Sermon Library
“Beyond the Great Divide”
Gregg Anderson
March 27, 2005
Service Theme: Easter Message-2005
Ellen just sang, “On through light and darkness the earth still turns around. The truth is we are living on common ground. The world has gotten smaller, there’s no place left to hide. I’ll find my safety in my love and love will be my guide. For I know that there is goodness in those standing on all sides. And we’re looking for a place beyond the great divide.”
Standing on top of Aspen Mountain this Easter Morning, we are literally looking at the Great Divide. The Great Divide or Continental Divide is the highest point in North America which separates the waters flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from those flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Ellen sings that there are great divisions that exist in our country and our planet, but the earth is one planet and our common ground. We need to keep looking and working for a place beyond the great divide. As much as our religion has sometimes furthered divisions, I believe there are more and more spiritual people who are looking for a new spirit - one that can celebrate this common ground and a unity with diversity. There have always been differences and I suspect always will be, but the task becomes how to live with our diversity on this common ground - on this single planet, which is indeed getting smaller and smaller every day.
A New Religious America
Diana Eck, professor of religion at Harvard, writes in her latest book entitled A New Religious America, “The United States is the most religiously diverse nation in the world. There are now more Muslims in America than Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Jews combined. There are presently more than three hundred temples in Los Angeles alone, home to the greatest variety of Buddhists in the world. How Americans of all faiths and beliefs can engage with one another to shape a positive pluralism is one of the essential questions facing American society. While race has been the dominant American social issue in the past century, religious diversity in our civil and neighborly lives is emerging as the great challenge of the twenty-first century.”
Dr. Nathan Katz, professor of Religious Studies at Florida International University states that “The great fissures in today’s world are not just interfaith, but intrafaith - between the liberal and traditional elements within any one faith. Due to globalization, it has become easier for liberal members of different faiths to talk to one another than for the liberal to dialogue with the traditionalist of his or her own faith - and this is precisely the challenge we must begin to address.” He adds, “No major research university can address the myriad issues of contemporary society unless it becomes a locus for advanced religious studies and should be required for graduates to successfully navigate among the more diverse cultures in every community in the United States.”
One woman who had been married for a long time admitted that she and her husband have always had differences and arguments over religion. And what are those differences asked her friend? “Very simple,” said the wife, “He thinks he’s god and I don’t.”
Looking Beyond and the Big Picture
One way to seeking peace is to keep looking beyond our own mountain and see a bigger and greater picture of life. It is the same rain and the same snow that falls from above, and yet some rain and snow goes west and the other east, but it has the same origin. This analogy is important. Beyond all of our differences, we are all just human beings. We are from the same source living on the same planet. I believe that when we compare our lives with others, we will see more commonalities than differences. The problem is that we often make our minor differences greater than our major commonalities. We sometimes do this with our dogma and dogmatism. I have said hundreds of times, “I am dogmatically opposed to dogmatism.”
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J. Krishnamurti writes, “When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? - because you are separating yourself from the rest of humankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a person who is seeking to understand violence and create a greater peace, does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he or she is concerned with the total understanding of humankind.” This is Easter 2005, the beginning of a new millennium. Can we keep looking beyond our social divisions and see just a little more clearly (as Bobby sang this morning) our common humanity?
Jesus Looked Beyond
This was one of the primary purposes of the life of Jesus. Jesus taught people to look beyond their own circles and to include the Gentiles in their faith, to look at the charity of the Samaritan, to bring home the prodigal son, to make common fishermen disciples, to heal the leper, to give sight to the blind, to bless the poor, the mournful, the meek, the persecuted, the merciful, to forgive the prostitute, to have dinner with the tax-collector, to feed the hungry, and to break the rules of the pious. Jesus opened up a whole new world, a bigger world, a more inclusive world. He had mixed reviews at the time, but finally the authorities said he went too far. That’s why they killed him. But even that did not stop the truth of Jesus from exploding around the world.
Jesus was a troublemaker in his days and in ours because he stood up for those who were reviled and persecuted by religious authorities under the banner of faith. He taught people the Good News: That they should see God as a compassionate, accepting parent to love, not as an angry violent, punitive authority figure to fear. This Easter, let us celebrate the passions of the Christ - the teachings he gave to a troubled world. Jesus called for a revolution of the heart and the soul.” To follow Jesus is to be transformed and do our par
Beyond Resurrection
This is Easter morning. Let us celebrate new life and resurrection. Let us just celebrate life. Just as there are about 2000 people here this morning, there are going to be about 2000 different opinions about resurrection. Whatever your view, do not let it deprive you of the celebration of life and life abundantly - whatever your situation may be this morning. Stop for a moment trying to figure out whether resurrection happened or not, or figuring out all the theological ramifications of resurrection. I know I have spent a life time trying to do this. So I am going to tell myself and the rest of you - just let it be for a moment. Don’t try to comprehend the resurrection, but let the resurrection comprehend you. What a thought. None of us can completely comprehend God, but we can let God comprehend us and simply feel secure in that truth. We can rejoice in life, even when we cannot figure out everything in life. If we wait to get all our boxes and answers in a row, we will simply keep waiting to enjoy life. If we can learn to celebrate life in between the incongruities and inconsistencies of life - then we can begin to have those moments of sacred joy. Let it go. Let it be.
