EXPLORING THE MEANING OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT IN THE
LIGHT OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

On February 25, 1889, Mary Baker Eddy addressed a Primary Class of sixty-five
students at her Massachusetts Metaphysical College. She opened her remarks with
the following: "My students, three picture-stories from the Bible present themselves
to my thought; three of those pictures from which we learn without study. The first is
that of Joshua and his band before the walls of Jericho. They went seven times around
these walls, the seven times corresponding to the seven days of creation: the six days
are to find out the nothingness of matter; the seventh is the day of rest, when it is found
that evil is naught and good is all." (Miscellaneous Writings 279)

Elsewhere in "Miscellaneous Writings," we find: "There 'remaineth,' it is true, a
Sabbath rest for the people of God; but we must first have done our work, and entered
into our rest, as the Scriptures give example." (Mis. 216)

These statements of Mrs. Eddy provide us with a foundation from which to explore
what the Fourth Commandment might mean for Christian Scientists today. There is
"work" to be done. There is a "rest" to be earned. But, what exactly is the nature of
this work, and what kind of rest can we expect?

As indicated in the citation above, one area of our Christian Science work is to
establish in our consciousness the "nothingness of matter." [For those of you visiting
this site who are not CS, this concept of the "nothingness of matter" is fully explained
in the Christian Science Textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by
Mary Baker Eddy.] We must realize that so-called matter is merely a misconception
of our true spiritual being -- it is the "mist" of mortal mind that would hide the man
created in God's "image and likeness." It is supported only by what is termed the
"Adam dream," that mesmeric sleep that mankind seems to be in. Our goal is to wake
up from that dream, and to de-mesmerize ourselves as to the reality of matter, evil,
error, and the physical senses. When that work is done, we will have our "Sabbath
rest."

When our spiritual "work and rest" are properly balanced in our lives, we are
reaching the essence of the Fourth Commandment. There are many citations in the
writings of Mary Baker Eddy that we can use in researching and teaching the idea of
"work and rest" as they might relate to the meaning of the Fourth Commandment. A
few of them are:

"God rests in action. Imparting has not impoverished, can never impoverish, the
divine Mind. No exhaustion follows the action of this Mind, according to the appre-
hension of divine Science. The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human stand-
point, is in holy work." (S&H 519)

"Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good, and sets mortals at work to
discover what God has already done." (S&H 260)

"Good demands of man every hour, in which to work out the problem of being."
(S&H 261)

"There is no excellence without labor; and the time to work, is NOW. Only by
persistent, unremitting, straightforward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the
left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you
win and wear the crown of the faithful." (Mis. 340)

"Men must approach God reverently, doing their own work in obedience to divine
law, if they would fulfil the intended harmony of being." (Unity of Good 13)

"The song of Christian Science is, 'Work -- work -- work -- watch and pray.' ('00 2)

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Now we know why there are so few Christian Scientists -- it requires so much work! ;)
It is true that it is not always easy to be a Christian Scientist, but along the way we do
get some "Sabbath moments." Those are the times when we have done our prayerful
work, and reach that realization that God is in control. We release the problem, hand
it over to God, and let His will be done. After all, if we believe that on the "seventh
day" of creation, God was finished with His work, and what he had made was "very
good," then our own seventh day should bear witness to that perfection of God and
His creation. We can rest in the knowledge of His perfection. We "reflect" that
perfection and harmony of being. That brings peace and rest. That is how we
experience a Sabbath -- a breaking away from material beliefs -- and we are
obedient to the Fourth Commandment. We remember that God is Supreme.

Does this mean that Christian Scientists do not need to attend church on Sundays?
That is a question left up to each individual. No one is required to join the Christian
Science church to identify themselves as a "Christian Scientist," and to practice the
teachings found in the textbook, Science and Health. As we saw in the history of the
early Christian church, as time went on, it was felt that having church services was
helpful to the newer members, but when someone did not need that weekly reminder
to worship God, because he or she was "remembering" God on a moment-to-moment
basis, then perhaps that Christian did not need to attend. But, certainly, giving back
to the newer members would be a worthy contribution to the Cause, as it would be
today, if that is how we feel "guided" to spend our time.

