Don't be tricked by distractions

For the lesson titled "Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced" from May 21-27, 2012

Christa Kreutz

We wouldn’t want to be tricked into buying something we don’t need or something that doesn’t work; we try to use wisdom and not be tricked by false advertising. This week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced,” is largely about that: how not to be fooled by claims of happiness that have no foundation and not to let yourself be pulled or distracted in directions away from God.

The introduction to this Lesson in the Responsive Reading is the story so often referred to as “the temptation of Christ” (Matthew 4:1–11). The passage says that Jesus was “led up of the Spirit.” God’s Spirit or wisdom leads us toward spiritual growth and strengthening character. The “devil,” however, did the tempting, metaphorically. And the devil might be understood by us as anything that is a distraction from spiritual growth or spiritual truth. Christ Jesus effectively resisted the temptation to believe that a power apart from God would bring more satisfaction than God does. The first citation from Science and Health gives this explanation for Jesus’ response: “The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,—that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle” (p. 275).

Second Timothy (Section I) addressed problems of distractions within the church. This book is part of what is known as the “pastoral” letters, in other words, letters that minister like a pastor to the needs of a church and show compassionate concern for it. The author (in the name of Paul) was writing to tell the reader not to get distracted by the self-centered lifestyles of others, but to keep God at the center. In chapter 3, verse 14, he wrote, “Keep on being faithful to what you were taught” (Contemporary English Version). The writer assures the listeners that, as faithful followers of God, they have discernment to recognize false teachers that would pull them away from Christ.

It is the law and light of Christ that frees from distractions of sin.

Chapter 8 of the Gospel of John plays a significant part in this Lesson. This chapter picks up on one of the main themes in the Gospel: Believe firmly in Christ and don’t be swayed. To believe in Christ is the way to worship God. But some of the people listening to Jesus didn’t believe in his Christly authority. So after much back and forth, Jesus called them the children of the devil (see John 8:44, cit. 9). It sounds like harsh language, but the early listeners of the gospel needed to make a decision. If they chose to follow Christ, they risked being excluded from the synagogues (see John 9:22). The strong language emphasizes to listeners that Christ Jesus was the one sent by God and that those who rejected him were, in effect, rejecting God. And on another level, for us today, this message invites us to ask what is influencing us and whether we are willing to let go of distractions of life in matter and trust Christ, Truth. In the Glossary of Science and Health, devil is spiritually defined as: “Evil; a lie; error; neither corporeality nor mind; the opposite of Truth; a belief in sin, sickness, and death; animal magnetism or hypnotism;” (p. 584, cit. 12).

In Section IV, the story of the woman caught in adultery also addresses the issue of the authenticity of Christ (see John 8:1–11, cit. 11). While the Mosaic law said she should be stoned, the Christly law had a different response and changed thought to see the woman as free. It is the law and light of Christ that frees from distractions of sin and gives “man a truer sense of Love” (Science and Health, p. 19, cit. 17).

With any false advertising, we are tricked into thinking we need something. But it is Christly response that recognizes this falsity and perceives that God’s wisdom provides all. Psalm 107 praises God for providing and being the source of all good, comforting us: “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (verse 9, cit. 15).

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Church Alive

A healing presence at a marathon

May 21, 2012

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit