All God's plan

Aha!  We are to realise that there are three accounts of Paul’s conversion – Luke’s and two of Paul’s.  So we must consult Paul.  How much more vivid is his account in Acts 26 and there is also that in Acts 22. 

The face of an angel

Stephen’s wisdom and spirit were irresistible to the people; even the men in the council “…looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”  Isn’t that one of most appealing word-pictures of the Bible?

It seems that Stephen spoke of the Christ as having fulfilled the Law.  Dummelow says, “The reason why the preaching of Stephen gave so much greater offence than that of the Twelve probably was that he saw that the coming of Christ virtually abrogated the Ceremonial Law, and that its abandonment was only a question of time.”

Study the Scriptures and walk the talk

After studying Galatians in a Principia College online Bible study course, I have been encouraged to read from a wider variety of Bible translations.  One I was unfamiliar with is the Common English Bible.  Reading it online (it’s free) is so interesting, because it gives all the cross-references to Old Testament passages.  Of course, I always knew that the Jews were well versed in Scripture, but to have those passages identified as you read Acts is extraordinary. 

Here’s an example.  Acts chapter 4: 19 onwards:  After Peter and John had been released from prison and the cross examination that followed, they rejoined their companions and told them all that had happened.  At this point “they lifted up their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4: 24) and proceed to quote Psalms 2: 1, 2 –

 

“... who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.” KJV

 

Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary has:  “Now the scripture was fulfilled that the rulers would take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, Ps. 2:2.”

Well, interestingly I have been reading a chapter of Psalms each day for the past couple of weeks, and I had no idea that so many of its verses are referred to or quoted directly by the apostles!  How exciting is this discovery – and how instructive to learn how well they all knew the Old Testament.

The response of Peter and John at their interrogation is of great import.  They could have kept their mouths shut, but they did not.  They spoke up!  They say (Acts 4, verse 19): “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.”  Matthew Henry includes the following information in his commentary: It is a rule in the common law of England that if any statute be made contrary to the law of God it is null and void.

Don’t we feel for them as they pray (verse 29, 30): “Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” (KJV)

²⁹Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence.³⁰Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant.”³¹After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence.  (CEB)

The lives of these early followers of Christ Jesus resounded with courage, dearly bought.  They looked fear in the face, and undiscouraged, confidently went on with their work of glorifying God and telling the gospel news – always through the power of the Holy Spirit.  May each of us seek to be just as faithful.

Julie Swannell

Master of energtic action - Paul the apostle

Acts Chapter 9.  Dummelow (see One Volume Bible Commentary) makes an interesting point I had never considered about Paul’s authority for calling himself an apostle of equal standing with the others.

He claimed to be an Apostle of equal rank and authority with the other Apostles (2 Cor 11:5 Gal 2:8, etc.) (1) because Christ had appeared to him as to the others (I Cor 15:8, 9:1), and (2) because Christ had appointed him an Apostle just as He had appointed the others (Ac 22:21, etc.).  For confirmation of the truth of this he appealed to ‘the sign of an apostle’ (miracles, conversions, etc.) which accompanied his ministry (2 Cor 12:12).

Dummelow says of Paul: “He perceived that the ceremonial Law was no longer binding, and his perception of this fact enabled him to preach Christianity as a universal religion.  The twelve already held this view in principle, but to Saul belongs the credit of acting upon it with energy, and of carrying it out to its logical results.’  (My emphasis – I am reminded that this is the book of the Acts of the Apostles.)

Joyce Voysey

William McKenzie

Hymnal Note for hymn 339 (There are none friendless, none afraid - “St Columba”) tells that this poem from William McKenzie’s Heartease Hymns was chosen by Mary Baker Eddy as among the finest – along with The Present.  These lines from The Present are quoted:

                        The future and past are man’s,

                        The Present belongeth to God.

Good, eh?  But I don’t think I have ever sung 339.

Joyce Voysey

Pilgrims of New England and hymn 337

 The Hymnal Notes commentary for Hymn 337 (Theories, which thousands cherish) tells us that the Pilgrims were founders of the Congregational Church, “…in which Mary Baker Eddy so long held her membership….”

 One would think that perhaps the words of this hymn, which include many feminine pronouns for Truth, were written by a student of Christian Science.  But this is not so.  The author is a Unitarian minister of Boston, Robert C. Waterston.

