Article December 2, 1933 Issue

The Bible in the Sunday School

MAY MOORE

Our Leader says in Section 2 of Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church that "the Sabbath School children shall be taught the Scriptures." In Section 3 of the same Article the instructions are still more specific, for she names the "first lessons" in the following order: "The Ten Commandments (Exodus, 20:3–17), the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), and its Spiritual Interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–12)."

These definite instructions show that the basis of the teaching must be the great spiritual truths of the Bible. Have we sometimes thought it sufficient to teach mainly from our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," or possibly from individual experiences and demonstrations? Indeed, we know that our textbook "is the voice of Truth to this age, and contains the full statement of Christian Science, or the Science of healing through Mind" (Science and Health, p. 456). But again our Leader says (ibid., p. 575), "Spiritual teaching must always be by symbols." The Master, Christ Jesus, taught by this method, using parables to illustrate important points and to illuminate the consciousness of his hearers with the understanding of his teaching of the allness of God. Jesus knew the Scriptures, and he once rebuked the Sadducees in these words: "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures."

Mrs. Eddy searched the Bible for her knowledge and understanding of the nature of God and of true being, and there she found it revealed. The Ten Commandments, as given by Moses, have rightly been named "the eternal distinction between right and wrong." Later Christ Jesus came, fulfilling the law. A knowledge of the beauty and power of his life, controlled always by his Father, divine Love, turns us naturally to God for protection from error. The Beatitudes tell of the blessedness, the rewards and joys that come to us as we are obedient to the law of good. Full spiritual understanding of the Lord's Prayer would instantaneously heal the sick, for therein is revealed the truth about God, man, and the universe. Referring to God's law our Leader says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 82), "In obedience to this law, man is forever unfolding the endless beatitudes of Being; for he is the image and likeness of infinite Life, Truth, and Love." Nowhere, except in the New Testament, can we find more illuminating examples of obedience to God than are found in the lives of the Bible patriarchs.

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