Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 9, 2023 - Easter Sunday “Life, Goodness, and Love” Jeremiah 65: 17-25 – Common English Bible Look! I’m creating a new heaven and a new earth: past events won’t be remembered; they won’t come to mind. 18 Be glad and rejoice forever in what I’m creating, because I’m creating Jerusalem as a joy and her people as a source of gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad about my people. No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again. 20 No more will babies live only a few days, or the old fail to live out their days. The one who dies at a hundred will be like a young person, and the one falling short of a hundred will seem cursed. 21 They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They won’t build for others to live in, nor plant for others to eat. Like the days of a tree will be the days of my people; my chosen will make full use of their handiwork. 23 They won’t labor in vain, nor bear children to a world of horrors, because they will be people blessed by the Lord, they along with their descendants. 24 Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 Wolf and lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the snake—its food will be dust. They won’t hurt or destroy at any place on my holy mountain, says the Lord. Five years ago, Loomis Basin UCC, located not far from Sacramento, looked at statistics from The Trevor Project[1] and decided they could do something:
So, Loomis Basin UCC started The Landing Spot, a place of support for LGBTQ youth and their parents, one of few such safe places in Placer County. In addition to groups that meet at the church, they have successfully worked in collaboration with area high schools for several years. But last month, it all came to a sudden and screeching halt. Two activists from Project Veritas masqueraded as the supportive parents of a trans teenager and asked to meet with Pastor Casey. Without his permission, they videotaped the conversation and then edited it – manipulated it – into something that would elicit community outrage. Project Veritas is an infamous, discredited, organization known for doing exactly this kind of thing. They released their deceptive video to the news media which, predictably and as they desired, led to the schools denouncing and cutting ties with The Landing Spot. And as intended, brought a whole lot of hate spewed toward the pastor and threats made upon the church.[2] They suspended in person services while sorting through security issues. But the church stands united, the need for their ministry confirmed. The Council Moderator stated they will not be intimidated and Pastor Casey said, “In the midst of the increasing nationwide attacks on the LGBTQ community, we are committed to walking in the way of Jesus.”[3] Another church was in the news around the same time. Chesterland UCC is in a rural area near Cleveland. They sponsored a drag story hour in collaboration with an area restaurant. Opponents to equality pounced, condemning what they called “a so-called church.” In response, the church wasn’t just condemned or even vandalized, one night someone actually threw lit Molotov cocktails, attempting to burn it down.[4] Story hour proceeded and the church’s resolve is to persist in showing Christ’s love because it is quite obviously necessary to counteract growing anti-LGBTQ legislation in Ohio. And elsewhere.[5] I was a tiny part of Chesterland’s journey to become Open and Affirming 30 years ago. They invited guest speakers to talk to church members and I preached there one Sunday. I remember it well because after worship a woman approached, walked around me, looked up, and said very sincerely, “I’ve never seen one of you before.” Today we celebrate the risen Christ. We proclaim that Life is stronger than death. And Goodness is stronger than evil. And Love is stronger than hate. The powers of supremacy and superiority and privilege just won’t stop trying, right? They keep trying to crucify Christ – and even worse, do it in the name of Christ. We celebrate the risen Christ and the way to truly celebrate the risen Christ is to walk in the way of the crucified Christ. Resurrection has no meaning without remembering what was done to Jesus in the last few hours of life – and why:
A toxic mix of empire and religion thought they had won. The religious authorities had been eager to work with the Roman governor to crucify Jesus because it allowed them to keep their positions of privilege and status. In turn, Pilate benefited by having these religious allies who could keep his subjects in line and thus keep him in power.[6] It was a great deal for everyone—except the people whom Jesus loved so dearly. But while these colluding partners had one idea, God had a very different one – that even though hate may try, and keep trying and trying and trying, love wins. But, does it really? Last week I tried to explain to children that in the resurrection, love wins. But even as I was saying it, I thought, yeah, it sure doesn’t feel that way. At least, not if you’re paying attention. In today’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah, the author offers a beautiful, hopeful vision to the exiles living as captives in Babylon; a vision of returning home and living in houses you build and eating from gardens you plant. There is one line of this vision I find especially powerful: “They won’t labor in vain any longer, nor bear children to a world of horrors.” Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a world without horror for children.
We make the resurrection of Christ real by walking in the way of the crucified Christ – individually and collectively – with the misunderstood and mistreated people Christ loves – the people for whom he willingly suffered – to bring life, goodness, and love. It is to do as Loomis Basin UCC did. To understand that just one accepting adult can reduce the risk of a suicide attempt by an LGBTQ youth by 40%. One person saying no to hate. Even better, a whole church. It involves a cost, but nothing as high as a life saved. That’s how love wins. It is to do as the organization Just in Time does. Just in Time gathers youth who have aged out of the crucifying experience of foster care to walk alongside them and help build a life beyond the horrors they have known as children. One at a time, a community is built that keeps growing stronger as we will learn more next month. And that’s how goodness prevails. It is to do as Mission Hills UCC does.
This is what it looks like to walk in the way of Jesus. The list is longer, and the needs even greater, but I need to wrap this up. To celebrate the risen Christ is to walk in the way of the crucified Christ. That’s how goodness prevails. That’s how love wins. Is it too simplistic? Or is it that simple?
Yes, Christ is risen. Will you come along so that Christ may keep rising? [1] https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/ [2] https://www.abc10.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/to-the-point/placer-county-pastor-receives-death-threat-controversial-video/103-b80a49b2-e139-4f27-9437-1f267794b182 [3] https://www.loomisucc.org/press-release [4] https://www.justice.gov/ur/node/1488816 [5] https://www.ucc.org/churches-in-ohio-california-attacked-for-sponsoring-drag-shows/ [6] https://time.com/6269313/trump-jesus-comparisons-blasphemy/
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