The Word Is Celebrate
A new young monk was given his first job in the monastery which was like other new monks before him, to make hand written copies of the scriptures and the rules. The Abbot handed him the rules of the monastery to copy first. As the young monk was about to proceed, he noticed that he was about to make a copy from what appeared to be another copy. So he questioned the Abbot who answered that this was what they have always done it. The young monk gently suggested that it might be time to check it out with the original. The Abbot hesitantly agreed and went down to the cool cellar and unlocked the darkened room where the original texts were preserved. Many hours passed and no sign of the Abbot. Getting concerned, the young monk went to look for him and found him sitting on the floor, bowed down with his head in his hands and crying. The Abbot looked up at the young monk, wiped away his tears, gained his composure and said, “The word is celebrate.”
Letter From God
A letter came to me just this week. It was from God, so I figured that God wanted me to read it on Easter.
My Dear Children (and believe me, that’s all of you):
I consider myself a pretty patient being. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right. I’ve been patient through your civilizations, trends, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into trouble again and again.
First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me to wonder what I was doing in the first place when I created variety. Let’s get one thing straight. These are YOUR religions, not Mine. I am the whole and the beyond. I’m beyond them all. Every one of your religions claims it’s My favorite one, and that all of the other religions are wrong. How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated conditions?
Secondly, I am your Father AND Mother, and I don’t play favorites among My children. Also, I want you to know that I do not write dogma. I’ve always been more of a “doer.”. You see, one human being to me—even a transient on the street—is worth more than all the dogma and ritual in the world. That’s just the kind of guy I am.
Third, my Spirit is not an historical thing, it’s alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath. The Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-gita and other good books were meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me. Which brings Me to My next point.
All of the religions have two basic principles that have often gotten lost - have faith in God and treat others as you would want to be treated. I just want you to be good to each other. The thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of your religions is so that YOU can become more aware of ME, not the other way around. Believe Me, I know you already. I know what’s in each of your hearts and I love you with no strings attached. Lighten up and enjoy the spiritual life. What you seem to forget is how mysterious I really am.
You look at the petty differences between religions and say, “Well, if THIS is the truth, then THAT can’t be!” But instead of trying to figure out My Paradoxes and Unfathomable Nature - which by the way you NEVER will - why not open your hearts to the simple common threads in all people and religions. Love and respect everyone. Be kind, even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of good cheer, for I am always with you. Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear My still, small voice (I don’t like to shout). Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity, gratitude, compassion and gracefulness. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die surely will, and the parts that can’t, won’t.
Simple stuff. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It’s like you’re always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I’m very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think I care whether you call me Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Brahma, Father, Mother or even the Void of Nirvana? You can call Me any name you choose, as long as you go about My business of loving one another as I love you.
Each religion is unique for a reason. Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves. My blessed children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotries and confusion. The whole planet is connected by air travel, satellite dishes, email, cell phones, and especially mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program!
If you really want to help, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to preserve your planet, feed your hungry, clothe your naked, protect your abused, and shelter your poor. And just as importantly, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I do not want you to suffer. I truly want you to be happy. I gave you free will. Remember in all your trials, there will be triumph.
I’ve given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, loving, and laughing together. Finally, My Children everywhere, when you think of the life of Jesus and the fearlessness with which He chose to live and die, know how much I loved him and then know as I loved Him, so do I love each one of you. Trust Me.
Your One and Only,
God.
Rev. Dr. Gregg R. Anderson
Aspen Chapel
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Footnote: Original version of Letter from God can be found on http://www.funmansion.com/. It was submitted March 24, 2005. It has been adapted by Gregg Anderson to fit his Easter Message on March 27, 2005, but original source is to be acknowledged. Anderson received the forward of such email on March 24, 2005 and felt it would be good to read on Easter, March 27, albeit with modifications.
Footnote: The title of the message is taken directly from a song written by Ellen Stapenhorst. Ellen has some wonderful recordings and CD’s. Her new one is entitled Come Back Home and can be found on http://www.ellenstapenhorst.net/.
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