METAPHYSICAL MEETING, May 20, 2013
Contents
| - Topic | |
| - Call to the meeting | |
| - Readings | |
| - Participant contribution A | |
| - Participant contribution B | |
| - Participant contribution C | |
| - Participant contribution E |
Topic
Our goals are already complete
Call to the meeting
We can think of Christian Science healing as revealing what is already spiritually true about whatever the issue is. That is no less the case with our church. When we not just acknowledge, but truly understand, appreciate, and nurture the spiritual existence and divine qualities of our church, then we can realize that the ultimate solution to church unfoldment is already established, appreciated, and prosperous. We can then approach church with active spiritual receptivity, where fruition is natural.
What are your thoughts about this important topic of goals being already complete?
What are those goals, and how do we relate them to our church organization and property?
What can we expect? How and why is this so?
We look forward to hearing your ideas on these or any related questions regarding our goals and their realization.
Mrs Eddy writes in Unity of Good: “This Science of God and man is the Holy Ghost, which reveals and sustains the unbroken and eternal harmony of both God and the universe. It is the kingdom o f heaven, the ever-present reign of harmony, already with us.” (Un. 52:4-7)
Readings
The Bible:
I Pet 2: 2-6
I Cor 3: 6-8 (to :), 9-11
I Pet 5: 10 the God
The writings of Mary Baker Eddy:
My 349: 20
Un 50:6-18
Un 51: 3-6, 20-1
Un 52: 4-7
Ret 56: 5-15, 18-3
Hymns:
141: “If the Lord build not the house”
330: “The King lof Love ny Shepherd is”
Participant contribution A
As I read this week’s Bible Lesson, Soul and Body, I found that whenever “man” is referenced, I could substitute “my branch church,” and it provided a nice basis for the truth about our church. Our church is “the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love” (477:20-22). “The one Ego, the one Mind or Spirit called God, is infinite individuality, which supplies all form and comeliness and which reflects reality and divinity in” our branch church (281:14). “The identity, or idea, of [our branch church] continues forever...” (71:5-7). Our branch church “as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect[s], in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God” (516:21). And, that’s only in the first section! It was nice background for thinking about what to say tonight about our goals being already achieved.
Scriptural authority for this is found in Ecclesiastes:
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us” (Eccl 1:9-10). “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past” (Eccl 3:14-15).
God created everything and it was very good (Gen. 1:31). The expression or idea of church was part of that everything. So, church has coexisted with God forever. This coexistence means that it can’t change for the worse. It can’t lose anything. God supplied church with its infinite resources. God provided for church’s infinite expression in multifarious forms to meet human needs. As with God’s idea, man, God’s idea, church, doesn’t get old, it doesn’t wear out, it doesn’t lose its vitality or strength. Church doesn’t have too much space or too few people. Church is supplied with everything it needs abundantly. God’s law of harmonious adjustment takes care of the changes needed on the human scene. Not only that, He’s telling us and everybody who needs to know what needs to be done.
God never stops revealing His creation. Church, therefore, continues to be revealed; its expression continues to unfold in our thought. Church can only be progressive, because it is revealed in accordance with God’s law.
A goal is something that may be achieved in the future. According to Webster, a goal is “the end toward which effort is directed.” So far so good. Its primary synonym is intention. These related words mean “what one intends to accomplish or attain,” and goal “suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.” Hmm... hard work. The letter to the Hebrews tells us to run the race with patience looking toward Jesus (Heb. 12:1,2). Paul told the Philippians that he forgets what has gone before and looks toward the finish line that was marked by Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13,14). Eddy tells us that it’s less difficult when we keep the goal in our vision, that expectation speeds our progress, and that the struggle for Truth strengthens us (426:5-11).
What is our goal with respect to our branch church? Isn’t it to thoroughly demonstrate “the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle” (583:14)? To my sense, this is parallel to striving for perfection in our individual lives.
