“God’s teachers have learned how to be simple.” They have no dreams that need defense against the truth. God’s teachers do not try to make themselves. Their joy comes from their understanding Who created them. They know that what God created needs no defense; does not need changing; is all in all. No one can become an advanced teacher of God until he fully understands that defenses are but “foolish guardians of mad illusions.” The truth does not need defending; no more do you.

When the teacher of God finally agrees to look past defenses, he finds that nothing was even there! Slowly at first he lets himself be undeceived. But he learns faster as his trust increases. It is not danger that comes when defenses are laid down. It is safety. It is peace. It is joy. And it is God.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Life in the world we see appears to require a massive amount of defense: medicine to defend against disease, coats to protect bodies from the cold, roofs to defend against sun and rain. Endless plans are made as defenses again future threats. We are even taught to drive defensively. And our personal defense budget takes up a large part of our income.

In addition to guarding against physical threats, we also defend against an equally long list of interpersonal threats. If people disagree with us, insult our dignity, dispute our intelligence, interrupt our story to tell theirs, or challenge our character, what do we do? We may get defensive. We may do everything in our power to show them they are wrong. Much time is spent in denying, justifying, rationalizing and defending. Yet a function of the teacher of God is to save time. Defenses take time!

The truly advanced teacher is free of the need for defenses. Instead of seeing defenses as staving off dangers, he sees the defenses themselves as a “danger” to his peace of mind. They deliver a crippling message: that he is “vulnerable, frail and easily destroyed, and at the mercy of countless attackers.” (T-22.VI.10.:6) Given this worldly belief, no defense, however impregnable, could save him from chronic insecurity and fear.

His only defense, therefore, is his certain confidence that Who he really is can never be harmed or injured in any way, that his reality was “created unassailable.” (W-pl.153.9:1) Given this confidence, what possible reason would there be to armor himself with layer upon layer of defense? He simply thinks, speaks and lives the truth, knowing that the truth stands on its own without defense. He walks in simplicity, having no need for all the complicated structures the world looks to for safety. He remembers to laugh in the face of danger, because, quite simply, he sees no “danger.” It is unreal.

Lesson 26. “My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.” What would have effects through you, must also have effects on you. Vulnerability or invulnerability is the result of your own thoughts. Nothing except your thoughts can attack you or make you think you are vulnerable. And nothing except your thoughts can prove to you this is not so.

Lesson 153: “In my defenselessness my safety lies.” Defenselessness is strength. It testifies to the recognition of the Christ in you. The choice is always made between Christ’s strength and your own weakness, seen apart from Him. In defenselessness you stand secure, serenely certain of your safety, sure of salvation, sure you will fulfill your chosen purpose. God’s ministers have chosen that the truth be with them. Who is holier than they? Who could be surer that his happiness is fully guaranteed? And who could be more mightily protected? What defense could possibly be needed by the ones who are among the chosen ones of God, by His election and their own as well?

MANUAL FOR TEACHERS

4.VI. DEFENSELESSNESS

RECAP

1. God’s teachers have learned how to be simple.” They have no dreams that need defense against the truth.

2. No one can become an advanced teacher of God until he fully understands that defenses are but “foolish guardians of mad illusions.” The truth does not need defending; no more do you.

3. When the teacher of God finally agrees to look past defenses, he finds that nothing was even there!

4. The joy of God’s teachers comes from their understanding Who created them.

“In my defenselessness my safety lies.” When you defend yourself, you are acknowledging that you have been attacked. Yet you cannot see attack unless you yourself are attacking since your “attacker” is only reflecting what you have projected. Defenselessness is strength. It testifies to the recognition of the Christ in you. The choice is always made between Christ’s strength, and your own weakness seen apart from Him.

In defenselessness you stand secure, serenely certain of your safety, sure of salvation, sure you will fulfill your chosen purpose.

What defense could possibly be needed by the ones who are among the chosen ones of God, by His election and their own as well? And who could be more mightily protected?

God’s ministers have chosen that the truth be with them. Who is holier than they? Who could be surer that his happiness is fully guaranteed?

It is not danger that comes when defenses are laid down. It is safety. It is peace. It is joy. It is God.

GOD IS