children of God.  This frees the so-called debtor from all debts.  Mary Baker Eddy says it this way:  “Love is reflected in love” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 17).  God, Love is expressed  when we express love ourselves.  In the presence of Love, there are no debts or obligations.

 

 

The Prayer goes on to say that God never leads us into temptation.  What would God profit by doing so?  Nothing!  God is Love, and because He is Love, he guides us away from evil–sin, sickness and death.  He lets us know that He is also Life, and if He is Life and created all life, there is no death.  Death is what humans experience, not children of God.  His children are eternal, not temporal.  One can comprehend how complete this prayer is.  It covers all evil, which is fear, ignorance, sin, sickness and death.  There is no evil that does not fit into one of these categories.

 

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.   God is everywhere and with everyone.  He is supreme.  There is no power greater than Himself, and not only can we rejoice in this knowledge here and now, but  .  .  .   forever.  This is a prayer that meets every human need.  Do you agree?

 

 

Man is made-up of thoughts, and these thoughts can be human or divine.  We can choose the inspiration and wonder of the Sermon on the Mount, or the beliefs of mankind.  The thoughts we choose determine whether we live in harmony or disharmony, practice love or hate, and demonstrate perfection or imperfection.  The choice is ours.  But Jesus lets us know that we can be “perfect even as (our) Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  This precludes the idea that man is born in sin and must repent from those sins.  We are born children of God, and when we remove the dust of sin, sickness and death from our eyes, we can see ourselves that way.  Life is eternal, and death is an illusion.  Discovering this understanding takes persistence, perseverance and patience, but we can get there.  Let us begin by exploring the wonders of the Sermon on the Mount, living according to the Ten Commandments and using the Lord’s Prayer to meet our every need.

 

 

 

 

Other References

 

The Lord’s Prayer:

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Religion-Spirituality/What-Does-The-Lord-s-Prayer-Mean-Do-You-Really-Know/m-p/331581?amp%3Bmessage.id=494

 

 

http://smithmamie.com/?p=594

 

The answer to the question above looms large in the minds of politicians, people of faith and the person simply trying to decide the best course of action for herself or himself in daily life.  The debate is a hot issue.  In fact, abortion rights was a key part of the Republican Party’s 2012 Presidential Platform.  It took firm root at the state level after the 2010 Elections and was fueled by state legislatures across the country.  We saw state laws passed limiting individual decisions women could make about rape, contraception and very basic health issues.

 Roe vs. Wade, a 1973 law upheld by the Supreme Court which basically gives a woman the right to an abortion until the fetus is able to live outside of the womb–somewhere around 24 to 28 weeks after conception, is viewed by some as being violated.  Others believe their interpretation of the law gives them the right to defend the “unborn child.”  At the heart of the controversy is one’s concept of the essence of life.  What really defines life?  When does it begin and when does it end?    Is this a moral issue or is it a human, personal issue?  Before tackling the questions, two words must be understood by anyone seeking an answer:  “God” and “abortion.”    The person responsible for the picture above has already made a clear decision:  “Abortion is a personal decision, not a legal debate.”  Whether you agree or disagree depends on your interpretation and understanding of God and abortion.  Let’s begin the discussion!

Abortion is defined by some as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability.  Others see it only as the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy.  The simplest definition is  ”terminating a pregnancy.”   It appears that when religious and emotions are connected to the word, definitions tend to be longer.

A Brief History of Abortion

Most people see induced abortions as a 20th century social and religious issue, but history reveals that it dates back to 2700 BCE where abortions were performed in China, and 200 CE during the Roman Empire.  Many methods were used to facilitate the process–from herbs to sharp objects.  There is another debate over whether the Hippocratic Oath forbade ancient Greek physicians from performing abortions.  However, there seems to be evidence that in 1585-90, Pope Sixtus declared abortions  to be a homicide regardless of stage of pregnancy.  Just as in the past, today, the debate goes on.

 

 

 

 

What is God?

“ God is often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of humans and the universe” (Wikipedia).

“A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions” (freedictionary.com).

“The creator and ruler of the universe, regarded as eternal, infinite, all-powerful, and all knowing” (Webster).

Basically, all three definitions are in agreement as to who or what God is with Webster giving a more expansive one.  The question then, becomes how does one identify with this One, great ruler of the universe?  Can he become personal?  If so, how does one make him so?  Now that your mental juices are flowing, the next essential question becomes, Who is man?  Is he mortal or immortal?  The answers to these question are essential to determine life–when it begins and when it ends.

