Adore Jesus. Worship God.

The title Message for 1900 is of interest, because we in the 21^st Century have lived through the year 2000 which was proclaimed to be the first year of that century. Mrs. Eddy speaks of the year 1900 as being the last year of the 19^th century. I recall there being some discussion about it at the time – it was pointed out that numbering of a child’s life begin in full years at number one when the child has lived for one year. Maybe Australia influenced the world-wide decision because we had the Olympic Games scheduled for that year! It was a huge watershed. Who decided?

Ah! Australia gets a mention on the first page, along with the Philippine Islands and the Hawaiian Islands, as the first places named as having a hearing and following of students of Christian Science. Interestingly, these are all places in Oceania and the Pacific area. It finishes with eastern Peking, again on the Pacific coast of China. Does this place Australia and New Zealand in the East or the West? We seem to claim fellowship with “The West.”

There are strong words on page 2 about three types of thinkers/workers: “… the right thinker and worker, the idler, and the intermediate”. This reminds me of our recent Bible Lesson (9 Jan, 2022) with its emphasis on “the cup.” We need to claim our heritage through the work of laying claim to the “cup of blessing.” * 

 How about this phrase: “to awake the slumbering capability of man”? ** 

 Here is a thought that got my attention yesterday: Is it right to worship Jesus? Our text tells us that the right thinker and worker is not to be worshipped (’00 3:18). Merriam Webster defines worship as: reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; an act of expressing such reverence. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (by Mary Baker Eddy) we find, “While we adore Jesus....” *** Is that the line we must take? One thinks of nominated saints, and Jesus’ mother Mary.  

Again, Science and Health is very explicit: "Dost thou “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”?" **** So, what are we to worship? God. And how do we do that? I looked on JSH-Online.com -

True worship, therefore, must include such perfect devotion to God, good, in every particular, that nothing shall ever tempt us to turn aside even momentarily from the purpose to prove His allness. It means that one will so appreciate all the qualities of God that not only will one always love them sufficiently to express them, but he will also declare for them, cling to them, use them, until all false beliefs are forced to bow down before God,—until such beliefs relinquish all their claims to power or presence. Thereby we shall prove, as Jesus said, that "we know what we worship," for we shall thus truly "worship God." (Ella W. Hoag, June 16, 1923 Christian Science Sentinel.)

Joyce Voysey

Note: Readers may like to hear what Michelle Nanouche has to say about worship in her recent lecture FINDING YOUR IMMUNITY FROM DISEASE - https://talksthatchangelives.org/. 

* 1 Corinthians 10: 16

** And they who love a good work or good workers are themselves workers who appreciate a life, and labor to awake the slumbering capability of man. (Message to The Mother Church for 1900, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 3:11–14)

*** While we adore Jesus, and the heart overflows with gratitude for what he did for mortals, — reading alone his loving pathway up to the throne of glory, in speechless agony exploring the way for us, — yet Jesus spares us not one individual experience, if we follow his commands faithfully; and all have the cup of sorrowful effort to drink in proportion to their demonstration of his love, till all are redeemed through divine Love. (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 26:1)

**** Dost thou “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”? This command includes much, even the surrender of all merely material sensation, affection, and worship. (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 9:17–21 (to 1st .)