Rev. Dr. James Goodlet… Billboard Theology (Easter Sunday)

Easter Sunday Service - FPC LaGrange - April 5th, 2026

Transcript

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It's always, I'm going to use the word interesting. It's always interesting when spring break and holy week overlap. And as a parent, I don't want to subject my children to any additional punishment for the fact that I am a pastor, being a preacher's kid, a PK, or for that matter, a church worker's kid, right, Andrew? Or a Chew Wok. I don't know. Isn't the easiest hand to be dealt. Especially when spring break and Easter or Holy Week overlap because you can't go all out. You can't plan a big trip during those years. I saw some of y'all social media posts. You were all over the place, beach, mountains, Europe, wherever it is you went. That's not really possible. Now I will say though that doesn't mean if you work in the church that you just have to mope around the house all week and pressurize pollen, pressure wash pollen or play pickup sticks, whatever it is you do. I mean, if you can, if the schedule allows for it, then you can get away for a couple days. And that's what we did. We went for three days, Sunday afternoon to Wednesday morning, we went to the beach because a little beach time is better than none at all. But I will say this about these beach trips. The road trip portion of the beach trip makes you question whether or not it is all worth it. Y'all know what I'm talking about. There are side effects to roughly five hours-ish spent in a vehicle in close quarters with those whom you hold nearest and dearest. Heightened blood pressure being one of them. And then sometimes you find yourself saying things you know you don't mean, but they make perfect sense at the time. Like, if you don't stop what you're doing, I'm going to throw you out of a moving vehicle and you will have to walk to the beach. There's also the inevitable earworm because there's a song, usually a song, that gets played on repeat over and over and over again. For us, when our kids were younger, let's just say that I cannot hear the theme song to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse without chills going up and down my spine and breaking out in a cold sweat. But for the most part, I will say this road trip was actually quite quiet. Kids have screens, and it afforded me a little bit of time to think. And if I'm being honest with you, to sermonize. And my mind would wander to namely billboards. There are things you notice about billboards, like the fact that Bucky's gives you approximately four states heads up to consider stopping at one of their Texas-sized establishments. And Cracker Barrel. Cracker Barrel employs, I will say, an interesting advertising strategy on one of their billboards. The early service, I will say, had seen these. I'm guessing you have too. There's one particular billboard where there's a picture of eggs and bacon and some other breakfast accoutrement. And then there are the words right next to it. And the words say not pictured. Yes. World's best pancakes. I don't want to critique the marketing reps of Cracker Barrel. They've had a rough year. But it would seem to me that if you really stand by your pancakes, there should be a picture of the pancakes on the billboard. Because nothing wants me, makes me want pancakes more than a picture of actual pancakes. And I also couldn't help notice this. And I say this about a state where I lived for 11 years. I love the state of Alabama. But I noticed that it has quite the passion for its legal community. When you drive through Alabama, especially when you get to Montgomery or Birmingham, one after the other after the other after the other, pictures of prosecutors, of lawyers. And sometimes they're very smiley, which is kind of awkward. And then other times they have their arms folded like this, like they're already mad at you or the person who offended you. And then there's the one that you see, especially in Birmingham, though I I have noticed it has made its way into our state. It simply just says, call me Alabama. Alexander Shinara. Y'all know, probably have seen it before. The ones that really get me, though, are the billboards that push neither pancakes nor prosecutors, but rather philosophy and theology. Quite overtly. And I would say quite aggressively. There are those, maybe you've seen these before, the billboards that are just black with white lettering. And they have these little pithy little quotes that are apparently ascribed to God. And they're usually kind of clever, but they're really kind of cheesy dad joke-esque. One of them is like, well, you did ask for a sign, God, or let's meet at my house on Sunday before the game. God. Or one nation under me. God. There's also one where there's a finger just pointing at you like this. And it looks angry. And it says in big bold lettering right next to it, Who needs Jesus? You do. And there are also those that say, let's