John 14:1-14
Rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.
You may have read about the largest church in the world two weeks ago in the Eastern District News or heard of it in the media. The first service was held on March 3rd, with an attendance of over 300,000. The attendance is now over 2 million and they conducted the first ever "mass trance" on March 17th. Quite an accomplishment for an institution just two months old.
You might wonder whether we could tap into that energy to build up our church. Let me run down the list of their teachings for you.
Who you are requires no belief. Heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness. The man on the cross is an archetypal image- he is every man and every woman. My mind is part of God's. I am very holy. My holiness is my salvation. My salvation comes from me. Let me remember that there is no sin.
This new church, if you want to call it that, revolves around Eckhart Tolle's book, "A New Earth." Its popularity stems from Oprah Winfrey's website were people logon for their weekly web event on Monday evenings. Tolle's book is the number one seller at Borders, the number four seller at Barnes and Noble, and the number one paperback advice book on the New York Times bestseller list.
Let's examine the notions set forth by Tolle. No because these are new ideas but because these same notions have surfaced from time to time perhaps under another guise.
Who you are requires no belief. That's an interesting statement because we are taught that we are a product of our DNA and our environment. Sociologists and psychologists say that no matter how you dice it everyone has a belief system based on their life experiences. We all know from our own experiences that who you are requires no belief is a falsehood. Who you are has everything to do with your beliefs.
Heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness. Well if heaven is just an inner realm of consciousness then when we die there is nothing else, our consciousness ends when our brain function ends. So there is no hope in this statement. It's actually the same thought process as evolution, without a creator there is nothing beyond this world. In our reading Jesus clearly states in God's house there are many rooms and Jesus goes there to prepare a place for us. The image of a home with God expresses the happiness and joy awaiting us in heaven. Heaven is a place.
The man on the cross is an archetypal image- he is every man and every woman. For some reason the book 1984 comes to mind when I read this statement.
Jesus did die on the cross that is a historical fact. I'm not sure how He was transformed into an archetypal image. In Jungian psychology, archetypal is defined as an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experience and present in the individual unconscious. Chew on that for a while. Are they trying to say this event didn't happen? That God doesn't love us enough to truly secure a place for us in eternity with Him? I don't know what Tolle is trying to say here, but he apparently uses psychology here as a basis where it was dismissed in an earlier notion.
My mind is part of God's. I am very holy. Wow every time a person dies part of God dies. We know that's not true God is the alpha and omega He existed before there was light and will remain after the heavens and earth pass away. I am holy though because Jesus has interceded for me and washed away my sins. I'm not part of God but I am His creation. We are His precious creation cared for more than any other creature, and made in His image.
My holiness is my salvation. Okay they got this right except for the wrong reason. My holiness comes from God's grace and mercy on me through the sacrifice of His beloved Son Jesus. I can't make myself holy, I can make an attempt to be righteous but my sinful nature stands in the way of my success. Only the love of God can make us holy.
My salvation comes from me. This is purely works, works, works. Clearly God is infinite He can do all things. He created the heavens and the earth. What can I possibly do to earn a place in heaven? No where in the Holy Scriptures has such a path been outlined for us to follow. Our only path is through belief in Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Our works come out of our faith in Him, emulating His teachings to honor Him. Works without a right heart are meaningless to Him.
Let me remember that there is no sin. If there is no sin why do things die and decay? Why do people get hurt, physically, mentally, and emotionally? Why do we hurt when we know we have done something wrong? Without sin this world would be the paradise described in Genesis but it is not. Without sin Jesus would not have died on the cross for us.
Some of the notions proposed by Tolle and promoted by Oprah sound appealing on the surface. In a culture that surveys show is becoming more spiritual the Good News is being drowned out by misguided people searching for meaning in their own life and/or for a way to cash in on people who are searching.
We have this wonderful reassurance from Jesus in the first three verses of our reading. Don't be troubled, believe in God and Jesus. Jesus is preparing a place for us and will return to take us there.
It reminds me of child's response to teacher that asked the children in her fifth grade class to use TV commercials to communicate a message about God.
God is like. SCOTCH TAPE You can't see Him, but you know He's there.
Perhaps just as appropriate is another child's response.
God is like. DIAL SOAP Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
There are so many people searching for something to give meaning to their lives and we as Christians aren't out there sharing the love of Christ in our lives.
Sure we contribute our treasures to worthy causes but do people see Christ in us? Do they see Him in our interactions with them? Do our actions contribute to the image of the ugly Christian or are we perceived as joyful forgiven followers of Christ?
This year marks the 100th year anniversary of this congregation. I would like to think that we are going to do activities that show the community that they can find true joy in their lives. That the answer they are searching for is here (hold up bible) not in a "mass trance" on the internet or some other false teaching.
Don't be afraid to talk about who we are, you never know how the Holy Spirit will use that conversation.
Lord guide so that our actions will be used to your glory.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