 Another interesting fact is that the Separatists in England (who later became the Pilgrims in the New World) “…found protection in liberal Holland, where they had closer association with the French idea of Congregationalism, which, by way of Plymouth, finally went into England as ‘the New England way.’”  Hence, I guess, the name for the part of the U.S. where they settled – New England.

Joyce Voysey

Unique among composers - Robert Schumann

Hymn 322 (Sweet hour of holy, thoughtful prayer) gives us some fascinating facts about Robert Schumann.  He was a “unique among composers for his work in criticism.”  “He was not afraid of enthusiasm….”  I must look him up for more details of his life and work.

Joyce Voysey

Guidance and "wonders"

It seems there are many scholarly opinions on what Luke’s purpose was in writing Luke-Acts.

 

When searching for information about Luke and Acts, I came across what Wikipedia says of Richard Cassidy (presumably a Bible scholar - quoted with authority):

 

He believes that Luke’s purpose was to share his faith in Jesus, to provide guidance for living under Roman rule and to inform believers of how to act if put on trial.^[15] Furthermore, Cassidy believes that Luke’s work serves to “equip his readers to handle such trials” by providing examples of the disciples’ suffering and to encourage them to “show the same faithfulness of testimony when under trial as Jesus and the leading disciples.”^[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_the_Apostles

 

 And so on to Chapter 6 – the difficulties of administration of charity, and Stephen.  The Greek-speaking widows were receiving less food than the Hebrew-speaking ones.  The apostles had enough to do without having to worry about such things.  It seems we are still talking about a communal society.  A committee of seven was chosen to attend to matters of business.  Stephen was one of those chosen.  He was no ordinary accountant!  We are told that he was full of faith and “did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

 

Joyce Voysey

They waited, like seeds in the ground

I love the book of Acts.  It is so vibrant and so visual.  It’s an action book! 

We find that there are three main characters in this sequel to, or part two of, the book of Luke viz. Peter, Paul, and the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.  Remember chapter one verse 8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  In order to locate these areas, the reader may enjoy finding some maps, like those here: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=New+Testament+Maps&FORM=RESTAB#view=detail&id=78922BE55A5A6BFA2B902004E00B60B76D0C6708&selectedIndex=36

I’ve managed to borrow a book via an inter-library loan.  It’s called PAUL: A Man Who Changed the World by Henrietta Buckmaster, copyrighted in 1965.  I read it years ago and am glad to have it in my hands again – if only for a brief time.  It’s fascinating.  We’ll get on to Paul later; let’s now take a peek at some of Ms Buckmaster’s commentary.

We’ll start with Peter’s speech in Acts 2: 22 – 28, which appears in this week’s Bible Lesson.  Buckmaster gives us some background to the “law”, about which we read so much. (All quotes here are from chapter one in her book):

      "The [Jewish] laws of purity were ... exact and minute...  The Jew ... was surrounded on all sides   by the polytheism and phallic cults of the pagans who made immorality a virtue, and for this reason he saw his law, his nation, his hope of salvation preserved only by the most rigorous adherence to the law."

And what of the Roman authorities?  Rome had power over a vast area of the known world so what did they think of little Judea, and how did they manage it?  Buckmaster writes:

     "The Romans hated Judea, with its strong invisible god and its intractable people...  But the Romans had political cunning.  They turned to the Sadduccees and the Sadducean High Priests to carry out their orders."

 

Meanwhile

      "The Nazarene disciples who had been shaken by betrayal, doubt, and grief had been commanded to wait.  They waited, like seeds in the ground.  They had been children while he was here.  While they waited they became men."

I love that!  Buckmaster continues:

      "They were simple men... They lived in a community of fellowship."

And now to Peter. 

      "Peter was not a great rabbi but he found the power of speech."

Acts 2: 14 “Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said...hearken to my words...”  And he goes on to proclaim the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, reassuring the “men of Israel” listeners that this had been prophesied by David, whom he quotes.  And his careful listeners “were pricked in their heart” and asked “what shall we do?”  Peter assures them that they can “repent and be baptized...and...receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  After all, the day of Pentecost, when they were “all with one accord in one place” had given them absolute evidence of this Holy Spirit and soon they would have further evidence of the Christ power in the so significant healing of the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.  Buckmaster says:

      "The lame man, leaping, liberated the apostles to see themselves as they were, formidable men, resounding with joy, speaking with confidence, acting like heirs of the future...The authority of the High Priest in his great turban and the members of the Sanhedrin, in their prayer shawls was greatly diminished by this...But when Peter had found his tongue he had found it forever.  Right or wrong he said, we must tell what we know."

