January 22, 2006

Questions People Ask

Matthew 2:1-12

Opening Words: Adam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City says there will never be peace among the world religions until we understand one another. It is for this reason that I start a brand new sermon series today called Christianity and World Religions. During this series we will look at a different world religion each week. There is Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism. How are these religions different from us? What do these religions believe? However, my goal throughout all these sermons is to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ. Today, we will begin with an overview. Let me call this sermon, The Questions People Ask. My question for you today is what is your response to other world religions?

Introduction

Recently, in London during the opening statements at the trial of radical Inman Abu Hamza al-Masri, evidence was presented detailing how he encouraged his followers to kill all non-Muslims. In lectures, recordings and writings, the Inman taught that Adolph Hitler was sent into the world to punish the Jews. Repeatedly, he taught his followers to fight for Allah by killing Jews and other non-Muslims. That is Inman Abu Hamza al-Masri response to other world religions. What is your response to other world religions? Let us look at this morning’s text together. We are in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.

Body

They are like old friends. We visited the magi just a few weeks ago. We know the magi as the symbol of the liturgical season of Epiphany. They were not Jews. They were non-Jews. They were like us, Gentiles. They represent the fact that Jesus came for all people! However, today they represent something different. The magi remind us that the world is filled with many religions. Who exactly were the Magi? During the time of Jesus the term magi could be used in a variety of ways. Magi could mean a magician or an astrologer. More likely in this case, the term Magi was used for a group Zoroastrian priests. (Zoroastrianism is a monotheist religion founded in Iran, which understands the state of the world as a great struggle between good and evil.) What is your response to other world religions?

That is a key question in our world today. Due to modern transportation and communication we no longer live in isolation. We live in a very small world. We live in a world that is filled with many different religions. What is your response to other world religions? The questions people ask about those religions are legitimate. People are asking some difficult questions about other faiths. People want to know why there so many religions. How should Christians respond to these other religions? How is God at work in these other religions? And the toughest question of all. What is the eternal fate of those who earnestly pursue those other religions? How do you answer those questions?

In the next few minutes I want to help you as disciples of Jesus Christ answer our question of the day, what is your response to other world religions? Consider this message a little pastoral advice. I want to give you three pastoral suggestions on how to handle or perceive other world religions. This is not a sermon you would have heard fifty years ago. But you will hear it today because the world is changing! We can no longer afford to live in isolation. So if you are ready for a little pastoral advice say, “Amen!” What is your response to other world religions?

Pastoral Advice Number One: Wake Up

The first thing you need to do in dealing with other world religions is wake up! Within your sanctified imagination visualize your nativity set. There is Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the magi. However, there is more to your nativity than the characters. There is the representation of three world religions sharing one place. You can count them with me. One, there is Jesus, the very heart of our faith, Christianity. Two, there is Mary and Joseph and the shepherds, who were Jewish. Three, there were the magi, who were Zoroastrian priests. From the very beginning Christianity has been surrounded by world religions. Why should our generation be any different?

The numbers don’t lie. Did you know there are approximately six billion people in the world today? Two billion, or one-third, are Christian. There are 1.3 billion Muslims and nine hundred million Hindus. There are three hundred million Buddhists and fourteen million Jews. The balance of the world population, or 1.5 billion people, claims some other form of religion. The basic numbers tell us to wake up! Christians, who make-up only one-third of the world’s population, are a minority in our world today! You are part of a minority in our world. Someday we may be a minority in America.

What do the numbers say about America? At first, it sounds good. Did you know seventy-seven per cent of all Americans claim the Christian faith? In the last decade the Christian faith has grown about 5%. However, in that same decade that Christianity grew by 5% Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism grew at rates of 110%, 170% and 230% respectfully. The face of America is changing and we need to wake up to that fact. World religions are not just in the world. They are in America. World religions are coming to your neighborhood. If that bothers you just a little bit say, “Amen!” What is your response to other world religions?

Pastoral Advice Number Two: Show Up

According to the scriptures, the magi came from the east. Tradition makes two assumptions about them. First, we are told there were three of them. But what does the Bible say? The Bible says they brought three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. You don’t necessarily need three people to carry three gifts. There may have been two magi but more likely there may have been dozens of magi responsible for those three gifts. For security reasons, especially carrying expensive gifts, they must have traveled in a large group. That is the first assumption that tradition makes. This is the second assumption. They traveled a long way. On the back of a camel, even the shortest distance would be a long way. You must give them credit. The magi showed up! I believe 95% of any job is just showing up.

Showing up and responding to human need is one of those things you need to do when you are dealing with the other world religions. It shows the world that you are genuine. William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said, “Go into the world and preach the gospel and use words only when absolutely necessary.”

On Tuesday afternoon I was at the Boardman United Methodist Church. One of the things I enjoy most about that building is the wonderful stained glass window in the sanctuary. It is placed across from the choir loft. It tells the story of Methodism. Part of that story is the Salvation Army. Methodists showed up and responded to human need and two things happened. First, people who were struggling in life received a helping hand. Second, Methodism, itself, was seen as a genuine Christian group. How can you question people who respond to basic human needs? How can you question people who openly sacrifice their time, talent and money for someone else? We live in a world that is filled with human need. We need to show up and lend a helping hand so people will know we are genuine and sincere. If you believe there are people in our world today, who need a helping hand say, “Amen!” What is your response to other world religions?

Pastoral Advice Number Three: Speak Up

According to the scriptures, when the magi finally found Jesus they worship him. Worship is not just going to church. You can worship without the minister, choir or organ. Real worship is simply loving Jesus in both spirit and action. In a world that is filled with other religions we need to be able to tell other people what Jesus means to us! I hope you are not just a Christian because your parents were Christian. I hope you are Christian because you know what Jesus has done for you.

Conclusion

My parents met in 1948. My father was from Ashtabula and my mother was raised in Brooklyn, New York. They met at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Soldiers returned home from the Second World War and that church sponsored socials so young adults could meet. When my mother first saw my father she wasn’t interested. The reason was simple. My father had a dark complexion in the summer. He tanned easily. He could mow the lawn in two hours and look like he had spent two weeks in Florida. When she saw his dark tanned skin she thought he was Italian. She assumed he was Roman Catholic. She was Protestant. Protestants and Catholics did not marry in those days. The times have changed! In those days the world was preoccupied with who was Roman Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox. In those days people were preoccupied with who was Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist or Nazarene. In those days people were preoccupied with who was theologically conservative or liberal. In 1948, people worried about those things. Maybe you still do? Let me tell you clearly the world is changing, yet at the same time the world is the same.

Young people are still meeting. Young people still are getting married. (Some do it more than once.) Young people are still bringing home their found love to meet the family. However, they don’t meet at the church social. They met on-line. Most are no longer worried about who is Protestant, Roman Catholic or Orthodox. Most don’t worry about who is theologically liberal or conservative. Most don’t worry about who is Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist. I don’t worry about those things. They all believe Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. What we have to worry about today is much more complex. How do you feel about your daughter or your granddaughter marrying and having children with a Hindu? How do you feel about your son or grandson marrying and having children with a Muslim? It is not as crazy as it sounds. The world is changing. The world is getting smaller. What is your response to other world religions?

As your pastor, let me give you some advice. When you are dealing with other religions do three things. First, you need to wake up. Second, you need to show up. Third, you need to speak up. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”