just, they don't draw upon the lost art of subtlety. Like, life is short, eternity isn't. Or if you die tonight, heaven or hell. And my personal favorite, the one with the EKG that's moving slowly towards this flat line with large red lettering adjacent and the words, after you die, you will meet God. Fantastic. And it leaves me with questions, these billboards. Like, does anyone ever actually pull over on the side of the road because they're so overcome and moved by the poignancy and poetry of these words and actually dial 1, 8, 5, 5, 4 truth? And exactly what kind of money are people sinking into these billboards? Because though life may be short, these billboards endure for eternity. And perhaps more pressingly, precisely what is the expression of God that is being depicted here on the expressway? Because it seems to me that billboard theology is often replete with images of a vengeful, wrathful, and hateful God. And I, for one, am forced to wonder if these depictions are in all actuality more reflective of those creating said billboards than the attempt, than the God they are attempting to describe. I mean, think about it for just a second. If the God of the billboard was in the Easter story, then things would have looked very differently. And clearly, God had every reason for divine anger and vengeance and wrath. Jesus had been just betrayed by his closest friends, denied by his closest friends into the hands of his enemies. And not to mention, he had been tortured for no good reason other than the fact that the people who did the torturing didn't know what to do with them. He had every reason to hold a vendetta. He had every reason to go full Rambo upon the people and all the world after exiting the tomb. He had every reason to unleash his wrath while screaming with bloodlust. Who needs Jesus? You do, and you do, and you do. In fact, I actually have seen a billboard suggesting a very similar kind of scene with a Jesus who had clearly been hitting up Planet Fitness, his biceps the size of a tractor trailer, and the wording inscribed right next to him, and I quote, you may have drawn first blood, Rambo reference, but don't worry, I'll be back. I'm not making that up. And it makes me think, who's coming up with these billboards? And what Bible are they reading? Jesus had every reason to be mad, but the Easter story doesn't show that. In fact, it is very different in all four, I mean, it is quite different than the billboard theology in all four accounts. He doesn't meet people with anger. He doesn't meet people with vitriol. He doesn't meet people with this thirst for revenge. He doesn't threaten them with brimstone or shame them for their denials and betrayals. What he does instead is he greets them with questions. Why are you weeping? And an assurance. And even a name. Mary. This isn't billboard theology. It's love. And so I want to be very clear. I want to be very clear on this Easter Sunday morning. The glory of Easter isn't only about what happened. And yes, that is central. But it's also about what didn't happen. And what didn't happen was this: we didn't get what we deserved. Because instead of a mercenary, we received mercy. And instead of cruelty, we received compassion. And instead of a grudge, we receive grace. And instead of death, we receive life. And I say this to you this Sunday morning because I know that there are some of you who are sitting in the pews this day. Or those of you who are at home listening or watching. Depicting a God who seemingly only longs for blood and vengeance. But I'm going to tell you that that is not the God of this story. And there are those of you who have been told that there is not a place for you here. That there is not a place for you in the church. Or if it's not for you, that there's not a place for someone that you hold near and dear. And I'm here to tell you that is billboard theology. But that is not Christ-like theology, and that is not the Christ of the Gospels. And there are those of you who have been told that the good news of Easter is only reserved for some. But it's not reserved for everyone. It may not even be reserved for you. And there are those of you who have been told that there may even be a special place reserved for you. And I am here to tell you that that is not the good news of this story. Because you see, Easter is not a billboard. But it is a sign that nothing in life or in death, nothing we've done, nothing we've left undone, nothing at all, y'all, can ever separate us from the love of God. Not a crucifixion, not a death, not a stone, and nothing that might be portrayed as you're driving down the road. Life will go on for us all. Because of this morning. And we are all loved far more than we could possibly imagine. So thus saith the billboard. Life is short, eternity isn't. And after you die, you will meet God. You know what I'd say to that? Good. I'm looking forward to it. As should we all. Because the tomb is empty. And we need not be afraid.