What extraordinary times these were.  My heart leaps to read about it.

Julie Swannell

 

Songs that stay with us

I love to revisit the first words of Hymn 312, written by the poet William Cowper:

             Sometimes a light surprises

The Christian while he sings

How true that is!

 

And, Speak gently (Hymn 315/316) - wonderful words!  The tune is very old – from the Sarum Gradual of 1527.

 

Still, still with Thee (Hymn 317).   Larry Groce’s rendition of this hymn rings in my ears.  It is from, I think, his first album of Christian Science hymns, Peace, and Joy, and Power, a vinyl record I used to have playing while I balanced my branch church’s books as Treasurer.  A long time ago.  How long ago was that?  Was it sixpence I was trying to find, or 5 cents?

 

Joyce Voysey

They ceased not to teach and preach Christ Jesus

And so on to the second imprisonment of the apostles - all the apostles, I wonder? 

I ask myself: were the Sadducees so down on the apostles?  Dummelow’s One Volume Bible Commentary satisfies me with: “The proceedings of the apostles displeased the authorities –

1.    Because they taught the people without having received the education and ordination of rabbis;

2.    Because they preached the resurrection, a doctrine particularly distasteful to the Sadducees, the dominant party among the influential members of the priesthood;

3.    Because they feared that the people would become inflamed with enthusiasm, and they this would lead to collisions with the Romans.”                               Dummelow p. 823 on Acts 4:1-22

And, under Matthew 3:7 “The views of the Sadducees were in most respects the opposite of those of the Pharisees.  They made no pretensions to piety.  They acknowledged the Law of Moses as alone authoritative, and rejected the traditions of the elders.  They were hostile to the aspirations of the national party, and leaned for support on Rome.  Sceptical, or semi-sceptical, in their religious views, they rejected the popular beliefs in angels and spirits, in a future life, and in the resurrection of the dead.  They were a worldly, wealthy, and selfishly ambitious party, and their adherents were chiefly found among the chief priests” Dummelow p. 630.

It seems they were not specifically worried about the effects of the healing that was being done in Jesus’ name, but about the apostles having enough influence to cause the people to rise up and avenge the murder of Jesus by slaying them.

The apostles were freed from the prison by “an angel of the Lord.”  The “high priest” enters the picture – calling the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel – and is told that the apostles have escaped from prison.  He asks why the apostles disobey the order not to preach Jesus teachings.  Peter answers that there is no other way they can perform. 

Gamaliel (Paul’s teacher) steps in and says, “Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”  What a wise man.

But these men never learned!  They were beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, but they were reported as being “…daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Joyce Voysey

Early Christian Fellowship

To-day I would like to get some thoughts on paper (is this paper?) about what I think of as the first experiment of communism, though Dummelow’s One Volume Bible Commentary points out that it is not communism because the giving was voluntary.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary has this definition:

a: a theory advocating elimination of private property

b: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

 

Now, isn’t that a fine definition of God giving all and we having all that God gives?  “…God giving all and man having all that God gives” My. 5:9-10. Also, the desirability of impersonalising good seems to be emphasised.  We none of us own or possess good, we merely and effortlessly express it as the offspring of God.

 

Towards the end of Acts 2, we find that, as a result of Peter’s preaching regarding Jesus’ demonstration of the Christ, “about three thousand souls”… “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and in fellowship….” 

 

That fellowship included the pooling of their resources.  One wonders how this was accomplished.  Did they all live together in communes?  Like the Essenes?  (Wikipedia is informative on the Essenes).

 

We learn in Acts 5 that this idealistic way of life seems to have come to an end with the sad story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira and their dishonesty in holding back some the funds from the sale of a possession.  They both died.  I remember when I first became aware of this story I said to myself: “It was proved way back then that communism doesn’t work, just as it hasn’t worked in our day.” 

 

However, there was great progress in the life of the early church after that episode with Ananias and Sapphira.  Multitudes were added to the Lord – both of men and women.  And the healing that went on!  “There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one” Acts 5:16.

 

Joyce Voysey

 

Ed: I wonder if this sharing was an effort to build a co-operative and cohesive community, rather than communism.