Defining man as mortal gives the pro-lifers a nail to hang their abortion hat on, but if he is immortal, pro-choicers have a valid argument for saying the decision to abort or not abort is personal–between the person and the god he serves.  This discussion will focus on the following key issues:

1. What is God?
2. What is man?
3. What is life and when does it begin?
4. What is the illusion of life?                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see God as the one infinite, supreme, eternal Being who created all, as the above definitions state, but I also see Him as more  .   .   .   .    John helps us understand this “more” when he said, “God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (4:24).  Many theologians gloss over this verse because they are so entangled with the concept of Jesus being God, and  .  .   .   he is not.  Jesus never said he was God, but the son of God.  Why do people miss this point?  Another follower of God named Mary Baker Eddy, defines Him this way:   “God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 465).  That word “incorporeal” lets us know he is not flesh and blood, but Spirit as John says.  Mrs. Eddy builds on this definition by using and understanding the many references to God in the Bible.  For example, the Bible speaks of God as “the Word.”  Is not this the same as “Law”– divine Law?   Principle is divine Law–divine Government–all that is perfect, just, holy and righteous.  Demonstration of Principle results in healing.

 

A verse in I John identifies God as Love:  ”God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (4: 16).  These examples clearly elevate thought above defining God as sensual, corporeal and human.  Eddy, an avid reader of the Bible and also discoverer of Christian Science, gleamed wisdom and understanding that enabled her to use seven synonyms to define God–Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life Truth, Love.  She is not advocating defining God as seven entities, only one.  He is all of these rolled into one.  Similarly, a person may be a teacher, but also a mother, sister, wife and business woman.  Each expands who she is, but does not totally relegate her to one.  So, not only is God multifaceted, He is also supreme-(above all), infinite–(unlimited), and divine–(having no human qualities).   Gaining an understanding of God, prepares one to understand the man that God created.  If one does not understand God, he cannot understand God’s man, for this man is an expression of God.  Moses says it this way: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1: 27).   

 

 

What does Moses mean by this?  An image is a replica of something.  It is not the  ”something,” but looks, acts and feels as the original.  Thus, man made in the image of God, expresses all that God is.  Therefore, if God is Spirit, man has to be spiritual, not flesh and blood.  This also precludes him from being human, but divine.  Isaiah echos this description by reminding us to “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of” (2: 22)?  He is saying the breath of man in not in his nostrils–his physical body, but in his being–his divine nature, and further, that no spiritual thinking person can account for such a man–such a human man.

 

Moses goes on to state that man has not only masculine qualities, but feminine qualities as well.  He is both “male and female.”  Masculine qualities are strength, power, persistence, perseverance, security, abundance.  Feminine qualities express tenderness, kindness, grace, humility, love, peace.  None of these are found in a physical body, but are expressed in thought and defined by actions stemming from those thoughts.  This places the man of God’s creation above physics into metaphysics.  Such a view is beyond the understanding of mortality, and can only be embraced as one moves into the realm of Spirit–into immortality where only Soul reigns.

 

What is Life?

The third part of this discussion is to define life and determine when it begins.  One of the seven synonyms of God, is Life–Life as the only Existence or Being.  That existence is not flesh and blood, but Spirit.  Spirit is eternal–meaning it has no beginning or ending.  Therefore, God is, always has been, and ever will be.  He is the sole Creator of man and the universe.  God, being Spirit, not only created everything spiritual, but also everything good.   How does that relate to man?  Man, made in his image, also has no beginning or ending.  Thus, life does not begin with an embryo or fetus, life is spiritual and eternal;  and since it is spiritual and eternal, it cannot be aborted.

 

 

 

 

What is Man?

“Man is idea, the image of Love; he is not physique.  He is a compound idea of God, including all right ideas; the generic term for all that reflects God’s image and likeness” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,  p, 475).   The first time I read this concept of man I thought it was the most absurd thing that I had ever read.  Sure, I knew intellectually that man was more than flesh and blood, but “an idea” and not having some kind of sensual form was incomprehensible!  However, as I gained a higher concept of God, a higher concept of man evolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Illusion of Life  

Is life an illusion?  What is an illusion?  It is a false perception, conception or interpretation of reality, and is based on what is perceived by the physical senses.  As humans, we are taught that if we see something with the physical eyes, it is true;  the ears let us hear truth or feelings denote truth.  This truth is based on belief, false belief, not divine truth.  That which is true has a spiritual foundation, or it is not true.  I know what you are thinking: “That woman has really lost it!”   Well  .  .  . not yet!

 What you are reading is an example of a person who lives on a daily basis beyond the physical senses.  How do I do that?  By establishing in thought the true conception of God, man and the universe–which are not physical, but metaphysical.  I suppose it is easier for you to see God as metaphysical, but man?  No, you are thinking!  I maintain it is easier for you to see God as metaphysical because that is how you have been trained, so that is what you believe.

