“Blessed are the peacemakers . . .” – Q&A #6

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: Is God a peacemaker?

Answer: God was the original peacemaker! That is because God is All, and there is no room for anything that is opposed to His good nature. Through the Motherhood of God, divine Love, we are led to the peace that God has already established for His universe.

“Follow the directions of God as simplified in Christian Science, and though it be through deserts He will direct you into the paths of peace.” (My. 361)

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (I Cor. 14)

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” (Isaiah 26)

“Through the wholesome chastisements of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity.” (S&H 323)

“God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence.”  (S&H 516)

“O Love, our Mother, ever near,
To Thee we turn from doubt and fear!
In perfect peace our thoughts abide;
Our hearts now in this truth confide:
Man is the child of God.” (Hymn 232)

Notice in the hymn, that when our thoughts find peace in God, we see ourselves as the
children of God. That is what the seventh Beatitude promises!

Practice: In your daily prayer, ask God to show you the way to peace.

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #7

List of all pages and lessons from Volume Two: The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #5

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: What is “harmony”?

Answer: Harmony is what you get after doing your work as peacemaker! It is when everything is in agreement and peaceable — no conflicts, strife, disagreements, or discord. Harmony is
such a perfect atmosphere that it is how Mary Baker Eddy defines “Heaven” in the “Glossary” of Science and Health. See if you can find that definition.

An important point in the teachings of Christian Science is that heaven, harmony, is already ours. But, it is the belief in the mist of mortal mind that seems to hide harmony from our view. Our work as peacemaker is what helps us to rise above the mists of mortal beliefs. The truths we learn in Christian Science can help us in this work:

“There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way. It is to know no other reality — to have no other consciousness of life — than good, God and His reflection,
and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses.”  (S&H 242)

“Christian Science, rightly understood, leads to eternal harmony.” (S&H 338)

“The real Christian Scientist is constantly accentuating harmony in word and deed, mentally and orally, perpetually repeating this diapason of heaven: ‘Good is my God, and my God is good. Love is my God, and my God is Love.’” (Mis. 206)

Practice: Try repeating those last words to yourself many times today.

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #6

List of all pages and lessons from Volume Two: The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #4

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: What is meant by a “false sense of peace”?

Answer: A false sense of peace is the kind of peace that is merely covering up sins or troubles that have not been eliminated. For instance, have you ever done something wrong, and then lied to protect yourself from being yelled at, or punished? You may have kept the peace for the moment, but you did not truly help yourself by covering up the wrong doing. That is “false peace.”

True peacemaking is being willing to uncover error in order to have it identified and
destroyed. That sometimes takes courage. Now, this does not mean we are to go around telling people their faults or becoming tattle-tales! But, if it is our responsibility, we must be willing to expose error, when necessary, and correct it, in order to bring about lasting peace. This goes for our own sins, too.

“This mistaken way, of hiding sin in order to maintain harmony, has licensed evil, allowing it first to smoulder, and then break out in devouring flames. All that error asks is to be let alone; even as in Jesus’ time the unclean spirits cried out, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee?’” (My. 210)

“Who art thou, vain mortal, that usurpest the prerogative of divine wisdom, and wouldst teach God not to punish sin? that wouldst shut the mouth of His prophets, and cry, ‘Peace, peace; when there is no peace.’” (Mis. 209)

Practice: Think of situations that might tempt someone to lie. What advice would you give to that person?

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #5

List of all pages and lessons from Volume Two: The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . .” – Q&A #3

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: What does it mean to be called the “children of God”?

Answer: The real children of God are the spiritual ideas of God made in His image and
likeness, not so-called mortals born of material beliefs. The phrase, “children of God,” as used in the Bible, describes someone who is God-like. If we are being peacemakers, then
we are doing a God-like work. We are showing forth our true heritage as spiritual ideas of the divine Mind.

“In Science we are children of God; but whatever is of material sense, or mortal, belongs not to His children, for materiality is the inverted image of spirituality.” (S&H 572)

“Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to
demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration. By this I do not mean that mortals are the
children of God, — far from it.” (My. 242)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8)

“The children of God have but one Mind.” (S&H 470)

How can there be conflict, if there is only one Mind?

“The divine children are born of law and order, and Truth knows only such.” (Un. 22)

Would not children born of “law and order” make perfect peacemakers?

Practice: Today, think of yourself as a perfect child of God. Act accordingly!