Acts Chapter 3 & 4: Love one another

The story of the healing of the man healed by Peter and John at the gate of the temple seems to echo somewhat the beautiful healing by Jesus of the man blind from birth in Chapter 9 of John’s Gospel.  I vividly remember having used this whole chapter as the Bible part of the readings for a Wednesday evening meeting.  I wonder what the topic might have been.  It is interesting that if I were to start with that chapter again no doubt the readings would take a different tack

Anyway, the man was blind and was healed, but the blind Pharisees couldn’t accept this astonishing demonstration of God’s power to heal.  They questioned the parents and the man.  I just realised that they didn’t take their objections to Jesus himself.  Wonderful chapter!

These chapters of Acts are so interesting!  We usually only hear of the healing of the lame man, and his “walking, and leaping and praising God”.  But there is so much more to the story.  The healing was a springboard for Peter and John to illustrate the works which Jesus had taught them to do as proof of his mission; and to assure the people that they were also heirs to these blessings.  And, in Chapter 4 we are told that about five thousand men “believed.”

Chapter 4, verse one says, “They spake unto the people.”  An interesting point.  The record by Luke has Peter doing all the preaching.  Was he Luke’s informant?  Was John more modest in his reporting?  I am reminded that John was reported to have been a man of few words in his latter days.  The story* goes that when he was very old his disciples repeatedly asked him to say something beside, “Little children, love one another.”  His reply was that that was enough for Christian practice.

Joyce Voysey

*I found the story on the Internet:  http://lightandsilence.org/2012/08/little_children_love_one_anoth.html

Little children, love one another

A story of John that fits his epistles well:

When the holy Evangelist John had lived to extreme old age in Ephesus, he could be carried only with difficulty by the hands of the disciples, and as he was not able to pronounce more words, he was accustomed to say at every assembly, "Little children, love one another."

At length the disciples and brethren who were present became tired of hearing always the same thing and said: "Master, why do you always say this?" Thereupon John gave an answer worthy of himself: "Because this is the commandment of the Lord, and if it is observed then is it enough."

-In Jerome's Commentary on Galatians, cited in Period I, § 3(b) of A Source Book for Ancient Church History, by Joseph Cullen Ayer, Jr.

Posted by Simon St.Laurent on August 20, 2012 4:11 AM |

Acts, Chapter II - the WORD and the growing Church

Jesus had prepared the disciples well for their task of spreading the Word – they were of “one accord” in their prayers.

Wonderful that everyone heard the message proclaimed by the apostles in their own language.  So powerful is the Word of God.  It reminds one of the way representatives at the United Nations hear the messages translated into their own languages.  It seems to me that invention on a human plane is finding some way to emulate what Spirit has already shown to be possible.  In this case, it took about 2,000 years for the penny to drop, so to speak.

Mrs. Eddy speaks of the pure language of Spirit which “ear hath not heard, nor hath lip spoken” (Science & Health, page 117:14-15).  Yet, we all can and do hear the Word when we are still and listen with a spiritual sense of expectancy and receptivity.

Peter takes on the task of preaching to the people.  These people had heard Jesus teachings and turned away from them to insist that he be crucified.  Now they are learning that the Christ could not be killed through their hate and stupidity.

The people were convinced, and the church grew.  This is the third mention of “church” in the New Testament.  Jesus used it, saying to Peter, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).  Of course, the Catholic tradition is that Peter was the first Pope of that denomination.  It is good to know that the gates of hell which seem to have opened for some must eventually be closed, and purity reign. 

S&H is expansive on this saying of Jesus (p. 137:26).  The church was founded, “…not on the personal Peter as a mortal, but on the God–power which lay behind Peter’s confession of the true Messiah.”

The other “church” is also in Matthew (18:17).  This is part of Jesus teaching about how to handle the trespass of a brother.  It says, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

My Bible concordance defines church as “the body of Christians in general.”  My Bible Dictionary is much more expansive, and enlightening.  One point is, “in the Gospel of St. Matthew the church is spoken of no less than thirty-six times as ‘the kingdom.’ ”  It is an interesting read.

Joyce Voysey

Oxford University

Another titbit from Hymnal Notes: The author of the words of “O Walk with God along the Road” (hymn 257) was unable to enter Oxford University because he did not “subscribe to the Articles of the English church.”  His religious background had been Presbyterian and Unitarian, with “Puritan ancestry.”