 Similarly, I have not only been trained theoretically that man is spiritual, but have gained an understanding that he is and demonstrated it in my human experience.  Thus, I speak not only theory, but practice.   My understanding and practice have validity from studying the life of the prophets in the Bible, the spiritual healings of Jesus Christ, and the study and practice of Christian Science.  Hope and faith have come from living–living 40 years of healing sin, sickness and diseases of many kinds.   I have seen anger, bitterness, resentment and hate dissolved by establishing the true nature of man–man made in the image of God.  To the non-believer, this kind of thinking is nonsense.    This article is not to convince, only to inform.

True life is not measured by what the physical body looks and feels like, the amount of money in one’s bank accounts, or the number of years one lives on earth, but by the divine qualities one expresses.  As long as man believes physicality demonstrates life, he can never live in harmony with God, Spirit.  This is the essence of Paul’s words:  ”They that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Romans 8: 8-9).   

 

 

 

Paul recognizes that the true nature of man is spiritual and admonishes man to rise above the belief that he lives in body. If God made man in the image and likeness of himself, why would he feel the need to re-make him out of dust?  Did he discover that he had made a mistake?  Or did he simply change his mind?  God is Mind, unchangeable and eternal; all intelligence, wisdom and understanding.  This precludes any notion of mistakes, change of mind or desire to change.

 

 

 

Now that another view of God, man and Life have been introduced,  the discussion turns to the question:  Does an abortion sin against God?   

 

Having a desire to kill breaks the commandment “Thou shalt not kill,”  but can one kill that which has never lived?  God’s man is spiritual and is not at the mercy of mortal man.  Killing is the desire to destroy anything that was made by God.  The man of God’s creation has no desire to kill or be killed.  This is a human emotion, and that which is human is not divine.

 

There are numerous ways mortal man kills.  One way is to allow anger, bitterness, hate and greed to fill the soul and rule out love, compassion and gratitude.  Another is to use the Bible to further one’s own self-justification, self-righteousness, prejudices and injustices.  A third is to impose one’s own beliefs, ideals and ideologies on another in an attempt to usurp the individuality that every child of God expresses.   Refusing to “love unconditionally” kills one’s ability to elevate thought, forgive, or love a neighbor as oneself.  To relegate killing to the destruction of a fetus or physical body, is to limit the scope of sin and excuse the depth of evil.

 

A fetus is not a child of God, nor is a physical body.  Both are creations of mortal thought  and must ultimately yield to divine understanding.  However, if you believe a fetus or a physical structure is a child of God, I say without judgment, imposition or criticism, live in accordance with your beliefs.  But I also say, if another does not concur with your beliefs, give him the same respect that you wish given to you.  We are all children of the Most High God  (or whatever name you wish to call Him), seeking to live in accordance with our beliefs and understanding.  As we love and reach higher levels of thought, we discern more clearly another commandment: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

In conclusion, no one should have in his consciousness a desire to kill anything or anyone, but gaining a truer concept of God as Life, man as the image of Life, and human life as an illusion, allows him to make decisions that affect his human experience based on a personal relationship with his own sense of godliness.  No one can make another person more godly, nor save him from sin and death.  That is an individual responsibility.  I hear you, “I’m not trying to save the individual, I am trying to save the child.”  That is also not your responsibility!  A child of God does not need saving.  He lives and moves in the realm of Spirit, and is always safe in the arms of divine Love.  Having a consciousness filled with this understanding will have a positive effect on the world.  Let the true concept of man embrace your thought, and you will help heal the world.  Forcing your limited concept of man on the world, aids in destroying it.

 

The man of God’s creation, is neither created by man, nor aborted by man.

FORGIVENESS is a word  that is over-used and under-understood.  It is tossed around like ingredients in a toss salad.  Men and women of great worldly stature that have fallen prey to lust, greed, theft and numerous other ills of the flesh, stand before the world with tears streaming down their faces and beg forgiveness.  ”I’m sorry,” is a typical phrase used, “Please forgive me, I am only human.”Some do this with sincerity and a strong desire for regeneration;  others, without an ounce of reformation in their souls.  There only regret–they were exposed!  How should one respond to these people?  What should one do?  Are you a sinner if you don’t forgive them?  Many people really do not have answers to these questions because they do not have a firm grasp of what forgiveness actually means.  What is forgiveness?

Forgiveness Defined 

Webster:  Willingness to pardon.     Pardon:  To release (a person) from punishment.

Wikipedia:  The renunciation or cessation of resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, disagreement, or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.

