Posts

Buddhism & Christianity: Self, No Self

-
Image
 As Christians, we presume we have a self, that we are our selves. We presume at the core of who we are, there is an I that is real and identifiable and is separate from the I you are. We might use different terms like soul or self. Or even spirit to name this core identity. Many think the self we are will outlast our bodies, our selves related to God who is eternal. The Buddha taught something completely different. One of his most central teachings, and one of the most unique teachings in all religiosities, is known as the doctrine of no-self. No-self is the common English translation of the Sanskrit term anatman . An translates as no or non. Atman translates as self or soul. Anatman has thus been translated as no-self, non-self, or no-soul, or even no-ego. The Buddha basically taught that the notion of an eternal, permanent, unconditioned “I” does not exist. I want to highlight those adjective qualifying “I.” Eternal, permanent, unconditioned. I might also add the ad...
Post a Comment
Read more

Yes, I Still Love Jesus: A Letter to Mom

-
Image
Dear Mom, I had it all set up and prepared to go. I got as close as putting the big screen TV on top of the altar table, “in remembrance of me” etched into the wood. For my message on Sunday, I was going to honor you on Mother’s Day by using a PowerPoint presentation and the music you loved, music that in turn honors Christ. The hope was to inspire people with the message of Christ found in that music. But as I looked at the TV on the altar, I began doubting that purpose. It didn’t feel right. It was as if you were saying, honor Jesus, not me. Preach Jesus, that would make me happiest.  So that is what I’m going to do. Years ago when you doubted my answer, you asked me, do I still love Jesus? I answered yes, of course. But I didn’t want to get into a long discussion about theology and the Bible so I stopped there.  Here’s my longer answer today.  I still love Jesus. I must admit, for a long time I had trouble admitting this. I looked at those who claimed to love...
Post a Comment
Read more

Buddhism & Christianity: A Buddy Tale

-
Image
 I’d like to approach this topic a unique, hopefully fun way. The iconic Buddhist teacher to the West, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote a couple books on the relationship between Buddhism and Christianity, the first the classic Living Buddha, Living Christ and the sequel, Going Home: The Buddha and Christ as Brothers. By the way, there’s no mandatory reading for these 3 classes, but those two books are a great suggested reading list, as is Jesus & Buddha, the Parallel Sayings, compiled and introduced by Marcus Borg Anyway, instead of Buddha and Christ as brothers, I’d like to a slightly different approach. Buddhism and Christianity as buddies in a buddy story. Here’s a little snippet from one of the best buddy tales ever that will get us in the right mindset as well as give us a fun way to introduce our two buddies.   I n this buddy tale, we focus today on the Buddha and Buddhism, which we’ll dub Rico Buddhism. The name Richard, by the way, means brave in power. We’ll also meet ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Communion for Those New to Church

-
As low-key as a Congregational church usually is, the practice of Communion can't escape the elements and the words the Lord uses. "This bread is my body." And "this wine [or juice] is my blood." The idea of eating and drinking bread that is Jesus' body and juice that is his blood is still rather radical from the outside looking in.  The church must confront the reality that as younger generations unfamiliar with church life come of age, Communion especially must be explained. Here's my explanation. Jesus was one of the most poetic teachers to ever teach the truth of God and faith. He was an expert at meptahor. He said, for example, "I am the vine." Or "I am the living water." Jesus is not actually a vine, but he produces a good attitude in us like a vine produces grapes. Jesus is not really water, but his teaching and the way of life he taught quenches our spiritual thirst.  Well, as Protestants, we believe that when Jesus says this ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Doubt Isn't Destiny

-
We return again this year to that renowned story of doubt, Thomas’ doubt.  Every year, on some Sunday after the unbelievable story of Jesus’ resurrection, the church calendar gives space to the story of someone having trouble believing the unbelievable.  Yes, Thomas with Jesus’ help resolves his doubt. But do you think Thomas lived the rest of his life without a single moment of doubt? Do you think this intelligent, probing figure never doubted again? Pardon the pun, but I doubt it. Any faith worth its weight will include moments of doubt. Doubt and faith roll together! If you’re not doubting, you’re not thinking. And if you’re not thinking, your faith is likely not as deep as maybe it could be. I’ll be honest with you this morning. I think I’ve said it before. Doubt comes easily to me.  I ask a lot of questions. I’ve always asked lots of questions. That cliché imperative – question everything – comes easy to me. I’m pretty confident any question you may have now about ou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Easter Life & Human Dignity

-
Image
I’d like to begin this morning with Genesis. Our genesis, humanity’s beginnings.  In Genesis 2, the 2 nd description of our creation, God is said to have breathed life, ruach, divine spirit, into the lump of divine-like clay we humans once were. That breath of life enlivened us, gave us life, a life infused with God’s own breath. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, there is a tradition known as iconography. The faithful venerate painted icons of Christ, Mary, the saints. This veneration of icons is rooted in the belief that the spirit of the depicted figures, such as Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, somehow breathes through their icons; these channels of divine grace and living presence enable believers to commune with the holy figures they depict. Well, in Genesis 2, the idea is that we, each human being, is an icon of God. God’s spirit breathes life in us and through us.  Now, don’t get me wrong, that the life of God breathes in us doesn’t make us God. Not at all. No...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Power of Words

-
  A short word to begin. This meditation is not pinpointed for anyone in particular. I'll be speaking to a universal concern that I'd say we all struggle with, myself included. James, the brother of Jesus, in chapter 3 of his Epistle, offers these words about the power of words, which is what I’d like to reflect on a bit this morning. …the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a such a small fire!  6  And the tongue is a fire…   7  For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,  8  but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  9  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, made in the likeness of God.  10  From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so… 13  …Show by your good life that your ...
Post a Comment
Read more