Call Sermon for Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr August 8, 2021 “How Would You Like to Change the World” John 10: 1-10 – New Revised Standard Version “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. My name is David Bahr. And here is how I would like to change the world. But first, a couple of years ago, the Racial Justice Ministry at my church in Denver went to hear Bryan Stevenson speak. Bryan is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Some people know him as the force behind the creation of the national lynching memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. He’s author of the book Just Mercy,[1] which is now also a movie. My sister, Mona, kept insisting that I read that book. She would ask, have you read it yet? Have you read it yet? So, one day while waiting for jury duty, I finally read it and it changed my life. Thank you, sister. Rosa Parks once asked Bryan what he does. “Yes ma’am,” he said. “We’re trying to help people on death row. We want to free people who’ve been wrongly convicted, stop racial bias in the criminal justice system, and stop excessive punishment.” She replied, “Oooh, honey, all that’s going to make you tired, tired, tired.” We all laughed. Then a third woman put her finger in my face and said very seriously, “That’s why you’ve got to be brave, brave, brave.” So that Monday night, after the lights in the theatre dimmed and the requisite introductions and recitation of his biography and many degrees, Bryan stood alone on an empty stage and simply said, “My name is Bryan Stevenson and here is how I would like to change the world.” His whole speech was mesmerizing. 60 minutes flew by like it was 10. I wanted so much more. And yet, still to this day, it was that very first line that has remained with me. I drove home that night full of inspiration and thought, what would I say if I stood in front of a room. But an answer didn’t come right away. In our passage today, Jesus didn’t exactly say, “My name is Jesus, and so forth.” But he did pretty clearly state his objective: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” And what gets in the way of that? Something about thieves and bandits and gatekeepers and so forth. I’m so glad John said that the disciples did not understand, because I have to tell you, it’s not quite clear to me either. So, I thought maybe it would be better to focus on the words of Jesus describing himself as a gate. “I am the gate.” But can I be honest with you? I don’t like that much better. This is one of seven “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John – like, I am the way, the truth and the life, I am the true vine, I am the resurrection and so on… To me, those statements seem so out of character with Jesus. “I am the gate?” What did Jesus mean? But perhaps that’s the wrong question. What did John mean by putting those words into the mouth of Jesus? Because scholars like Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan say it’s very unlikely that Jesus would have said “I am the way, the truth, and the life about himself.”[2] Why not? For one, those “I am” statements only appear in the Gospel of John and John had a very different purpose than the other gospels.[3] The theme of John’s gospel is Jesus himself, Jesus as the definitive expression of God – the ultimate I AM. But the most important distinction is, John teaches that salvation is by way of belief in Jesus as the Son of God. You know the most famous example. It’s John 3:16. “Everyone who believes in him will not perish but shall have eternal life.” However, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus rarely spoke of himself. In fact, he often admonished people to keep his actions a secret. His works were to glorify God, not himself. His teaching focused not on belief in him but on the Kingdom of God – blessings, liberation, and solidarity with people who are poor, sick, and imprisoned. Here’s the thing: The Gospel of John is an invitation to believe in Jesus. The other gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, encourage us to become disciples of Jesus. So, I probably shouldn’t say this in a sermon right before you’re asked to vote on a new pastor, but I think I should put my blasphemy right out in front of you. I don’t care if you believe in Jesus. (watch for thunderbolts.) I want you to be like Jesus. Or rather, to be a disciple of the Jesus whom God anointed to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and sight to the blind, and to liberate the oppressed. To have compassion like Jesus. Beliefs often divide us. To me, the most important thing is to actually love like Jesus. As I drove home from the Stevenson event, I thought, what would my statement be? It was 2017 and it felt like cruelty was everywhere on the rise, intentional, even gleeful. Someone on PBS NewsHour called it “gratuitous cruelty.” I don’t think I need to go into a bunch of examples. It was 2017. And then I read an article by Jonathon Schell who I thought summarized it perfectly. “America has become a culture of cruelty – a country that seems to know of no remedy for social problems but punishment.”