I’ve been working with the synonyms recently, so “the structure of Truth and Love” is the same as “the structure of God.” “Whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle” is “whatever rests upon and proceeds from God.” The structure of God is unchanging good, is creation continuing to appear. Whatever rests upon God is firmly established, the house built on the rock.
This church is eternal. It is forever meeting its goals to be the structure of God, resting on and proceeding from God. It is not a future event. It is now.
“‘Now,’ cried the apostle, ‘is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,’ — meaning, not that now men must prepare for a future-world salvation, or safety, but that now is the time in which to experience that salvation in spirit and in life. Now is the time for so-called material pains and material pleasures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible in Science. To break this earthly spell, mortals must get the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists and governs the universe harmoniously” (39:18-27).
We have met and are meeting our goals.
Participant contribution B
1) Church - a complete divine idea, and our goals should include continuing to see the unfoldment of God's perfect complete plan. We are stewards of the church as we are upholding the Christ, Truth, and its healing mission in our church work and outreach.
2) God is revealing to us all of the right ideas which we need. Our church is spiritually whole and complete. Our church is already perfectly intact and built on a spiritual foundation.
3) There is only Truth's unfoldment of God's goodness and divine Love guarding and guiding each spiritual step.
4) The divine law is always in operation. We are right now at the moment of God's revelation and we are standing on Holy Ground.
5.) Move forward on the path in front of us while we “keep pace with a higher purpose” sharing Mrs. Eddy's revelation to all: Christian Science.
Participant contribution C
I was thnking of mary baker eddy's statement, “When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress” (S&H 426:809.) When we see church as complete, we accept God's plan for our church, and this takes away any sense of anxiety, etc Our goal for our church is good, and it's alreay done.
Participant contribution D
It's a moment by moment checking in, about what I am thinking. FOr example, suggestions about empty seats being exchanged for spiritual ideas that never fade. The susbtance of our church can never be less athan full. I'm grateful to be more involved, and to know my needs are met as a result of greater particpation. I can feel it in my life. Church is going on and is lifting us all up.
Participant contribution E
Last week’s audio chat on sentinel.christianscience.com referenced a quotation statement I’ve read and heard on previous occasions, and which I find in various Christian Science periodicals in several forms, dating back to 1951, that the place you need, needs you; the place that you are seeking, is seeking you. This inspiring sentiment has been helpful to people in multiple situations, such as finding a job. It applies equally to church. Why? Because the All-activity of divine Mind, divine Principle, is the only activity, the only place, the only reality; and it is at every instant fully prepared, fully ready, fully functional, fully attended, fully operating, fully complete, and so on. Furthermore, that All-activity finds manifestation only within itself, the immensity of unbounded Soul, Spirit, and that activity and place are reflected in Mind’s ideas, which we call church, and Mind’s intelligent idea, man.
The activity and place of the All-activity of Mind, Soul, cannot be without place, cannot be without activity. It is naturally expressed because Spirit is constantly unfolding and expressing Life. And that Life possesses natural good, natural usefulness, natural attraction, natural inclusiveness, all of which is expressed in and as church. Therefore, church has its needs and goals already met.
What are the goals of church? As the expression of divine activity, church has the purpose of manifesting God’s completeness and activity. Therefore, those are the goals of church.
Does this mean we don’t bother with aiming for the lawn to be neatly cut, or the Reading Room to be better used, or the church to be better attended? Not at all! Those humanly desirable things represent spiritual qualities that are naturally embraced and present in church, the spiritual activity of Love. In fact, knowing the spiritual nature of these activities and qualities provides even greater incentive to see them in thier true light and to realize their unending presence and effectiveness. We do, of course, need to watch that we carry this spiritual approach into everything we do, everything we see, everything we love in the concept of church.
As we do this, we can expect a greater interest by people in our town, a renewed involvement in town activities, more recognition, and unfolding resources. We do need to be vigilant in keeping our individual thought in line with God, with the natural spiritual nature and activity of church.