This feature gives readers an opportunity to share with one another helpful approaches to their study of the Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly, and how they put what they learn into practice in their lives. These Bible Lessons consist of references from the Bible and from Science and Health.
For a time I devoted part of my study of the Bible Lesson to establishing a healing approach just to the news that interested me in The Christian Science Monitor. Then I read in one of the Christian Science religious periodicals about a student of Christian Science who applied the truths of each Lesson to every story on the Monitor's front page. I decided to do that, too. That meant no longer skipping some of the news, but facing up to every situation reported.
Usually, there are four stories on the front page ... of every issue; and, as a rule, I apply at least one section of the Lesson to each. After reading a Monitor report, I boil it down to one word: government, economy, employment, education, welfare, immigration, public safety, politics, or whatever. Then I study the Lesson, applying the spiritual ideas it contains to the situation I am dealing with. Every section in some way takes us to God as the only Mind and cause. It becomes clearer that neither mortal mind, so-called, nor mortal man is a factor in God's spiritual government of things.
At first I labored under the belief that I was trying to change the world or something in it. What a burden! No fun. I quickly cast that off. Now, at the outset, I clearly affirm that I am not trying to change reality; spiritual reality doesn't need changing. My prayerful study is to see reality—to dispel the material senses' clouded perceptions, which darken human consciousness and deny God's present universe of harmoniously functioning spiritual ideas.
Many times I've marveled at how well a section of the Lesson deals with a specific topic. Other times, I've had to dig. And the study is not over when I put away the books. I find that I have to stick to unfolding spiritual ideas as the real news all day long, not just when studying the Bible and Science and Health. So, that's quite a discipline. But this kind of study and prayer is helping me to be a better citizen, to feel more compassion for and understanding of my fellowman, and to see that this caring is Christianity in action.
On Sundays I examine each section to learn more of what Church is. My sense of Church is changing from personal beliefs—mine or anyone else's—to a greater perception of its true purpose in forwarding the healing activity of the universal Christ. Speaking of the "mighty works" of healing in Christian Science today and in Jesus' time, Science and Health says, "They are the sign of Immanuel, or 'God with us,'—a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,
To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense],
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised." 1
I see those words as depicting true Christianity, or as the Lesson-Sermon in action. The "divine influence" is active, never passive. So, I write letters to my local paper and to my Congressional representatives on issues the Monitor has alerted me to; I listen to news with a keener ear; I believe I'm less opinionated in conversation; and I have a sense of peace and buoyancy, for which I'll always be grateful.
This is one approach to studying the Lesson, and putting what I learn into practice, that I find helpful.
