God with us
Historically, the Civil War played an inestimable role in the discovery of Christian Science. As a young child my family were friends with a much older couple. They were Christian Scientists and the husband was quite a thinker. He wrote a book titled, “A Lincoln Trilogy”. (This book is very rare today if you choose to look for it just know it's hard to find!) This small volume focuses its perspective on American history through the eyes of Lincoln and Mrs. Eddy. It’s quite an interesting read.
The author, James “Neil” Hastings, writes: "When Jesus was engaged in his ministry, and for several centuries thereafter, the entire civilized world was under the despotic rule of the Roman Emperors and the Christians were cruelly persecuted by different Roman rulers.
"Christianity itself thrived under this persecution and spread throughout the empire, but the church, or organized activity of Christianity, received no protection from the government and was subject at any time to destruction or suppression by arbitrary action of some emperor or governor.
"And so it would ever be under despotic, monarchial governments.
"Therefore, (and this is the main thought or premise I’d like to have you remember) in order for primitive Christianity to reappear, there would first have to be established, somewhere on the earth, a form of civil human government under which this true religion could exist and prosper and carry on its organized healing and redemptive work, without governmental control or interference.
"This civil government would have to be one that would recognize and defend the inherent and inalienable rights of man, and that would guarantee to all men freedom of speech, press, and religion, and all the other freedoms to which man rightly is entitled.
"Such a form of government had been conceived and founded on this continent, as a new nation, twenty-two years before Lincoln was born; but it was not been perfected and firmly and finally established, because a dark, ominous cloud enveloped our country which threatened continually to break into a violent storm and disrupt its political unity and arrest or impede its social progress.”
Throughout history, pastors have often stood for the right to congregate, worship, pray, and heal, and today is no different. Due to the biblical statement, "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,.. (I Peter 2:9 (to 3rd ,) we find people of all religions standing for their right to worship.
An “holy nation” is led by one God, one Church, one Christianity. It is God guiding, governing, protecting each citizen each step of the way. It is God “lighting the way to eternal harmony" (SH vii:10), just as the Wisemen of old beheld and followed the daystar of God's providing. Not only must we let them lead, but we must follow when and as we hear the leading.
There is a pattern of freedom, of salvation, that shows God's acts in the lives of humanity. The coming of John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ. The Bible records, “As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Marrk 1:2-3).
Wilderness is defined by Mary Baker Eddy, in her primary book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, as “the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds he great facts of existence" (SH 597:16).
After Jesus' ascension, the early Christian Church made its appearance for about three centuries. Constantine, the pagan Emperor, then declared Christianity to be the official religion of Rome. But, it was at this time, for more than a thousand years, Christianity was adulterated and almost lost.
Hastings points out, “It is an interesting and significant fact, that so long as the Christians were persecuted for their religion they grew in strength and numbers and the works of healing, even to the raising of the dead.... But, when friendship and protection were tendered them by the pagan Emperor, the Christians began to become soft and soon rites and ceremonies supplanted spirituality,.. and inspiration.”
Frederick II, Emperor of Germany, was relentless in his struggle “against the Popes and their claims to temporal power.” This helped to sink the Catholic church into one of its darkest hours around 1250 A. D. Following this John Wyclif entered the world stage and “lighted the lamp of Protestantism.” It is in his translation of the New Testament that the phrase Science and Health appears.
Then, we have the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1440 A. D., and biblical knowledge spread among the common. In 1492 we know Columbus sailed the ocean blue discovered San Salvador, 25 years later Luther nailed his 25 theses to the door of the parish church in Wittenberg.
Hastings writes, “…the pattern continues to unfold. An irresistible impulsion is moving the peoples of the world out of darkness into light, out of bondage into freedom.”
Henry the Eighth then severs his relationship with the Pope and made himself the head of the Church of England. Then the colonies began to develop here in the United States, but their alliance with England would need to be severed once and for all. As Hastings puts it '…at this time a galaxy of great statemen and patriots blessed the colonist,...'"
The Declaration of Independence is drafted, war ensues, the revolution lingered. And, out of it all came a constitutional federal republic. This republic became the womb in which Christian Science would be in gestation as Mary Baker Eddy brought forth a “man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Rev. 12:6-8).
Far more than a mere history lesson, this is a light outlining of God’s hand in world affairs. Do we doubt today that God’s hand is in power? Then let’s recall these history lessons and give thanks the Father of All is here and now, present and powerful.
We possess a life transformed by the light of Christ, Truth. We are “an holy nation” ‘siding with God and winning' (CS Hymn 296).
If you'd like to hear this hymn beautifully sung please call me so I can direct you to it. (806) 796-1753
Lincoln was the forerunner to Mrs. Eddy as John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus. The Constitution of the United States maps out the state government, the Church Manual maps out religious government. If these are adopted by any country and any church in the world, and adhered to, we find God has provided mankind with the blueprints to peace worldwide. They are there for us and we can see the connection between the two ready to bless mankind.
The adherents of Christian Science is a body of evangelical scientific thinkers, -- Principle-minded thinkers. Christ Jesus founded this body and sent his disciples out into the world to heal the world of its sins. This “church”, if you will, was built in individual human consciousness, first the disciples’, and later the followers of Christ Jesus’ teachings, and to all those who follow the Master in living his teachings on a Christianly scientific level.
“This apodictical Principle, present today, in individual consciousness, points to the revelation of Immanuel, ‘God with us,’ — the sovereign ever-presence, delivering the children of men from every ill ‘that flesh is heir to,” writes Mrs. Eddy (SH 107:7).
Lifting thought to recognize and acknowledge the higher purpose of divinity embracing humanity today, we too, find "God with us."
