Sermon

INTRODUCTION: In 2005, Unitarian Universalists ran a media campaign in New York City. And at Times Square, the billboard had these words: “Imagine a religion where people with different beliefs worship as one faith.” The scrolling text read: “Imagine a religion; open and searching; children learning love not fear; everybody matters; different beliefs; one faith.”

Back in February of 2001, before this congregation had ever held a service, or chosen a name, we “Imagined a congregation where people with different beliefs worshipped as one faith.” We thought, wouldn’t it be great if: Instead of declaring limits and certainties, we were open to new ideas and constantly searching for new ways to express ourselves; That our children would learn love not fear; That everybody, young and old, rich and poor, women and men, races and religions, would matter; That we would stress the importance of recognizing different beliefs, but not because one belief isn’t important, but because everyone’s belief is important; and that would be our faith – All Faiths.” The key then, and now, was and is, imagination.

TEXT

In 1971, one of the biggest successes in popular music of the 20^th Century was introduced. Some thought of it as anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional and anti-capitalistic. But others, like former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said, "In many countries around the world — my wife and I have visited about 125 countries — you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' sung almost equally with national anthems."

Some thought the lyrics were inspired by Lennon's hopes for a more peaceful world; others that his wife, Yoko Ono’s poetry, and her reaction to her childhood in Japan during World War II, may have been influential. But for whatever reason, it has remained a beautiful symbol of the best of human capacity: to imagine a world much different than the one we have created and are living in.

EXPLICATION

So when we approach this beautiful song, the task is not only to ask what it means, but also to ask, is there an application to the life we live? What does it mean when the lyrics state:

I remember several years ago having a young couple show up for the first time to attend a Sunday summer service. They were planning to be married in the upcoming Fall. Before that happened, they were visiting various churches so as to decide on which one they would attend together, once married. I explained to them our workshop structure during the summer, and the discussion groups we had which were underway. Then I asked if they had any particular question about Unitarians? They consulted together and then asked, “What do you believe about ‘life after death’?” I thought about it for a second, and then suggested that rather than my answering, when the groups came back, that we ask some of them to respond.

Which we did: Six different people responded. Guess what? They only had six different answers. I would predict that if we asked the same question here this morning, that we would have almost as many different answers as we have people.

It seems that is exactly what Lennon’s song is suggesting we do: Use your imagination. And if you imagine there is no heaven, then what does that mean about this moment and how you’re living it? Imagine! But not only that there’s no heaven:

Now there are three options when it comes to hell: You can believe in hell; you can believe there is no hell; or, you can have the hell scared out of you.

I spoke over the phone this past week with Zack Nathan at his home south of Chicago, where he’s going to graduate school, and his wife Tracy is teaching drama in the public schools. He told me of a time in the fifth grade when he was attending a prominent Protestant parochial school here in Ft. Myers. The children were introduced to a video, using much the same concept as the Left Behind Series.

For those of you unfamiliar with that series, it articulates the evangelical belief held by many about the future. In brief, Jesus returns to Earth and takes the best Christians away into the sky – that’s called the “Rapture” or 2^nd Coming, in evangelical parlance. Millions of the good Christians disappear, leaving everyone else to face a really rugged “Tribulation” of seven years.

During those seven years, over in the Middle East, a new ruler arises in the nation of Israel, who after four years of very promising peace requires all of his followers to mark themselves with the number “666” – which to evangelicals is called the “Mark of the Beast.”

The rest of the world attacks Israel from all four directions in a valley in the northern part of Israel known as Armageddon. As the war is raging, and everything is about to be blown to pieces, up in the sky comes – not Superman, but Jesus on a White Horse and with him all those people whom he had taken up in the sky seven years ago in the Rapture. They engage Israel in a bloody battle that the Jesus forces win. The leader of Israel is revealed to be the “Antichrist,” who is thrown into a lake of fire with a 1,000-year sentence. And as the piece de resistance all the Jews of Israel are forced to convert or be put to death.

Jesus now rules the world from Israel for 1,000 years of peace. Then he lets the Antichrist out of the lake of fire, they get into a fight, but Jesus quickly finishes him off.

Then Jesus becomes the judge of the world, who determines whom all goes to heaven or hell, something of a variation on the selection process of Jews entering the concentration camps of the Nazis – you to the left, you to the right.

Now I know you’re thinking, surely no intelligent person believes any of that! Guess again: The last book in the series which came out in 2004 entitled Glorious Appearing, joined Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame, to be the only authors to have a first printing of more than 2 million hardback copies. It was on the NY Times best-seller list for months. Many prominent politicians profess believing it, more than a third of American Christians believe it, and it’s been a significant force behind America’s support of Israel.

So after Zack as a 5^th grader saw a video depiction of the above, he said he was literally trembling, scared to death that he was going to hell, and several of his classmates were crying. But not to worry, his 5^th grade teacher had them all get in a circle on the floor, and she led them to a personal relationship with Jesus – you remember: the guy on the white horse who was killing everyone who didn’t believe.

