MOUNTAINTOP VISION

CHRISTA KREUTZ

REALITY
September 21—
September 27, 2009

ENJOY THE VIEW from this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled "Reality," because it's from a mountaintop! The Lesson gives us a beautiful, expansive view of what's real and substantial. The Apostle Paul, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all share their vision. The stories in each section teach us about setting aside material laws so that we can enjoy clearer views of reality.

We begin with Paul, who was disturbed by all the idols he saw when he stood on a hill in Athens (called Mars' Hill or Areopagus) and talked with some philosophers who enjoyed learning new things. He complimented them initially on their religious fervor (his term for them—"too superstitious"—is often understood to mean "very religious"). But they were admitting their ignorance through an inscription to "the Unknown God." Creating idols wasn't going to help them understand God. Paul mentioned their own philosophers, without naming them, as if to say, "You're on the right track." It seems to me that Paul was suggesting that the Athenians didn't have to be ignorant—nor do we today. God is knowable, but not through human reasoning or idolatry (see Acts 17:22–28, citation 4).