Everything Happens

The terrible ongoing devastation in Los Angeles calls us to wrestle with a faith response.

The text is Isaiah 43: 1-7

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Transcript

Sermons from Mission Hills UCC

San Diego, California

 Rev. Dr. David Bahr

david.bahr@missionhillsucc.org

 January 12, 2025

“Everything Happens”

Isaiah 43: 1-7 – Common English Bible

But now, says the Lord—
 the one who created you, Jacob,
     the one who formed you, Israel:
 Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
     I have called you by name; you are mine.
 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
     when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
 When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
     and flame won’t burn you.
 3 I am the Lord your God,
     the holy one of Israel, your savior.
 I have given Egypt as your ransom,
     Cush and Seba in your place.
 4 Because you are precious in my eyes,
     you are honored, and I love you.
     I give people in your place,
         and nations in exchange for your life.
 5 Don’t fear,
     I am with you.
 From the east I’ll bring your children;
     from the west I’ll gather you.
 6 I’ll say to the north, “Give them back!”
     and to the south, “Don’t detain them.”
 Bring my sons from far away,
     and my daughters from the end of the earth,
 7     everyone who is called by my name
     and whom I created for my glory,
     whom I have formed and made..

In 1940, a group of people seeking more freedom of thought than traditional Christian churches with their creeds and more conventional beliefs met to form a new congregation.  A founding group first met in homes, then a local tavern and a Masonic lodge until they broke ground on their own building in 1947 – a stunning building with a red-tiled roof, impressive bell tower, and beautiful Judson-designed stained-glass windows in a spacious light-filled sanctuary.

FOR PHOTOS, go to www.davidbahr.weebly.com

Notice those beams that look a lot like ours.

In 1968, they found a home in the United Church of Christ.  They liked that each congregation makes its own decisions, chooses its own pastor, and respects the differing approaches of other congregations.  This forward-thinking, progressive group of Christians voted to become one of the UCC’s first Open and Affirming congregations in 1986 – the 13th of now almost 2,000 churches that explicitly welcome the LGBTQ+ community.  Some years ago, after learning that area food pantries were only open Monday through Friday, they opened a pantry in their own building on Saturdays – except yesterday.  Because on Wednesday this happened: 

FOR PHOTOS, go to www.davidbahr.weebly.com

Altadena Community United Church of Christ burned to the ground.  Fire like a blow torch came out the beautiful rose window as the building crumbled.  That window featured Jesus holding a lamp, who says, “Come unto me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”

FOR PHOTOS, go to www.davidbahr.weebly.com

The Episcopal church across the street also burned to the ground, as well as a Catholic parish, a Jewish temple, and a Muslim mosque.  And at least five more Protestant churches, including two United Methodist churches and this Presbyterian church.

FOR PHOTOS, go to www.davidbahr.weebly.com

It’s impossible to wrap our heads around the extent of the devastation to homes and businesses and schools and everything that makes a neighborhood a neighborhood, but when it happens  to one of your own siblings, well, close to our hearts this morning are the people and pastor of Altadena Community UCC – many of whom also lost their homes.  

Words of scripture often provide comfort, including this morning’s lectionary reading from the Prophet Isaiah.  

But now, says the Lord—
 the one who created you, O Jacob,
     the one who formed you, O Israel:
 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
     I have called you by name; you are mine.
 2 When you pass through troubled waters, I’ll be there with you;
     when you are crossing through raging rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
 When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
     and the flames won’t burn you.

Those last words may be a little harder to hear this morning.  Isaiah’s words are beautiful and hopeful, but without context, they’re just words.  For the people for whom this message was first meant, maybe they were beautiful and hopeful, and maybe they weren’t.  Instead of hopeful, maybe they felt angry.  

“So, tell us God, if we’re so precious in your sight, why were we captured and driven from our homeland in the first place?  Why didn’t you stop our enemies from kidnapping us, from destroying our homes and our Temple…?  What good is your love and ‘honor’ when everything we loved was ripped away?”  Were the words of Isaiah comforting or did they sound empty?  