But, when material organization or hypocrisy creeps in, and we are attending church
services out of habit, or merely to be seen as observant, or because we are being
forced to go, then it does no one any good. One Bible commentator noted that when
Christianity became a "state religion" under Constantine, the church suddenly became
infiltrated with people who were not truly devout, but came for the wrong reasons,
such as to "be seen of men." This adultery of the congregation led to the demise of
true Christianity and healing. As Mrs. Eddy writes: "Hypocrisy is fatal to religion."

If those who attend these meetings come voluntarily and with a grateful heart, with no
fear that they will be asked to do or give more time or money than they can manage,
as it appears the early Christians did, it is possible that the focus can once again be
shined on healing the sick and sinner, and bringing comfort and encouragement to
seekers for Truth, rather than piling on church management and maintenance issues.


THE COINCIDENCE OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT AND

"PRINCIPLE"

Although it is easy to conclude that the Fourth Commandment coincides with the
seventh day of creation (as described in Genesis) because they are both about work
and rest, and the verses in Exodus point to God's day of rest, I can also see a connec-
tion between the Fourth Commandment and the fourth Day of Creation.

In Genesis 1:14-19 we read: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of
the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons,
and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to
give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater
light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And
God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule
over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God
saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day."

What the fourth Day seems to be illustrating to me is the relationship between God
and His reflection, man, as symbolized by the sun and moon, as well as the rhythm
of life symbolized by the stars and planets which are for "signs and seasons."
Mrs. Eddy tells us: "Suns and planets teach grand lessons." (S&H 240) We also
see that the two "lights" are to "rule," or govern.

This fourth Day of Creation can be said to symbolize the aspect of God that is
termed in Christian Science "divine Principle" -- that foundational Law which
governs the universe, operates impersonally, and finds expression in man's ability
to demonstrate and prove this law of God in healing sin and sickness, and maintaining
harmony on earth. Principle governs and rules, and man is His "reflection" -- just as
the light of the moon is a reflection of the light of the Sun.

When we struggle with some temptation, and then reach the point where we remember
we must yield to God, and say, as Jesus did, "not my will, but thine, be done" -- and
then we yield -- we have "remembered" the Sabbath day.

In the writings of Mrs. Eddy, you can find "rest" and "Principle" combined. The
definition of "Church" in the textbook begins: "The structure of Truth and Love;
whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." When we rest upon
Principle, it becomes a platform, or springboard, for our next "week" of inspired
work.

Spiritual man (our true identity) is the idea, the image and likeness, of God, our
divine Principle, and man is governed by Principle. This concept of Principle is
seen not only on the fourth Day of Creation, and the Fourth Commandment, but in
the fourth statement of the Lord's Prayer ("thy will be done"), and the fourth
Beatitude ("Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for
they shall be filled."). They all seem to correspond, while at the same time
operating in our lives in unique ways -- a blending in harmony.

Specifically, how does Principle operate with regard to our obeying the Fourth
Commandment? As it seems to me at this time, when we have been working and
praying to the best of our ability, faithfully following the light as far as we see it, and
then we let go, and hand our problems over to God, our divine Principle who
governs all -- not outlining what He should do, but "resting" in our trust of His
disposal of events -- this is a Sabbath day. When we have done our work denying
sin, disease, or discord, and then let our affirmations of Truth guide us to a moment
of pure realization of the Allness and supremacy of God -- we receive a Sabbath day
or "moment." Thus, our oneness with Principle, Love is demonstrated and proven in
human life.

Sabbath day finds its place, purpose, and activity within consciousness -- not
within a particular building on a certain day of the week. It is a place of peace and
serenity, free from fear, worry, anxiety, sick or sinful beliefs. It is "the secret place
of the most High." And, this is a "holy" place, separate from the material world and
the testimony of the physical senses.

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