Philosophical Definition:   Forgiveness is the overcoming of a negative affect and judgment toward the offender, not by denying ourselves the right to such affect and judgment, but by endeavoring to view the offender with benevolence, compassion, and even love, while recognizing that he or she has abandoned the right to them.

Combining all of the definitions into one statement, forgiveness is the ability to dissolve resentment or anger toward an individual who commits an offense toward oneself or another, while recognizing that even though he has a right to such judgment,does not take advantage of it, but views the offender with love and compassion without a demand or requirement of punishment.  At face value, this appears to be a definition in compliance with the statement offered by Jesus:  “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”  However, at this point I would like to digress and offer an experience for further scrutiny and application of the definition.

Forgive or Not Forgive 

The President of an organization was brought before the Board of Directors for verbally demeaning and abusing another Board member, giving inaccurate information to the Board which resulted in loss of funds, and was solely responsible for the organization being removed from an important project because of his negative behavior.

 The By-laws required that only Board members hear the charges.  A meeting was scheduled and at the beginning of the meeting, a motion was placed on the floor that required the President to voluntarily step down from chairing that meeting, or be removed by the Board because it was viewed improper for the President to chair a meeting in which he was the defendant.   The President walked out of the meeting!  Since a quorum was present, another member chaired the meeting, the Board reviewed the charges, and found clear written evidence that the President had committed the offenses of which he had been charged.   Such charges could have resulted in removal of the President from office under the By-Laws.  However, taking into consideration the vision and leadership of the President, the Board did not remove him, nor take away any of his duties, but required that he not chair the next two monthly membership meetings.

 

Since such actions were only known by Board members, the membership was not informed of the charges or the disciplinary action taken by the Board, in compliance with the By-Laws.  However, at the next membership meeting, the President refused to give up his seat as chairman.   Rather than cause a disturbance at the meeting, Board members decided to leave the meeting and plan a course of action.  To complicate matters, the President called in the only living founder of the organization, who had no voting power, but was well-respected by everyone and his solution was to chide the Board members for their actions, and admonish them to forgive the President and move on.  Stop!  Before you continue reading this article, please decide what you feel should be done.   Was the advice given by the founder correct?

 

 

Let’s look at the definition of forgiveness again.  I concur with the idea that forgiveness includes dissolving any sense of anger, removing from thought a desire to punish or get even, and only expressing love toward the individual who committed the offense, but a key dimension of forgiveness is missing from the definition.  What is that dimension?   It is tucked away in this definition of forgiveness:

 

“We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal.  But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 497).   This definition urges the understanding that God only forgives sin by destroying it and this destruction comes about by one’s ability to recognize spiritually that unless evil is seen as unreal, it cannot be cast out.  Wow!  That should get you thinking!

 

 

There is a process that the human mind must undergo in order to forgive.  The first step for mankind is to recognize that all evil is unreal–unreal not to the mortal man, but to the immortal man.  God knows no sin, thus, there is nothing for Him to forgive.  It is the human mind that conjures up and holds sin as a reality.  So, one must strive to to see the unreality of sin.  Using the example above, Board members would align their thoughts with the one God.  In so doing, man as made in the image and likeness of God would fill their thoughts, not anger, revenge and punishment .

 

 

Spiritually, they would see that the President is also a child of God, unable to demean, mistreat nor misuse anything or anyone.  All intelligence is of God and can never yield mistakes.   Children of God have not a single element of evil in their hearts and souls, they are loving, kind, considerate, equal, impartial and are governed by divine law in all that they say and do.   This kind of thinking must continue until the person actually feels this to the depth of his being.  Saying words without meaning them, is hypocrisy and gets nothing spiritually in return.   Once this is achieved, Board members would mentally hear the right course of action.  It may have resulted in their talking with the President and deciding no other action, but it may have resulted in their taking the same course of action.  Certainly, it would not have allowed them to “forgive him and move on” as suggested by the founder.  Why?

 

Sin is only forgiven when destroyed.  Unless Board members saw evidence of retribution or regeneration from the President, it would not be wise to move on without action.  They saw none of this in the example above.  In fact, the President refused to even acknowledge that a sin had been committed.  The By-Laws served as guidelines for all of the members to follow, thus requiring the President to honor them is not spiritually illogical.  In order for sin to be destroyed, it must be uncovered in thought, confronted, replaced with pure thoughts and dissolved.  Had the President honored the decision made by the Board,  it may have led him to reflect on what he had done and find ways to dissolve the error in his thought.