Ask Kate Bowlin.  When she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, a very thoughtful neighbor stopped by with a casserole – just the kind of neighborly thing one should do.  However, when her husband opened the door, as the neighbor offered her gift, she attempted to provide some comfort and said, “Everything happens for a reason.”  Very calmly, her husband replied, “OK, what is it?”  The neighbor sheepishly stepped back and left.  She meant no harm but realized lovely soothing words may have a context for which there is no reason.  

Faith is a confusing dual at times.  Because there are times we can appreciate Paul’s words in Romans chapter 5:  

“We boast in our sufferings, 

knowing that suffering produces endurance, 

and endurance produces character, 

and character produces hope, 

and hope does not disappoint us.”  

I love that scripture.  It’s been true in my life.

But, here’s the thing, and you know it:  sometimes suffering doesn’t produce endurance, character or hope.  Sometimes suffering kills.  Sometimes suffering is simply the result of the hatred and violence of racists, xenophobes and tyrants.  Or the voracious appetite for burning fossil fuels, causing great suffering to and on our planet.

One of my nephews once shared an inspirational post that said:

•             Moses could have walked from Egypt to the Promised Land in less than 40 days but God made him wait for 40 years.  

•             God could have given a child to Abraham and Sarah at any time, but waited until they were nearly 100 years old.

•             Jesus could have healed Lazarus before he died, but waited until he had been dead for four days.

And according to the person who created this post, why did God do this?

•             To build you up

•             To strengthen your faith

•             To develop your trust

•             To make you appreciate it when what you’ve been waiting for happens.  

This really spoke to my nephew.  I read it and it made me cringe.  It sounded a little too much like “You’re suffering because God thinks it’ll be good for you.”  Builds character.  How do you suppose poor Lazarus felt?   “Gee, thanks…?”  Would you say to someone who is hungry and homeless, “Just think how much better your life will be now?”

So, let’s just be clear:  God isn’t saying, “Let me make you suffer so you’ll grow from it.”  Although, we do believe in a God who can redeem anything.  But the fault is in the idea that God would cause bad things to happen or make people wait because it’ll be good for them.  The promise of Isaiah, and throughout scripture, is that God waits with us.   

Do not fear,  2 When you pass through troubled waters, I will be with you; when you cross through raging rivers, they won’t sweep over you When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and the flames won’t burn you.

Again, perhaps it’s a little too soon for that last line.  But just so we’re clear, 

• God doesn’t send fire to “teach us a lesson.”  Everything happens.  Period.  But, know this, God is with us in such suffering.  And, one day we may look back and discover we learned a lesson, for example, about the value of community and taking life for granted, or that the earth can take only so much abuse – there’s a lesson in that – but suffering was not the purpose.

• And God doesn’t “give us” an illness or disease to make us better persons.  Everything happens.  Period.  But maybe we will become better people – more open, more loving.  And maybe we’ll better appreciate the value of life.  What is true is that God is with us in many ways, in our caregivers, the helpers, for example, and God is in the science that develops treatments and vaccines.

• And God doesn’t “take away” our job so we can become more trusting in God.  Even though, ironically, we might become more trusting in God.  And maybe we’ll know more deeply how much God loves us and understand deep within that we are not alone.  But first, Thus, says the Lord, “Do not fear.  I am with you” in the unemployment line, at the kitchen table wondering how to pay all these bills…  

God was with Jesus at his baptism.  While he was praying, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came upon him in a bodily form like a dove.  And there was a voice from heaven that proclaimed – “you are my child, whom I dearly love, and in you, with you, I find happiness.”  

One Sunday, a little girl was excited to see her baby sister get baptized.  Standing on her tippy toes, she watched intently as the minister sprinkled water onto the baby’s face, and then a second time, and then a third time – every time her smile growing bigger.  She looked up and said with delight, “Give her some more!”

We could all use a little more, couldn’t we.  Especially today.  Especially the water.  Well, today is the Sunday we remember the baptism of Christ and it is the custom to remember and recommit to the vows of our own baptism, either the vows we made or those made by our parents, our brothers and sisters watching with delight.  

Baptism enacts God’s promise:  “I’ll be there with you when you pass through troubled waters; and through raging rivers, they shall not overwhelm you because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.”  

That doesn’t mean there won’t be dangerous rivers to pass through because, as we know all too painfully, reason or no reason, everything happens – period.  But, “My child whom I dearly love, I’m there with you… through everything.”