creative, unexpected, and a little shocking
a testimony by Brian Klassen, offered in worship on Sunday, January 2, 2022
For about the past two weeks, I’ve been monitoring St. Luke’s Facebook page for hateful and abusive comments that reference Aaron’s sermon from December 12th entitled “a Dress Rehearsal for Joy”. Somehow, Aaron’s brave, vulnerable, and theologically rich sermon had made it onto the right-wing outrage machine and was shared many times over Facebook and even written about on blogs and reacted to on YouTube channels. Please save yourself the time; none of this is worth watching.
While I’m happy to do this work, it’s given me the occasion to reflect. I don’t believe I’ve ever directly been threatened with hell or God’s judgement or had Scripture weaponized in an attempt to shame or silence me. It’s easy to see all the hateful abuse that’s been directed towards Aaron and St. Luke’s on Facebook as the rantings of some unhappy people (and it definitely is that), and the sooner it goes away the better. I have seen that it doesn’t go away, not for the queer and femme-identifying faith leaders who nourish and challenge our community. These faith leaders are even more amazing, having to do this work with this toxic chatter in the back of their minds, knowing that there are forces out there that would wish them silenced. We know, however, that their voices are essential to a vibrant and relevant church. We would wither and die without their witness.
Many of us know Pastor Elle. When I served on her internship committee, I made her a promise that every time she was threatened with hell, I would give money to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, an organization that was critical to her formation, and an organization that I understand we have a long history with here at St. Luke’s. A few other people agreed to do the same. This idea is loosely based on a particular interpretation of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 –about non-violent resistance. Jesus’ instructions here have been misunderstood as meeting evil and abuse with passivity (turn to the other cheek), when what he really was saying is to meet evil and abuse with something creative, unexpected, and maybe even a little shocking.
After Aaron’s sermon, and the backlash, I think this is an idea worth returning to. Em and I are making a donation to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries in honor of Aaron’s witness and in gratitude for all the queer and femme-identifying clergy who have nourished us. Hendrik (9) and Tella (6) have also decided to give some of their allowance. We invite you to join us. You can give here at: https://www.elm.org/donate-now/