Bible language and gazing into space

I’m glad that Luke kept writing after he’d finished the first part of his story (see the Gospel of Luke). 

 

My favourite passage in Chapter one of Acts is in verse 11 when "two men...in white" (presumably angelic messages from God) ask "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"  I might paraphrase: what are you doing gazing into space?  There was work to be done, and although their Master was no longer with them in human form, they would not be without the power of God he taught them and embodied, so they should get on with it!

 

I find that just reading from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible of 1611, with which I am most familiar, does not always make me stop and ask exactly what is going on.  The language is so beautiful and satisfyingly familiar to me that it carries me along happily.  But of course, we need a close reading of the Scriptures to gain a real understanding, both historically and then spiritually.

 

Some readers may be familiar with The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible (Oxford University Press).  It may still be available in Reading Rooms.  In the Introduction, we read: “...you will be able to see how gifted translators try in various ways to help the writers of the Bible speak to men and women today”.  Isn’t that nice?  And it quotes the “great Christian thinker Augustine” as saying “Variety of translations is profitable for finding out the sense of the Scriptures.”

 

I LOVE to read from it after I’ve read from KJV, because you can read four versions at once and thus get a variation in presentations.  The four Bibles given are:

1.      New King James Version (NKJV)

2.      English Standard Version (ESV)

3.      New Living Translation (NLT)

4.      The Message (Message)

 

Of course the New Testament books were written in what is now ancient Greek so we English readers will always be reading a translation.  And it’s interesting to read in The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible that “The New Testament was written to speak to every human being in the known inhabited world.  The language that would reach the widest circle of people was Greek—so the NT writers used it.”  

 

I love the way we read about the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost here.  The KJV gives us:

v. 2: he (Jesus) through the Holy Ghost had given commandments

v.5: ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost

v.8: ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come

v. 16: the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake

 

God’s power and presence were acknowledged, and felt.

 

Julie Swannell

Looked steadfastly toward heaven

I may never get past the first chapter of Acts!

Just now I find the word “steadfastly” interesting – in Verse 10.  The disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven.  Dummelow and Peterson both interpret it as just idly gazing up into the sky.  But ‘steadfastly’ is such a strong word….I will look it up.

Definition of STEADFAST - Merriam-Webster dictionary

1

a: firmly fixed in place : immovable

b: not subject to change <the steadfast doctrine of original sin — Ellen Glasgow>

2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal <her followers have remained steadfast>

— stead·fast·ly adverb

 

I love it.  The disciples were firm in their belief in heaven; the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Pretty soon they got to work in Jerusalem (again “home, heaven”).  They met in an upper room (elevated thought) and Mary, Jesus’ mother was there.  How wonderful!  His “brethren” were there as well.  There is varying view about whether Jesus had lots of brothers and sisters.  (Dummelow explains in detail.)  They prayed together; all of one accord.  The fate of Judas is recorded and they chose an apostle successor to him, after prayer for guidance and casting of lots.  Matthias was chosen over Joseph, called Barsabas, surnamed Justus.  Matthias doesn’t get any further mention in the New Testament.  Dummelow says that the casting of lots could have been accomplished by having “the two names probably written on tablets, and shaken in a vessel until one of them dropped out.” 

I have indeed finished chapter 1.

Joyce Voysey

Hymn tune from the Netherlands

HYMNAL Note for Hymn 246 (O Thou who spreadest the heaven like a tent) has an             interesting historical touch: The liberation of The Netherlands from Spanish rule, and the fact that the state of New York was under Dutch control for 50 years (1614-1664).

Joyce Voysey


Ed.  It's interesting that, "the first fifty years of the colony (1614-1664) were under Dutch control"  This tune is a "traditional folk song" of the Netherlands.  I love this one.

Peter and Paul and the Holy Ghost

Dummelow’s One Volume Bible Commentary says of Acts: “Acts represents the exact religious standpoint of St. Paul.  Its theme, the expansion of Christianity from a Jewish sect into a world-wide religion, is in fact St. Paul’s own ideal, in pursuit of which he broke every hindering tie, and strained every faculty of mind and body for upwards of thirty years.” Dummelow also says that “A more adequate title would be ‘The Acts of Peter and Paul,’ the Acts of Peter extending from c.1 to c.12, and the Acts of Paul from c.13 to c.28” p. 817.