In defense of the real Jesus, who was born some 2,000 years ago, he had nothing to do with his followers making him a god, claiming he was resurrected from the grave, and teaching that he was coming back to Earth: one time in the Rapture for the good guys and another time at Armageddon, to kill the bad guys. And that he would turn on his own people if they didn’t believe all this nonsense I’ve just repeated.

That’s hell. And when John Lennon says, “Imagine there’s no hell below us,” it’s not hard to do.

So if you forgo the notion of heaven or hell, Lennon suggests that one logical outcome is:

I’m sure many of you have followed what happened to John Corzine, the governor of New Jersey, who was being chauffeured on the New Jersey Turnpike to a banquet at 91 miles an hour, sitting in the front passenger seat without a seatbelt. His highway patrol driver lost control and the governor nearly died from injuries, breaking a dozen bones and on a ventilator for eight days.

Afterwards, he paid a fine of $47, apologized to the public profusely, but he also says, he’s a changed man. In fact, in yesterday’s New York Times, he states that he has developed a greater appreciation for family and friends, and taking things in stride. And even when he gets frustrated or irritated, he says, “I am clearly understanding, that the fact that I am here today to be irritated is a blessing.”

I think those of us who have had a serious brush with dying, realize that we don’t have claims on tomorrow, next week or next year. What we do have, is this moment and this day, to live life to the fullest.

Remember those who’ve been in space, reporting that, from above, there are no national boundaries nor borders…just one beautiful planet. Lennon said if we would forgo our nationalism – especially our belief in American exceptionalism – then what might happen? There would be:

Two nights this past week, I watched the last part of the Lehrer News Hour. As those of you who watch it know, at the end of the program they many times show in silence a picture and the military unit, rank, and hometown of those killed in Iraq. Both times I watched, there were 14 soldiers listed each night. And both times there were three who were only 19 years old, and one night one who was only 18.

Knowing that, every time I see a press conference with the president, I want some reporter to ask a very simple question, “Why did we go to war?” And if we went for the wrong reasons, why don’t we admit it, and get out. What a travesty and a tragedy to be killed for supposed weapons of mass destruction, for nonexistent terrorists whom we have now foster and multiplied, and to remove a dictator whom we had supported before, but who now had fallen into disfavor.

America didn’t have that right. The president didn’t. And we are paying the price. But imagine: What would the world be like if we hadn’t gone to war. But Lennon goes further. He says:

I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong.

One of the difficulties most of us have in comparing religions is that we want to compare our best with other religions’ worst. Right now, there’s a tremendous focus on Islam and how awful and terrible things Muslims are doing. For certain, in the name of Islam, much that’s tragic is happening. But I promise you that Judaism has its horror stories in Israel. Christianity has a litany of brutality and murder by supposed Christians that dwarfs what Islam or Judaism has done. Violent Hindus are killing others this past week, and on the litany goes…all in the name of religion. But the key when comparing religions is to compare good with good and bad with bad.

One night this past week on C-Span, I listened to an interview with the author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t.

I’ve purchased the book, but haven’t finished reading it yet. One thing he says that I found intriguing: Most of us have used the paradigm of all religions being on a pilgrimage up the mountain – all leading to the same mountaintop. In fact, I’m quite sure I’ve used that metaphor many times myself.

But Dr. Prothero suggests another paradigm: He proposes that religions are very different, and address very different ends and goals. So much so, that he thinks we should imagine different mountains with different religions, whose followers are trying to get to the top of different mountaintops. Some do this, others that, and they are all trying to get to mountaintops – but it’s not the same one.

Finally, Lennon suggests a world in which everyone shares. He admits that a take-off on the Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx.

7. Imagine no possessions. No need for greed or hunger…all the people sharing all the world.

Lennon once stated, "Possession isn't nine-tenths of the law. It's nine-tenths of the problem." The reality that you and I face as caring and informed citizens of this planet is that our planet is fully capable of feeding all of its residents. But some like America are struggling with having too much to eat, while others are starving because they have too little. It’s the task of the haves, to share with the have nots.

I’ve watched the unfolding drama of the president of the World Bank, an organization specifically tasked with helping the nations of the world who have the least. That mission is so paramount, and the events of the past month so tawdry. How desperately we need institutions which care and are effective in administering caring programs.

Lennon said, “When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me.' You just scream.”

I think we need some screamers…who will use their imagination boldly to go where others have not gone…to try and change our world and envision a planet as Lennon did. It’s called “Imagination.”

[1] Given May 20, 2007, as the Service Auction Sermon, purchased by Karen and Jim Nathan, at All Faiths Unitarian Congregation, Ft. Myers, Florida, meeting at the Crestwell School, 1901 Park Meadows, Ft. Myers, FL, by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson, minister.