[4] That’s when I knew the answer I had been seeking. My name is David Bahr and here is how I would like to change the world: I want to end the culture of cruelty. Of course, the “how” is what really matters. I want to help Christians move from merely believing in Jesus to becoming his disciples. Now, just to be clear, I believe in Jesus. When I was 7 years old, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Those aren’t exactly words I would use today, but the sentiment is the same. I believe in Jesus. I just don’t think that’s enough. Furthermore, abundant life isn’t a belief. The abundant life of which Jesus spoke isn’t a state of mind. Amen? And certainly, abundant life shouldn’t be something for which we have to escape to heaven to experience. Amen? It’s something to experience together, right? And it’s not just for you and me. In the words of Jesus – they. That “they” may have life. Who’s that? All for whom this present life is not abundant. And if we want to redeem that disconcerting gate metaphor, these are the blessed people Jesus tries to protect, to stand between them and the forces of hate. In that way, I like the idea of Jesus as a gate. Jesus and his disciples, i.e., you and me. And that’s why I’m here today. I wasn't looking for a new church. I came to San Diego to spend some time walking on beautiful beaches and listening to waves. Curious, I looked up local UCCs and saw one that was in a pastor search, so I read their profile. Just curious. But this caught my attention: “When the Muslim Ban was initiated by the government, Mission Hills UCC members went to the Islamic Center of San Diego each Friday to show solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters.” Yes! That’s exactly what a disciple of Jesus would do to show love and protect against the hate and gratuitous cruelty of thieving bandits. Oh! Now I get what today’s passage means. It finally makes sense! As I read your profile, a list of other examples kept growing:
You, through your brilliantly chosen search committee, answered the question “who is God calling us to become?” with this compelling answer: “God is calling us to lean into the tensions we are seeing between our congregations’ many privileges and our social justice mission. We are called to leverage these privileges to bridge the gaps between our affluent congregation and a city in economic crisis. We are coalition builders.” Amen. You and the Spirit had my full attention. My curiosity turned into “I have to meet these people!” But the thing that most touched my heart was all the money and volunteers for Just in Time for Foster Youth. That’s not a typical church outreach project. It matters to me because my best friend has fostered more children than she can count and has adopted 10. I am the godfather for 8 of them. I just haven’t yet met the most recent two. I asked the search committee to visit Just in Time when I was here in July. The mission of the organization not only touches my heart, I fell in love with the four young people I met. I asked them to be here today as a personal favor. It’s cruel to think that when a foster child ages out of the system, they are supposed to somehow be ready to face the world on their own. It’s no surprise that a significant number of people who are homeless once were foster children. There could be nothing more Christ-like than to create an extended family of love and protection as they have done. I would like to be part of that extended family. So, my name is David Bahr and you’ve heard how I would like to change the world. But not just with disciples already on the path, such as those already in the church. I am passionate about inviting others to discover abundant life for themselves. To invite people with social justice commitments to combine those with the Christian faith – redefined, of course, not primarily concerned about belief but to work together. To join us to seek a world that is Open, Inclusive, Just, and Compassionate. The words “Kingdom of God” do not translate outside an already Christian audience. But if you describe your desire for a world that is open-minded, inclusive of everyone, seeks justice for all, especially that Black Lives Matter, and above all encourages compassion, compassion, compassion, well, that’s a compelling invitation to learn more about the life and teachings of Jesus, whom we call the Christ. To learn about faith. Christianity provides, or can provide, the foundation, the spiritual resources, and the place of belonging, from which to extend ourselves to change the world. Your search committee read the personal statement of its nameless candidate (now you know my name) as someone who wants to inspire love in what often feels like a culture of cruelty; to build a community of disciples who are fiercely bold about Christ’s mercy and compassion to save the soul of our country, and our own in the process. And not just to save it for the sake of survival, but rather for flourishing. Not just that we all get by, but so that we all thrive. Not just that we have existence, but that we have joy. Not just life, but life in abundance.[5] For all God’s people. That's who I am. Now, who are you? What is your name? Would you say it out loud for me? So I can hear it. And don’t answer yet: How would you like to change the world? Think about it, pray on it, listen to the Spirit. And then ask, what can we do as a church full of Jesus’ disciples to provide what is necessary? So that, as Rosa Parks said to Bryan Stevenson, when you’re tired, tired, tired, together, through worship, prayer, study, outreach, fellowship, friendship, and more, we can help each other to be brave, brave, brave. Amen? [1] Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, New York: Spiegel and Grau, 2014 [2] Read Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith, Marcus Borg, Harper Collins, 1994 [3] http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_john.htm [4] https://www.thenation.com/article/cruel-america/ [5] Inspired by David J Lose, adapted, WorkingPreacher.com, “Abundant Life Now,” 2014
1 Comment
Judith A. WILKINSON
8/15/2021 11:56:45 am
I am a beginner but I am following Jesus. I feel very disgusted with myself
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