And Eugene Peterson points out that we need the action of Acts to be complete Christians.  For without that activity we may become “enthusiastic spectators” rather than doers of the work that Jesus set for us.  (See The Message INTRODUCTIONACTS.)  “Go and do thou likewise,” Jesus demanded. (Luke 10:37 in part)

In this regard, I feel that we can liken Mary Baker Eddy’s Miscellaneous Writings to Acts; a matter of putting the word into action and how to do it.

How stunning that Jesus was among the disciples for forty days after his resurrection and before his ascension.  What lessons they must have gained in that time!  Jesus promised that the Holy Ghost would come upon them.  Now, Science &Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy classifies Holy Ghost in the Glossary as, “Divine Science; the development of eternal Life, Truth, and Love.”  So, the disciples were to use divine Science in witnessing to the Christ by healing and teaching; this was the exact same Science which Mary Baker Eddy has revealed to this age, and which we are free to practise by healing in Christ’s name – Christian Science.

Joyce Voysey

Stretch

A mind once stretched by new ideas never regains its original dimensions.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

dictionary.com
stretch:
1. to draw out or extend oneself, a body, limbs, wings etc to the full length or extent
2. to hold out, reach forth, or extend one's arm, head etc
3. to extend, spread, or palce something so as to reach from one point or palce to another (e.g. stretch a rope across a road)
4. to draw tight or taut (e.g. stretch the strings of a violin)

Roget's Thesaurus:
increase
expand
lengthen
space
distance
exertion
encroachment
misinterpret
exaggeration

We hear of examples in Jesus' healing ministry where he requested the patient to "stretch" e.g. Matt 12:13.

With the remarkable and lively unfolding story in the book of Acts, we see the results of Jesus' brief three year ministry stretching out into the future.  The world was forever changed, and the interesting characters in the story here were the first to continue to stretch out beyond the everyday view, the old theology, the mundane view of the world around them.  They had been touched by Christ and they weren't going to remain mere "enthusiastic spectators" (The Message p. 1971 - Introduction to the book of Acts); and this book shows us how we can continue the story today.

Julie Swannell

Breaking in to the book of Acts

Breaking into the book of The Acts of the Apostles (hereafter called Acts), I find that I must go back to my notes on the book Luke (The Gospel according to St. Luke). In Acts 1:4 we find that Jesus had told the disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem.  I had done a lot of thinking about the idea of Jerusalem when studying Luke, and I reckoned that he was recording Jesus’ journey “up to Jerusalem.”  And I noted that Jerusalem is a state of consciousness as defined in the Glossary of Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: Home, heaven.  (It also defines what can be classified as the negative aspects of Jerusalem: Mortal belief and knowledge obtained from the five corporeal senses; the pride of power and the power of pride; sensuality, envy; oppression, tyranny.)

22^nd October, 2012 I wrote: I find myself not interested so much in the healings and teachings recorded by Luke, wonderful as they are, as the thread I see in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus journey “to Jerusalem.” Luke knew the outcome of that journey, and was giving markers along the way of how it came about.  And I listed all the “Jerusalem” references in Luke, and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings.  Interesting to re-read all that.

Yes.  Acts is a sequel to the book of Luke, being written and compiled by that brilliant recorder.

My blog entry for 6^th September, 2012 is of interest for my musings on Luke, e.g.         Like a good news correspondent, it seems that Luke interviewed everyone who had been eyewitnesses to the events of Jesus’ life.  How satisfying it must have been for him. 

It seems that Luke was already a follower of Christ when he met Paul, having come from Antioch in Syria.  And travel in those days was so slow there was plenty of time for Paul to impart his knowledge of events as they walked or sailed.  The writings tell us that he was not constantly with Paul on his travels around Greece, but he accompanied him to Rome, and supported him there in those days of peril.

Joyce Voysey

 

Changing views

“No one is educated today who has not read and pondered the writings of Mary Baker Eddy”.  This is a statement by an American clergyman who had been hostile to Christian Science, especially to the work of healing, but who later changed his view completely, and was recorded by Daisette McKenzie on pages 249-250 of We Knew Mary Baker Eddy.  

