February 5, 2006

Christianity and World Religions

Jesus vs. Buddhism

Philippians 4:4-7

Opening Words: This is sermon number three in a six-part sermon series I have called Christianity and World Religions. When this series is complete we will have looked at the five major religions in the world today, including Christianity. What we are really doing is looking at some basic Christian theology. Our core beliefs are far different from any other religion. Buddhism illustrates that fact perfectly. I have called this message Jesus vs. Buddhism. This is my question for you today why are you not a Buddhist?

Could you answer that question without revealing to the world one of your prejudices? Can you answer that question without mentioning your heritage? Could you give me one theological reason why you are not a Buddhist? Let me give you a little help. One of the major differences revolves around how we handle hardship. During hardship Christians turn to God for strength and guidance. Buddhists do not. They try to detach themselves from the source of anything that may cause them suffering. It is a completely different way of looking at life, itself! With this in mind let us look at this morning’s scripture lesson together.

Introduction

I love the story of Horatio Spafford. He was a Chicago lawyer and a personal friend of the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody. On the surface he seemed to have it all. Yet, his closest friends knew better. He spent much of his life turning to God. He experienced three great tragedies in his life over a short period of time. The first was the sudden death of his son. Parents never dream they will bury their children. The second was the Chicago Fire of 1871. He had invested heavily in real estate along the Lake Michigan coast just months prior to the fire. His holdings were nearly wiped out by the disaster. The third was the most painful. In 1873 he planned a European vacation for his wife and four daughters. It was designed as a time to get away from their problems. He would follow them in a few days when some business was complete. That reunion never occurred. On November 22 the ship carrying his family hit another ship and sank in twelve minutes, only his wife survived. Upon receiving the news Spafford sailed towards Wales to join his grieving wife. It is on that ship between America and Wales that he wrote the hymn the church has sung for years; It Is Well With My Soul.

I love that story and song because it is a story of a good person trusting God when life was hard. I can relate to that story. Have you ever turned to God when life got hard? Have you ever met a person who didn’t turn to God when life was hard? If your answer is no then you have never met a Buddhist. Turning to a divine power when life is hard is not a Buddhist teaching.

Body

There are six billion people in the world today. Two billion claim to be Christian. Three hundred million people are Buddhist. Between 1990 and 2000 Buddhism grew by 110% in the United States. According to Buddhanet.net there are 43 different Buddhist Temples in the state of Ohio. The closest temple is called The City of Peace Sangha on Lincoln Avenue in Salem. So who are these people and what do they believe?

Buddhism began with a man by the name of Siddhartha Gautama. He was born in 563 BC in present day Nepal. His father was a prince and ruled a small country. Siddhartha Gautama was loved deeply by his father, who protected him from the harshness of this world. Not uncommon for his day, he married at the age of sixteen and had a son. It was at twenty-nine years old that Siddhartha Gautama began to struggle to find his place in the world. It was at twenty-nine years old that he left the palace for the first time. From his chariot he saw the real world for the first time. He saw an old man bent over due to age. He saw a man suffering from disease. He saw a funeral. He had lived his life in the palace and he had never seen such suffering. The pain grew worse when he discovered that those sufferings of age, illness and death were in his future. His religion of Hinduism offered no comfort. There is no personal god in that faith. It is at that moment that he begins a quest to eliminate the suffering in life. It is at 35 years old that Siddhartha Gautama discovers the source of all suffering. He falls into a trance and becomes enlightened. The Pali word for enlightenment is Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha - The Enlightened One. He taught the secret to eliminating suffering is to let go of all things that cause sufferings. He spent the next forty-five years of his life teaching others his philosophical and meditative system that would set human beings free from suffering. And when he died people came not to worship him but to carry on his teachings.

Today, Buddhist stand firm on three teachings. First, Buddhism is non-theist. They believe there is a god. However, they do not see God as a central force in eliminating human suffering. We believe God cares for the suffering in this world. Part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is being God’s arms and legs in this world in the name of Jesus. The Master said, “When you do it to one of the least of these you do it for me.”

Second, Buddhists do not believe in life after death. They believe our being is an energy that is passed from one life to another. When we draw your last breath our energy is placed in an unborn child. The ultimate goal in Buddhism is the extinction of that energy. We believe in life after death. We believe in heaven and hell. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you are going to heaven. If you have never claimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are going to hell.

Third, Buddhism believes in detachment. They want to eliminate the suffering of this world so they detach themselves from the things that cause the most pain. A friend of mine said to me this week, “If that is what Buddhists believe then sign me up!” The problem is the things that bring us the greatest pain in life are the same things that bring us the greatest joy. Buddhists believe in detachment.

We believe in attachments. We first attach ourselves to God through Jesus and suddenly our lives hang in perfect balance. The Bible tells us to attach ourselves to God, especially when life is hard. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” The Apostle Paul knew he could turn to God when life was hard. Philippians 4:6, 7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As a Christian people we turn to God when life is hard because we trust God. We believe that the all-knowing all-powerful God knows what is best for you and me! If you have ever turned to God when life got hard say, “Amen!”

Conclusion

From Monday to Thursday of this past week I was down in Lexington, Kentucky. I was in the Blue Grass State because I am required to do so much continuing education each year. I traveled alone and I returned to my alma mater, Asbury Theological Seminary. I do not want to boast but I believe it is one of the finest seminaries in the world today. I took several classes this week. I took a class called “Preaching with Paul” with Ellsworth Kalas. He was outstanding. I took a class called "Preaching the Sacraments" with Lester Ruth. He was enlightening. I took a class on hymnology. I took a class called “John Wesley and the Renewal of the United Methodist Church. I took a class on how worship will continue to change in the future. I took all those classes in a few days and I learned a great deal. However, what I really learned came from outside of the classroom. I learned how valuable the things are in my life. The same things that are so easy to take for granted. It only took three days!

On Thursday morning I woke up in my motel room. I couldn’t sleep because I was ready to go home. I was tired of being alone. I couldn’t sleep because I wanted to go home. I missed my wife. I missed my daughters. I missed my home. I missed my church and began to wonder about various people in the life of the church. I missed writing a sermon and planning some future event. I got out of bed and drove home because my family and my church make my life complete. It was at that moment of enlightenment that I thanked God I am not a Buddhist. I don’t want to detach myself from those people and things because they may bring me future pain. I want to trust God and embrace those things that bring me joy! Jesus came to give life and give life abundantly. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”