Never be ashamed in Christ
	Notes and References 10/21/01 Never be ashamed in Christ Last week (due to my absence from class) I was unable to share with you a thought about Moses and the story of the rod that became a serpent and the serpent that then became a rod. Mrs. Eddy explains the story as follows: 321:8-12 When, led by wisdom to cast down his rod, he saw it become a serpent, Moses fled before it; but wisdom bade him come back and handle the serpent, and then Moses' fear departed. In this incident was seen the actuality of Science. Twice wisdom acts on behalf of Moses’ correct instincts. First, when depending upon the serpent of the false belief wisdom made him let go of matter and he saw it as a serpent. He was afraid. But then wisdom made him handle the false belief (reverse it) and the improved belief when spiritualized became a true staff upon which to lean. This story corresponds beautifully with Paul’s words tot he Corinthians (II Cor 10:4,5): For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Casting down the material staff is the same as casting down imaginations and spiritualizing thought (handling the serpent, picking it up and having it become a staff in your hand) is the same as bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Now this week’s lesson on Atonement takes this same thought farther. Lets look carefully at the responsive reading from Rom 1:16,17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Let’s look at the qualities mentioned in Romans. Here they are in reverse order: 1. atonement 2. joy 3. salvation 4. glory 5. grace 6. peace 7. faith 8. righteousness 9. power 10. not ashamed When you start the healing process by not being ashamed in Christ you feel a power outside of your ordinary capacity. You are standing for what is right (righteousness). Faith in Spirit brings a great sense of peace. When armed with these qualities you actions take on that special quality called grace. God is being glorified and salvation (healing) is yours. The unspeakable joy that comes from such a demonstration defines your oneness with God (atonement), Are you ever ashamed about being Christlike or taking a Christly stand? Maybe you are teased, ridiculed or thought less of because you don’t join in at drinking parties or from maintaining the “sanctity of virginity”. Perhaps you are thought not to be cool or with it or made not to fit in. Never be ashamed in the gospel of Christ. As Americans are we ashamed of our stand for freedom midst this current event? Can’t you stand just as proud with your banner of Christ waving as you are with your American flag on display? Now let’s look once again at the article in Miscellaneous Writings (Mis 223:24-32 np) TAKING OFFENSE There is immense wisdom in the old proverb, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty." Hannah More said, "If I wished to punish my enemy, I should make him hate somebody." To punish ourselves for others' faults, is superlative folly. The mental arrow shot from another's bow is practically harmless, unless our own thought barbs it. It is our pride that makes another's criticism rankle, our self-will that makes another's deed offensive, our egotism that feels hurt by another's self-assertion. Well may we feel wounded by our own faults; but we can hardly afford to be miserable for the faults of others. A courtier told Constantine that a mob had broken the head of his statue with stones. The emperor lifted his hands to his head, saying: "It is very surprising, but I don't feel hurt in the least." We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms. Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities; with an equanimity so settled that no passing breath nor accidental disturbance shall agitate or ruffle it; with a charity broad enough to cover the whole world's evil, and sweet enough to neutralize what is bitter in it, — determined not to be offended when no wrong is meant, nor even when it is, unless the offense be against God. Nothing short of our own errors should offend us. He who can wilfully attempt to injure another, is an object of pity rather than of resentment; while it is a question in my mind, whether there is enough of a flatterer, a fool, or a liar, to offend a whole-souled woman. Look at the last sentence. To the ladies in the class, are you a whole-souled woman? To the gentlemen in the class, do you view women as equals? It is imperative to your success that you handle the serpent (human belief) that women’s rights are subject to the domination by men. Not being ashamed in Christ, means not coming down to the level of the male ego. Gentlemen, allow yourself to be lifted up to the spiritual level of humility, righteousness and manhood. Ladies of the class, don’t come down to the world’s belief that women must compromise their rights to please men. Don’t believe the sitcoms, the movies or the magazines. You have the privilege of being a member of a church founded by a woman who understood them importance of true manhood and womanhood. Please understand how precious this gift is and the unique place you hold in this world as a Christian Scientist.
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