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #4

List of all pages and lessons from Volume Two: The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #2

Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: Who are “the peacemakers”?

Answer: The peacemakers would be those who sincerely work at doing what is necessary to root out the sources of hate and conflict. Sometimes, that may require doing things that do not look so loving and peaceful on the surface. An example is when Jesus overturned the
tables of the money-changers in the temple, in order to make his point forcefully that what they were doing was wrong. His motive was love for God. But, it stirred up hatred against
Jesus.

We may find this happening in our own lives whenever we try to make peace, either within our own thought, or within our circle of friends and family. Our efforts to do good may
provoke resistance. We must stick with God, and patiently listen for His guidance.

Did you know that Christian Scientists are under specific command to be peacemakers?
On page 45 of the Church Manual it reads:

“It shall be the duty of the members of The Mother Church and of its branches to promote peace on
earth and good will toward men . . .”

In the Bible, Peter offers suggestions on how to be a peacemaker:

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing. . . For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” (I Peter 3)

Practice: Today, take a stand for peace!

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #3

List of all pages and lessons in Volume Two:  the Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . .” – Q&A #1

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Question: What is “peace”?

Answer: The dictionary explains that peace is freedom from war, quarrels, disagreements. Peace is a sense of harmony, serenity, calm, quiet, or tranquility. It is also an undisturbed state of mind, or absence of mental conflict. We need to consider, however, what Jesus had in mind when he told us to be makers of peace. Are we to look for opportunities to stop
arguments and quarrels among others? That may be necessary at times. But, first, we need
to know what true peace is, and how to obtain it for ourselves, within our own minds. We cannot make peace for others if we do not have it ourselves.

We read in the Bible that Paul wrote to the Romans:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

This gives us a hint that a mind focused on spiritual ideas is a mind at peace.
And Mary Baker Eddy writes:

“Peace is the promise and reward of rightness.”  (My. 278)

Here we learn that peace is also the result of right thinking and acting. A mind that swings between right and wrong could never remain at peace. This Beatitude tells us of the joy that
belongs to those who make peace. It is not enough for us just to desire a peaceful and calm experience on earth: we must work to make peace happen for all!

Practice: What does peace mean to you? Where would you like to see some peacemaking happen in your own life? What steps can you take towards peace?

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”
Copyright 2002)

 

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemaker . . . ” – Q&A #2

List of all pages and lessons in Volume Two:  The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the peacemakers . . .” – For Young Children

“Blessed are the peacemakers:  . . .”

means

that we will be filled with great joy when we learn to make peace with ourselves, with God, and with all of God’s creation. What is peace? It is freedom from fights, disagreements, wars, quarrels, crime, and fear. It is having a sense of harmony in which everything around us is agreeable. Peacefulness is when our thoughts and our world are calm, quiet, happy, and friendly. Now, it is not enough to simply love peace, or talk about it. You must want to do the work needed to make peace happen. Our blessedness, or happiness, comes from knowing our work as peacemakers shows we are one of God’s sons or daughters. Can you think of
ways you can start making peace in your home or school? Can you be gentle and kind with friends and family, for instance? Can you pray daily to God to bring peace to your own heart and mind? Can you obey His Commandments? This is being a peacemaker. This is Love in
action!

 . . . for they shall be called the children of God.”     

We learn from the Bible that God made man in His own image and likeness. That means we are actually the spiritual children of God, and He is our heavenly Father-Mother. But, we need to know that, and to act like the children of God. What better way than to work hard to destroy evil and error, or anything that would cause people to hate God, or each other, or want to cause trouble in the world. Letting God’s Love shine through us in every situation makes us active Peacemakers. Our reward for peacemaking is receiving the special title: “child of God.”

* * *

Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes”

Next:  “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . ” – Q&A #1

About this blog and books and a Welcome

Teaching Children the Beatitudes
What Mary Baker Eddy Writes about the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount
What Mary Baker Eddy Writes about Teaching Children

A list of all pages and lessons in Volume Two: The Beatitudes

UPDATE:  The complete book of First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes in its original format is now available for purchase as a downloadable file at The Bookmark online.   Visit my Author’s Page at:  https://thebookmark.com/vicki-jones-cole-2.

Volume One:  The Ten Commandments
Volume Three:  The Lord’s Prayer

A list of essays on this site

Return to Top of Page

The Seventh Commandment – Q&A #8

The Seventh Commandment
“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Question: If someone is unhappy in their marriage, and they do not want to get a divorce
because they have children, would it be okay for them to look for happiness with someone else, even if that means they are committing adultery?