 

 I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to re-read this life-changing book.  This is the first time I’ve read it in its Expanded Version and I’m grateful for the new material.  But one day, I asked myself why I always feel inspired, uplifted, even exhilarated when reading about the life of this woman, Mary Baker Eddy.  Yes, I am inspired when I read about all sorts of people who have made or are making a difference in the world – who wouldn’t be?  But Eddy’s example offers something more, and I wondered why.

 

I think the answer is that through her example, we witness the “human exemplification of Christian Science” (John Lathrop p. 259).  Her legacy to the world remains a shining ray of light. 

 

She let’s see why this woman’s story has such an impact on me.

 

1.       She is relatable.  We can see a bit of our best self in her example of daily living.  Not that we aspire to be someone else, but most of us would aspire to be the best we can be and Mary Baker Eddy’s example is such that we can say: I might be able to do that too.  I like, for instance, that she wrote so tenderly to her student Julia Bartlett: “Write soon and often” (p. 64).  She excelled in so many areas and yet was invariably meek and self-effacing.     

 

2.       She loved.  Miss Bartlett offered this insight, that “She was always mindful of the little things” (p. 90).  And she especially loved little children.  Hear her words on this – “...the most beautiful thing is a little child.”  Emma Newman tells us that “she loved [children]” because “theirs was the white, unwritten page” p. 243.  And I think each record recounts her generosity.

 

3.       For all her immense spirituality, she was supremely practical.  Bartlett again: “One, in speaking of the good life of a certain man...said, “That is old-fashioned Christianity.”  She corrected him by saying, “That is Christianity” (p. 91).   I love Alfred Farlow’s astute observation that “she was never given to redundancy in her writings, in her mode of living, or in her habits in general. Her table was furnished with plenty of good, wholesome food, but it was always prepared economically.  Although her income was comparatively large, she saved every dollar above a sensible living for her Church...” And, importantly “Many besides the writer have noted with interest and profit her remarkable example in punctuality.” (p. 205).  Emma Newman writes about the “cheer, daintiness, and order” of her home.

 

4.       She knew who she was and what she had to do.  She was a true servant of God.  Thus, when she requested that selected students come to a special meeting in April 1887, she countered their reluctance and un-readiness with insistence that they comply! p. 167.  And I love the tender class episode recounted by Sue Harper Mims on p. 299/300 regarding Mrs. Eddy’s place as “revelator for this age”.

 

5.       Her ability to accomplish much was truly outstanding and was in no small part due to strict self discipline but mostly I think great love for her fellow man - her life’s work.  I was impressed with John Lathrop’s comments (p. 260-261), that Eddy’s “demonstration of energy and activity was highly consistent” and that she was “very methodical, very orderly about everything” and “never procrastinated.  She never put off till tomorrow the work she could do today.”  Sue Harper Mims relates her saying that “Christian Scientists should be the most methodical people on earth” p. 290.

 

6.       She laboured unwaveringly for the establishment of her church.  Annie Knott observed that Eddy “early discovered that humanity not only needed to know God but needed a church.”  In the early days those healed were inclined to remain in their old churches until it was “more and more clearly seen that Christian Science churches alone could establish and maintain the Christ-healing” and Knott noted that “this...called for very earnest work not only in Boston but throughout the entire Field” p. 171.

 

7.       She stood firm in the face of extraordinary opposition.   See p. 172.  I enjoyed John Salchow's comment that "She did not hesitate to apply whatever remedy was necessary to put error out of business" p. 399!!

 

8.       Her ability to reason logically, and to make herself understood on metaphysical topics was practically illustrated by her own healing work and her ability to guide and teach others to heal.  Annie Knott writes “She endeavoured to lift thought above mortal sense and used the following terms to present the unfoldment of the spiritual idea along mental and spiritual lines – namely, perception, reception, conception” (p. 173).  (I’ve just finished a 4 week on-line Bible study course on Galatians through Principia College with Madelon Maupin, and found it interesting that Knott cites a passage from Galatians in regard to this unfoldment: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” Gal 4:19.  

 

9.       She was a “minute woman” - always ready to move in a new direction as God demanded and always promptly on time.  See page 209.  Also p. 275 (Annie Louise Robertson) “While our Leader always waited patiently for the right time in which to adopt some new and more spiritual method, when it was once decided, she brooked no delay...”

