Broken Hearts

[rogergParticipant]

At the beginning of the chapter, Christian Science Practice, Mary Baker Eddy discusses Mary Magdalene’s visit to Jesus and Jesus’s instant forgiveness of her sins. She was a prostitute, and Jesus forgave her, when he saw that she wanted to be cleansed. Simon was in attendance, as were other Pharisees, who wondered why Jesus didn’t make the sinning woman leave. I love the analysis that Mary Baker Eddy gives the situation. She says that Christian Scientists can be like Simon, seeking Truth through “material conservatism” and for personal gain, rather than through genuine spiritual repentance. She says:

“If Christian Scientists are like Simon, then it must be said of them also that they love little. On the other hand, do they show their regard for Truth, or Christ, by their genuine repentance, by their broken hearts, expressed by meekness and human affection, as did this woman? If so, then it may be said of them, as Jesus said of the unwelcome visitor, that they indeed love much, because much is forgiven them.” (Science and Health, pg. 364)

At the moment, this is my favorite passage in Science and Health. I like it because the amount of love we should have that is indicated in this quotation is inspiring. Think about it. Jesus forgave a prostitute. The holiest man on earth loved and blessed one of the most unholy, unclean women on earth. I think it’s useful to remember that Jesus didn’t make the church-goers his friends. He hung out with the down and dirty folks, the sinners, the prostitutes, etc. They needed him most, so he gave them his love and forgiveness.

Christian Scientists are few in number, and the fact is, there are a lot more prostitutes and sinners out there in the world than there are Christian Scientists. Do we judge them and condemn them? Or do we follow Jesus’ example and have mercy on them?

I think the world needs more mercy, especially from Christian Scientists, so that’s why I like that quotation. Just thought I’d share that.

[IngeModerator]

Christian Scientists are few in number, and the fact is, there are a lot more prostitutes and sinners out there in the world than there are Christian Scientists. Do we judge them and condemn them? Or do we follow Jesus’ example and have mercy on them?

I think the world needs more mercy, especially from Christian Scientists, so that’s why I like that quotation. Just thought I’d share that.

Wow Roger, not at all the topic I expected when I first clicked on it!! But a good question. One of the things that stood out to me in last weeks lesson was the question “Are we really living the life that most approaches the supreme good?” (sorry paraphrase) Before, I had always read that question and kind of ducked my head–oops, probably not, I’m not doing this, and I thought a mean thought about someone last week, and probably took thought for what I ate and drank, etc etc. It always felt like rebuke, a question that caused me to be judgemental of myself. But as I read it last week, it came to me that it isn’t about judgement, although a healthy wake up call isn’t such a bad thing, but it’s also a call to make a claim for what we really are. Of COURSE we’re living the life that approaches the Supreme Good– how could God’s reflections do anything but??

Anyways, where I’m going with this is that I think it’s all too easy for us to be judgemental– both of ourselves and others– but to me, being judgement and self-righteous are just masks for selfishness. They lead you down a path of criticizing others while patting yourself on the back. Instead, I would say that CS is about setting the standard for good high and expecting others to raise to that level– which we help by holding our own thoughts of others clear. I think there’s something to be said for being pro-active. .having mercy has a bit of a passive connotation to me, but I don’t think it’s about judgement either.

[JDParticipant]

I love how such good ideas are flowing through these discussion forums. I’m especially impressed with how well-articulated, and well-thought these ideas are too. I think that says a lot for the tone that this site has created and upholds. I think that Christian Scientists have always been “thinkers,” regardless of age. But this site, to me, it setting a standard for wonderful discussions to happen amongst these thinkers, in a way that is refreshingly pure and intelligent at the same time. Great work everybody! I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a part of these forums. They are inspiring and uplifting me to new heights!

I’d also like to say that it’s really special to “meet” new people on this site and to read what they are thinking about, and how they are using CS. So cool, to hear these great ideas – each from a unique voice – from all over the world!!