 

 

 

 

Sin should never be excused, swept under the rug, or ignored.  Doing so, allows it to fester and grow.  It also allows the person to accept no responsibility for his actions.   God destroys sin within us, not by identifying the sin and then casting it out, but by His mere presence, sin is destroyed.  Good and evil cannot appear in the same spot.  One or the other must be present.  If good is present, evil is absent and vice versa.  Therefore, if a person’s thinking is at one with God, there is no sin.  To forgive does not mean patting someone on the back and saying “Ok, I forgive you,”  it means the person must be held accountable for his actions, and fair and equitable consequences applied without malice of forethought.  Sin brings suffering!  The suffering comes from the person’s mental struggle to overcome it within himself and not by human activity.  No person can forgive sin, only God can, and He does this by filling the spot in one’s heart where sin has once dwelt.

 

Is it wrong to apply punishment with hate, anger, bitterness and revenge?  Yes!  Is it wrong to humbly seek solutions to human problems through prayer and having done so, follow one’s highest sense of right, even if a form of human suffering occurs for the sinful person?  No!  Following God always brings success.  Not following Him brings failure.  Divine Love does not hastily deliver us from our sins.  It requires that we repent and only then, are we freed from our sin.  Repentance is not simply words, but actions.  It is not what we say that enables us to wear the crown of righteousness, but what we do.

 

 

Do we judge?  Maybe!  The capacity to judge can be found in the words of Jesus:  “As I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5: 30).  He is clearly saying any judgment rendered by man must be based on the divine messages of truth that fill one’s consciousness.  Anything less than this, judges not.    God speaks to the human consciousness through the presence of the Christ.  That Christ is the divine manifestation of God that comes to thought and destroys all evil found there.  It meets the need of the person in question.  What may be the need for one individual, may not be the need for another.  That is why being connected with God at all times, is essential.  Man made in the image of God, reflects the judgment of God.  In so doing, the motive power of man is based exclusively on Truth and Love.  Human will demands results based on appetites of passion.  ”Judge ye not” refers to mortal man, not immortal man.

 

 

Forgiveness is at the heart of living a life of godliness.  Every knee must bow to it and every tongue must confess its presence.  That confession is not of this world, but of God.   Standing in front of the world and claiming forgiveness should be given because one is inclined to sin because of his birth, is in itself a sin.  Man was created by God, and God made nothing sinful or evil.  This kind of thinking is based not on the spiritual man, but on man made from the “dust of the earth.”  Each day, one must strive to rise above that level of thought and seek the true identity of man–man made in God’s likeness.

 

 

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” and find the pathway to salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Homecoming

It has increasing become the “norm” for ministers giving the eulogy at funerals to refer to the event as “the homecoming.”  They tell  waiting audiences that it is a celebration for the deceased–a day to rejoice that he has united with God.  As one pans the audience, the color black is sometimes scarcely evident.  Many wear white or bright colors.  When asked why the change in color, a typical answer is along these lines, “Black is for sadness and sorrow.  A homecoming is a time of rejoicing!”  An on-looker unfamiliar with the beliefs of the particular religious affiliation may find the scene a bit disconcerting.  Why is a funeral called a homecoming?   Does it matter whether one wears black or white?   Does a choice of words help or hinder the deceased and his family?  This article explores these questions and offers alternatives.  Before delving into the discussion, it is essential that you and I agree or at least, know what this article means when the word “funeral” is used.

What is a funeral?

According to Wikipedia, a funeral is “a ceremony for celebrating, respecting, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died.”  The key word that many denominations focus on is celebration.  How does one celebrate? How is a person’s life defined? What constitutes a celebration for one person, may not be a celebration to another.  The word funeral comes from the Latin word funus, denoting  several meanings, including the corpse, and rites adhered to according to culture and religious beliefs.

 

Most cultures believe that the body of the deceased should be buried in some fashion.  However, the rites surrounding the burial can take many shapes and forms.  For example, in some cultures, the position of the body is essential, in another, how the body is wrapped could be important and for others, the time period following the death could have great significance.  What seems strange to one culture could be the norm in another.  At one funeral, I was knocked a little off-balance when I observed the opening in the casket revealed the decedent wearing shiny new shoes.  Previous experiences had not shown areas lower than the chest.  I was not offended  .   .  .  just surprised!

 

In this country, religion is the key ingredient that tells how a body is treated and the rites surrounding it, observed.  For example, one religion could suggest a closed casket, another an open casket and still another, cremation which may require no casket at all.  Certainly, family preferences regarding funeral rites, are central to all religions.