 

10.    I love that Farlow has reminded us that we can all “interview” her as we turn to her writings!

 

11.    She is described as “refinement itself”, “poised and dignified” with “gentleness, humbleness, ...meekness” (Walter Gale on p. 216).  Lathrop tells us she once said: “Humility is the door, honesty the way, and spirituality the summit” p 264.  He added “She was versatile and always knew just how to approach a person never forcing the thought with Christian Science but would present the truth at the right time or not mention it at all.”  George Wendell Adams writes that she was “vigorous and vivid” and refers to her “heavenly expression” on p. 283.  Mims tells us that “she walks very quickly and smoothly” p. 291.  And Calvin Hill recalls her "sweet motherliness" p. 328.

 

12.    She was a superb teacher who never deserted her students.  On page 226, Bliss Knapp mentions her having sent him “a little book on elocution” and writing “a comforting and helpful letter” to help him “meet public criticism” in his early work as a lecturer.  She also knew the worth of her students.  On p. 235 Emma Easton Newman recalls Eddy’s words (recorded in Miscellaneous Writings p. 279): “We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind...” 

 

Her teaching technique involved questions and answers, plus story-telling and jokes!  George Wendell Adams tells us that she said “....when the deep things of Christian Science were being considered, the mesmeric sense of too continuous seriousness must be broken” p. 284.  I love the way she illustrated the topic of “watching” with the story of the Union soldier who sang a hymn “because [he] was conscious of danger which [he] could not see or hear”, thus prompting the Confederate soldier to lower his rifle and depart.  Summing up, Eddy explained: “Christian Scientists read their literature, go to church, to church meetings, and still may be tumbled over; that is not watching...” p. 262-3.

 

13.    She was a marvellous Bible scholar, and expected her students to be so too.  Emma Newman observes that “instead of forsaking the Bible, she searched it more diligently” as a result of dissatisfaction with scholastic theology - p. 243.  She was a close disciple of Christ Jesus, an astute reader of Paul’s writings and of the entire Bible.  She spoke of “the absurdity of the literal translation of the Bible” – p. 297.
 

 

And what of her sincere and loyal students - what do we learn from them? 

 

My goodness: they WORKED and they HEALED.  Julia Bartlett’s experience is noteworthy (p. 73 - 75): “I was seeing and treating seventy patients a day, my work taking me far into the night, and although I could give each one but a few minutes of my time, most of them were healed quickly...One an extreme case of double curvature of the spine, heart disease, and other troubles, whom the doctors had given but a short time to live, was instantaneously healed and soon had class instruction...”

 

And they learned their lessons.  Annie Knott tells us that Mrs. Eddy once said: “Declare positively, mortal minds cannot harm me or my patients.  One Mind governs all harmoniously.”  Then she relates being called to treat a violently insane man and found that “Mrs. Eddy’s wonderful teaching in the recent class became so clear to me that I felt I could raise the dead...”  The case was cured. pp. 164-166.  To Calvin Hill she said: "Get your heart right with the heart of God. That is what heals the sick.  Get right yourself.  Now, you get a practice and know that it is not you that heals, but that it is getting right yourself" p. 356.

 

John Salchow's comments (p. 399) are helpful: "...error was always trying to tell those who worked for Mrs. Eddy that they could not carry out her instructions.  She herself talked with me and taught me how to resist these arguments and to meet the belief of reversal."

Don’t you appreciate Mrs Knott’s observation that “The Mother Church..of course includes all of its branches” p. 171?

 

I really loved reading about the arrival of two children in cases of previous barrenness – pp 176-177.  We learn from Science and Health p. 494:  “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.”

 

As we read along, we can see the emerging church.  Today we may take for granted that there is no personal preaching in Christian Science churches, but in 1895, when Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures the “only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands” it was soon clear that “The responsibility no longer rested upon individuals but on each branch church to elect and support the Readers who were to serve...” p. 183-4.

 

I enjoyed John Salchow's description of the "little group of sincere people...and the informal meetings they held at each other's homes" (p. 370).

 

Another innovation in the early days was the appointment of female lecturers and again we hear from Annie Knott, who learned to courageously follow her Leader in this work.  Eddy told her that she “must rise to the altitude of true womanhood” p. 191-2.

 

Mrs. Eddy quizzed (or rather perhaps grilled) her students.  Frank Gale brings out some helpful teaching regarding how to heal quickly.  See p. 216.

 

Annie Robertson comments that “it remains for her followers to consecrate and dedicate their lives to carrying on the great work...” p. 279.

 

Julie Swannell