Answer: Obedience to the Ten Commandments is not meant to keep us from being happy, but to prevent unhappiness. The commandments deliver us from the temptations of evil, which have been proven to lead to sorrow, rather than joy. Here is what Christian Science teaches:

“Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily
attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul. Higher enjoyments alone can satisfy the cravings of immortal man. We cannot circumscribe happiness within the limits of personal sense. The senses confer no real enjoyment.” (S&H 60-61)

“Happiness consists in being and in doing good; only what God gives, and what we give ourselves and others through His tenure, confers happiness; conscious worth satisfies the hungry heart, and nothing else can.” (‘02 17)

Suppose we make the mistake of committing adultery, then what? Jesus has suggested what we must do: we admit the sin and see it as error; we forgive ourselves and others, and then sin no more! We may find ourselves tempted again, but we must eventually learn that there is no real pleasure in sin of any kind.

Further Study: Read and discuss the story of Jesus and the “woman taken in adultery” in John, chapter 8. It is a good lesson on handling sin and sinners.

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments”
Copyright 2001)

 

Next:  The Eighth Commandment – For Young Children

List of all the pages and lessons in Volume One:  The Ten Commandments

Teaching Children the Seventh Commandment – essay
The Seventh Commandment – a Christian Science Perspective
Questions and Answers on Christian Science
Teaching the Ten Commandments
What Mary Baker Eddy Writes about Teaching Children
Introducing Children to the Concept of God

UPDATE:  The complete book of First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments in its original format is now available for purchase in a downloadable file at The Bookmark online.  Visit my Author’s Page at:  https://thebookmark.com/vicki-jones-cole-2.

Return to Top of Page

The Seventh Commandment – Q&A #7

The Seventh Commandment
“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Question: If God made us “male and female,” why do we need to marry in order to feel complete?

Answer: Marriage provides legal and moral protection for couples wanting children or a family life together. But, we do not have to get married to feel complete, if we choose not to, as long as we maintain pure moral standards. Jesus did not marry, and did not require others to do so. Mary Baker Eddy remarks:

“The time cometh of which Jesus spake, when he declared that in the resurrection there should be no more marrying nor giving in marriage, but man would be as the angels . . . Then white-robed purity will unite in one person masculine wisdom and feminine love, spiritual understanding
and perpetual peace.” (S&H 64)

Until that time of spiritual awakening, we can still claim both male and female qualities. This might be demonstrated in our life by a marriage partner who brings those qualities to the marriage, or we may express those qualities ourselves, whether single or married:

“The masculine mind reaches a higher tone through certain elements of the feminine, while the
feminine mind gains courage and strength through masculine qualities. These different elements conjoin naturally with each other, and their true harmony is in spiritual oneness. Both sexes should be loving, pure, tender, and strong. The attraction between native qualities will be perpetual only as it is pure and true, bringing sweet seasons of renewal like the returning spring.”  (S&H 57)

Practice: Make a list of the qualities you would like to have in a friend. Try to express those qualities yourself today.

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments”
Copyright 2001)

 

Next:  The Seventh Commandment – Q&A #8

List of all the pages and lessons in Volume One: The Ten Commandments

 

The Seventh Commandment – Q&A #6

The Seventh Commandment
“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

Question: What does “wedded to God” mean?

Answer: It is another way to describe our unity, or oneness, with Him. Even if we never marry humanly, we would not have to feel alone when we understand that God is our one true
relative. Here is how Mary Baker Eddy explains it:

“Hourly, in Christian Science, man thus weds himself with God, or rather he ratifies a union
predestined from all eternity.” (Un. 17)

“The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God’s will must be universally done.” (S&H 202)

“You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this.”  (Pul. 4)

Another term for our oneness, or unity, with God is atonement. The second chapter of Science and Health is about the subject of atonement, and begins:

“Atonement is the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love. Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man’s oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage.” (S&H 18)

Certainly, we would not want to break the Seventh Commandment by letting impure thoughts and behavior come between us and our unity with God.

Practice: See how many times you can remember to tell yourself that you are one with God. Try it hourly for one day.

* * *
(Excerpted from “First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments”
Copyright 2001)

 

Next:  The Seventh Commandment – Q&A #7

List of all the pages and lessons in Volume One: The Ten Commandments