 

From childhood to adulthood, my experience called funerals  .  . .  funerals–not homecomings.  It has only been in the last ten to twenty years that have I been exposed to the belief that homecoming is more appropriate.  In fact, during a recent funeral, the minister admonished the congregation for it’s “dullness and quietness.”  He exclaimed, “You are so dull.  This is a celebration!”  Shortly afterwards, the audience began clapping hands, standing on their feet and shouting “amen.”   During another funeral, uh .  .  .  celebration, the minister yelled out a biblical verse or statement, and it was immediately followed by a very loud chord on the organ.  The first time I heard it, I almost jumped out of my seat from lack of expectancy!   Certainly, I did not object to their expressing themselves that way, it however, was not comfortable for me to express myself that way.  What caused my behavior to be in stark contrast to theirs?  Beliefs!  Religious practices!

 

 

In discussing the “great homecoming” with people, here is what I understand it to mean.   The deceased lives in the physical body for many years, few years, days, hours or minutes, but on a certain date and time he passes away, and the spiritual soul that was in his body separates from it and ascends to heaven.  Heaven is a place somewhere above the physical universe that the righteous go after death.  Hell is the underground–a place sinners  go after death and burn eternally.   Heaven is viewed as the home that God welcomes him to for spiritual deeds lived on earth.  He is also welcomed by loved ones who have gone on before him.  Heaven is where he will live forever.  There is no death there.  ”Certainly,”  says the believer, “This is a time for great rejoicing.”

Spiritually, it does not matter what color garment one wears, but humanly, the believer feels that the color black does not fit the occasion.  It is also believed that the use of the word homecoming helps the bereaved family members because they view the loved one as dwelling in a place better than the one he left.  Even though it is difficult to live without him, knowing that he is happy with his new home, helps to ease the pain they are experiencing.

Does a Heavenly Home Exist? 

The answer to this question is determined by how one defines life, death, heaven, hell and man.  Reflecting on my last homecoming experience, I asked myself what I believed and why?  The following paragraphs summarize my beliefs and understanding.

My definition of man is derived from Genesis 1: 27, which says, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  Understanding this verse is the foundation and key to my concept of life.  Seeing man–immortal man, (not the flesh and blood man), as the image of God means that I express all that God is.  God is good, therefore, I must be good.  Thus, I can never be conceived, nor established in sin.  This precludes me from accepting the Adam account of man in the second chapter of Genesis, which says man is made of “the dust of the earth.”  At this point, it is essential to understand God, if I am going to understand who I am.

The Scriptures imply and Mary Baker Eddy states categorically that  ”God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love” (Science and Health with key to the Scriptures, p. 465).  What does this mean?  It means that God does not have a physical body.  He is bodiless, divine, above everything and everyone, unlimited intelligence, Spirit, Soul, divine Law, Life, Truth, Love.  Being the image of God means that I am made in the likeness of God.  Thus, if God has no physical body, I cannot have one either.  What then, is my likeness to God?  I have unlimited intelligence; I am a spiritual not physical being; my senses comes from Soul, not the five physical senses; I am governed by divine law, not human law; my life has nothing to do with physicality, only spirituality; the truth that I see, hear and feel, have no relevance to the five senses, but is defined by Mind, Soul, Spirit; my love is unchangeable and unconditional.  The question becomes then, What constitutes my body?

The True Body of Man

Man’s body is defined as his divine consciousness of God–the Christ that comes to human consciousness and dissolves sin, sickness and death.  Once the mortal beliefs of sin, sickness and death are destroyed by the presence of the Christ, all that is left in consciousness are the divine qualities of God, namely:  goodness, mercy, purity, holiness, hope, faith, love and peace.  These constitute man’s life–his true being.  It has nothing to do with the brain or any other part of physicality.  Thus, man was never born and he never dies.  He exists in the realm of Mind–divine intelligence.  Consequently, the passing of the physical body has nothing to do with his approaching heaven or hell.  Let’s take a look at the word heaven.  

 

 

Heaven is harmony, peace, tranquility, perfection, health and joy.  Thus, man can “go to heaven” while existing here on earth.  This is the vision that John reveals to us in Revelation: “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” (21:1).  He is making a clear distinction between the material sense of heaven and the spiritual sense of heaven, and letting us know that once one understands this distinction, the old sense of heaven and earth will not exist.  Life then, expressing godliness, is one’s divine activity of thought–man’s demonstration of divine law.  What does this mean in the human experience?  It means that every time you “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,”  you are living, and every time you con your neighbor, lie and cheat, you are dying.  That is why the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes are so essential to one’s spiritual development.  They not only help us become aware of who we really are, but give us the ability to live it.

 

Mortal thinking places life in matter–flesh, blood and bones.  Immortality reveals man as never dwelling in flesh, only in spirit.  Since mortal man cannot fathom life beyond human existence, immortality seems to him, supernatural and transcendental.   Understanding God, the Word, takes inspiration and revelation.  Education and human logic cannot get it done.  Thought must reach beyond the human realm and approach the divine.  It must connect with Soul–a consciousness outside of the body–a divine elevation of thought.  If you have not lived it, you do not understand my words and  .   .   .   that’s ok.