[David-BParticipant]

I was recently reading the chapter in Science and Health that Roger mentioned. Reading this and reading the responses in this forum made me think. I would love to hear people’s opinions on conclusions they have come to between forgiving someone–truly want to express love–and of expecting healing–or not accepting the lie of a sinner. Because, Jesus certainly wasn’t sympathetic to the sinners. He didn’t say, “Oh, poor you guys. The world has been tough on you, I totally understand why you’d want to sin.” He didn’t stand for that at all.

Sometimes I feel people tend to confuse “accepting a person” and “forgiving a person.” And it’s not mean to not accept a person, is it? Jesus didn’t accept the sinners. But he did realize the nothingness of their sins and the power of immortal mind to govern and break out of sin. Isn’t it true that we need more “forgivers” than “accepters?” What have you all thought about in regards to “accepting” and “forgiving?”

[ChristieCParticipant]

Very good thoughts by all. I do think that we can love the “sinners” and look past what we think and they may think they do that’s sinful. Like you said spiffee, we can love them with out accepting that view of them as sinners. We can see the pure light and reflection of God radiating from them as an idea of God. God’s ideas aren’t sinners, it’s our human opinions that make them out to be sinners. So yes Roger, it is true that we could all work on loving more and having more compassion, but it would come more easily if we saw each individual as the perfect, idea of God. Even just walking down the street if a beggar comes up to you holding out their cup for change really hold in your thought that idea of where their home is, or where their sense of guidance and love and gain come from. That’s all it takes is a little change in thought. But we do have to stay on our thought constantly. Mrs. Eddy says on pg 76 (Christian Science versus Spiritualism) of Science and Health:

Suffering, sinning, dying beliefs are unreal. When
divine Science is universally understood, they will have
no power over man, for man is immortal and lives by
divine authority.

and on pg 496 (Recapitulation):

Hold perpetually this thought, — that it is the spiritual
idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to
demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing,
based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, over
lying, and encompassing all true being.

Jesus loved all mankind in their most spiritually perfect form. We can too!

[lauraParticipant]

I love that idea of forgiveness. I always want to be forgiven if I ever do anything that hurts or upsets someone and in return, I will forgive others, as well.
One of my favorite stories from the Bible is when someone asks Jesus if they should forgive someone seven times (sorry I do not remember the specifics) and Jesus says no. He says “Forgive seven times seventy times.” That is a lot of times! And I don’t think that there is anyone who has offened someone more than that, and thus, everyone deserves to be forgiven and to be loved.

[IngeModerator]

I love that idea of forgiveness. I always want to be forgiven if I ever do anything that hurts or upsets someone and in return, I will forgive others, as well.
One of my favorite stories from the Bible is when someone asks Jesus if they should forgive someone seven times (sorry I do not remember the specifics) and Jesus says no. He says “Forgive seven times seventy times.” That is a lot of times! And I don’t think that there is anyone who has offened someone more than that, and thus, everyone deserves to be forgiven and to be loved.

And to add onto everyone’s thoughts re:forgiveness- I would agree it’s about separating the sin from the person. We can forgive the individual and embrace their true identity without accepting or permitting the sin. I think this is particularly what MBE is talking about when she writes,
“Neither sympathy nor society should ever tempt us to cherish error in any form, and we certainly should not be error’s advocate.” which came to mind immediately when I read the last few posts!

[d.roundsParticipant]

Ah…

This is a topic I’ve thought a lot about, lately. Demonstrable[/I] and [I]demonstrated Love.

I used to have to question whether or not I expressed Love (not whether I theoretically did, but whether I did in my daily life). Using the verse that Roger started the thread with, I’ve lately tried to express Love more consciously in my day to day life.

I have found the image and comparison that Mrs. Eddy uses to be really useful – if I’m not expressing Love, I’m like Simon, the Pharisee; if I am, I’m like Mary, and am forgiven / healed / whatever.

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