 

What about hell?  I see hell as the turmoil that mentally besets mortal man–the fear, doubt, anguish, hate, bitterness, prejudice, envy and all the other elements of evil thinking.   These separate him from that connection or divine consciousness he has with God.  Thus, peace, harmony, joy and governance by divine law escape him.  The penalty for evil is disease, sickness and death.  The stress mortal man places on himself causes the illnesses he suffers from.  Ignorance tells him differently.  It tells him that the body controls him–determines his health and harmony and God goes along with it, if   .  .  .  it is His will.

 

 

 

 

The True Homecoming

Man’s true home is his divine connection with God, not a supernatural place beyond the sky.  His life is measured by his ability to express the divine qualities of God–qualities such as joy, courage, strength, faith, hope, understanding and humility.  To the extent he does this, he lives and to the extent he doesn’t, he dies.  Jesus said, “The kingdom of God comes not with observation:  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).   He is saying the kingdom of God cannot be seen with the human eye.  You cannot say, Here it is over here or over there, because it dwells within the divine consciousness of man!  As one progresses spiritually, he separates the “tares from the wheat,”  the physical sense of being from the spiritual until he reaches the harvest–the eternal understanding of God.

Let each day be a homecoming, and live within the realm of divine law.

 

 

If Jesus were right here now  .  .  .  Have you ever had such a thought?  What would you say to him?  What is the most pressing thing you would ask him to heal?  Sin?  Sickness?  Restore a loved one?

Jesus walked the earth over 2000 years ago–healing, teaching and demonstrating divine law.  At the age of 33 he was crucified, but does the Christ live with men today?  Can you dwell in his presence?  Is it possible to communicate with the Christ?  These questions will be explored as we ponder If Jesus Christ were here now  .  .  .  . 

History of Jesus

According to biblical history, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, son of Mary and Joseph.  The name was as common as the name Joshua, and was used throughout Judaea.  Why was he called Jesus?  The Gospel of Luke says the angel Gabriel told Mary to name the child Jesus (1:26) and Matthew says another angel told Joseph (1:21).  In Greek the word Jesus is called Jesous and Yehosau in Hebrew.   Scholars believe the time of Jesus birth occurred around 4 B.C., close to the last years of Herod’s reign.

In Mark, Jesus is described as a TEKTWV (tekton) and Matthew calls him the son of a tekton.  The English translation of tekton is the word “carpenter.”  Historical and biblical text record that Jesus lived in Galilee which became a part of Roman Judaea during his lifetime.  Historians further state that the social, economic and political structure of the Galileans was different from the Judeans–with the latter considering themselves superior.  His earthly father’s name was Yosef (Joseph) and mother, Mary.  One view is that Joseph was a widower, and had children by a previous marriage–none of which belonged to Mary.  According to the Scriptures, Mary had an immaculate conception, resulting in the birth of Jesus.  This is consistent with the recounting of Jesus’ calling God his Father.

In Mark 6: 3, we discover that Jesus had siblings:  “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?”   This recounting makes reference to those in the synagogue who did not believe that Jesus had been ordained to save the world from sin, sickness and death.  They were in affect saying, “He really is a nobody, just Mary’s child, and the brother of those other guys.”

After his baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee–among villagers and fisherman.

The Kingdom of Heaven

 

What was Jesus’ message to his followers?  The basic premise was “the kingdom of God  is within you” (Luke 17:21).  This is any emphatic statement that lets us know that the senses cannot see or hear that which is spiritual, because that kingdom is within us.  What is that kingdom?  Is it something inside the fleshly body?  If it is, why do we not see it during a surgical operation?  If Jesus were right here now .  .  .  what do you think he would say?

 

Kingdom is defined by Webster as “the position, rank or power of a king; the spiritual realm of God.”  During the time of Jesus, a king had the highest sense of power.  No one overruled his decisions, rules or laws.  Jesus differed from that viewpoint and maintained that “the  kingdom is within you”– it is your spirituality–your gift from God that connects you to Him–your divine consciousness.  No one can take it, or interfere with your ability to use it.  They cannot even tell when you are using it!  It is

between you and God.  It is not something that lends itself to sensualism, but elevates itself beyond anything the senses could ever behold.  Every person has the capacity to ignite this kingdom.  There are several ways of making this connection–prayer, biblical study, meditation, reciting the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes to name a few.

The most important thing is to be aware that it is there–there for you to grasp, hold on to and use  at any time.  That is what I believe he would say on that subject.

 

 

The Ministry of Jesus

 

Jesus is referred to in the Bible as “Christ.”   Some believe that Jesus is God.  I do not believe Jesus is God, but the Son of God as he stated.  I do believe, however, that he is “the Christ.”  Why “the Christ?”  Because I do not see Christ as a physical being, but a divine manifestation of God that comes into thought, and purifies it of sin, sickness and death.  Is it present today?  Yes!  Can we get in touch with it today?  Yes!  Being in the presence of Christ is having and being aware of the spiritual link that connects you to God.  Jesus was so good at doing this that he was, and is known as Jesus Christ.   Not only did he show the world his purpose for being on earth, but ours as well.  In articulating this to his  disciples, he left it for all of us:  ”Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:” (Matt. 10:8).  There are those who argue that this message was not for us, but his disciples alone.  They say, “God gave us doctors to do the healing.”  What would Jesus say?  The same thing he said centuries ago: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6: 33).   ”These things” were everything man needed while here on earth–and what man needs, is faith, hope and spiritual understanding which give him true substance.  Supply comes not from material goods, but from inspiration and divine revelation.  Establishing these in thought, paves the way to achieve everything else.

 

 

 

What would Jesus say to the medical world?

His first question would probably be Why do you not believe?  Believe what?  Believe that man is not a material being, made of flesh and blood, but a spiritual being–made in the image and likeness of God.  Just as God is my Father, He is also your Father.   Other questions might be, “Why have you not emulated me in healing?  Why do you use a pill and a knife to heal?  Is this the example I left for you?  Why are there so many accidents in your hospitals that kill people?  Why is your success rate in healing so low and inexact?

 

The difference between Jesus’ method of healing and those used today, is one is spiritual, and the other is material.  One is truth, the other error.  One gives eternal life, the other, temporal life.  One is human, the other, divine.  These are opposites, and can never yield the same results.

 

When a patient was brought to Jesus for healing, he admonished him, or in the case of a child, the parent, ” to believe.”  Believe that God, Mind is the only Medicine.  What does this Medicine heal?  It heals mortal mind–the foundation of sin, sickness and death.  Mortal thinking places reality in things that the senses see, hear, smell, taste and feel.  Divine Mind, another name for Soul, places reality on things that reach above the senses–things that come from the kingdom within–the heart–the soul or spirit of man.  Once thinking is cleansed, purified, the natural state of man is achieved, and the body yields to the thoughts controlling it.  I know the medical world believes the body controls one’s thinking, but it is the other way around–thoughts, whether conscious or unconscious, control the body.  This why mankind cannot heal the way Jesus did.  It places emphasis on the wrong side of correction–starting with matter, instead of Spirit.

 

Doctors begin their healing with matter: measuring temperatures, blood pressures, stress levels, looking for broken bones, internal injuries through X-rays and MRIs.   Jesus’ method of healing was mental preparation–making sure he and his Father were one–connecting to Mind, God.  He knew that if he became “at one” with God, mortal mind disappeared.  This “oneness” gave him the right thoughts, words and actions.  He was conscious of the patient’s state of thought at the moment and provided the remedy to correct it, generating the healing effect.   This method of healing is foreign to mankind today.  As you read this, you are probably thinking what a strange person that woman is.   It is difficult to grasp what one does not understand and has not demonstrated.  I have spent 40 years learning and demonstrating what I am saying and  .  .  .  I have not even scratched the surface in spiritual understanding.

Jesus saw every person as a child of God–not a physical being.  He beheld the true identity of man.  He kept this view uppermost in his thought.  Thus, when his disciples saw a “withered hand” or a “dead child,” he saw a spiritual idea, created by Mind, sustained by Spirit and governed by Principle–divine Law.  He literally knew nothing else.  Thus, his healings were quick, precise and complete–needing no time for recuperation.  Mankind does not accomplish the healing that Jesus did, because it is limited by its own thinking.  ”As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23: 7).

 

Am I knocking the medical world?  No!  I am asking mankind to knock on the door of the spiritual world!  It is only through the presence of the Christ will we conquer sin, sickness and death.  The first step, is to know and practice daily that man’s true nature is not in body, but in spirit.  Unless we take this step, we will linger in darkness, and the light of Truth will elude us.

 

What would I say if Jesus were here today?  Help me to understand that “the way” is letting go of materiality and clinging steadfastly to spirituality.  Teach me to walk in your footsteps, day-by-day, hour-by-hour.  Help me to love unconditionally, placing no god before the One God and Father, and holding in consciousness the perfect man–the man made in God’s image and likeness.

 

Then, and only then, will I be able to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons.