"Vashti: the Woman Who Said No" (August 17, 2025 Sermon)

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Text: Esther 1

Today, we conclude our Women of the Old Testament sermon series. I hope you’ve learned something new about the amazing women and girls in the Old Testament. For our final stop, I’ve chosen one of my favorite stories in the Bible—though it’s certainly not the most typical. This story, which is often overlooked in vacation Bible school or Sunday school, carries great importance. Each year, our Jewish friends read this book during a celebration called Purim, which usually falls in March or April. Today, we’ll explore the lessons from Queen Vashti, whom my preaching professor, Anna Carter Florence, aptly called "the woman who said no."

Let’s start with a story that highlights the absurdity and depth of our main narrative. Imagine the year 1942: America was caught up in the Second World War. While many focused on the external threats from the Nazis, another dangerous threat was lurking at home—the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). This group, which had resurged in the 1920s, violently oppressed people of color, homosexuals, Catholics, and anyone who didn’t fit their narrow idea of what it meant to be a "true American."

Enter Stetson Kennedy, a journalist, author, and civil rights advocate. In a bold move, he decided to infiltrate the KKK. From 1942 to 1946, he posed as a Klansman, documenting their rituals and gathering evidence to expose their heinous activities. After years of tireless work, he approached the authorities with his findings. However, he was met with resistance. Some police officers were Klan members themselves, while others feared the repercussions of crossing such a powerful group. With nowhere to turn, Kennedy faced a daunting challenge.

Around the same time, a cultural phenomenon was taking over the nation: Superman. In the mid-1940s, children would huddle around radios to listen to Superman’s adventures. However, the creators needed a new villain after the Nazis had been defeated. Stetson Kennedy took this chance and portrayed the KKK as the perfect villain. For several years, Superman battled the Klan on the radio, exposing their secrets and weakening their influence. As a result, KKK membership started to decline, and their official charter was revoked in Georgia, thanks to Kennedy’s efforts.

Why share this story? Because it shows how absurdity and humor can undermine oppressive systems. The first chapter of Esther acts as a masterclass in absurdity, demonstrating how to mock those who hold power but lack real authority.

Let’s focus on King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes, who ruled a vast Persian empire. You might think someone with such responsibilities would prioritize governance, but Ahasuerus opted to host an extravagant six-month celebration instead. Imagine this: 180 days of nonstop drinking and debauchery, where he flaunted his wealth and power.

After this wild celebration, he decided it was time to show off his wife, Queen Vashti, not as a partner, but as an object for his drunken friends to stare at. He commanded her to appear before them wearing only her royal crown, a request that some see as dehumanizing.

To the surprise of Ahasuerus and his entourage, Queen Vashti stood her ground. She refused to be objectified, declaring, “No, I will not be a piece of meat for you and your friends.” Instead of recognizing the inappropriateness of his request, Ahasuerus reacted with anger and humiliation, fearing that Vashti’s defiance would inspire other women to assert their own autonomy. In a fit of rage, he banished her, forever silencing her voice in the narrative.

Though Vashti disappears from the story after this, her spirit lingers, setting the stage for Esther’s eventual rise. Ahasuerus, perhaps nursing a hangover, later reflects on his actions, and the ghost of Queen Vashti subtly empowers Esther as she confronts the king and saves her people from oppression.

This story resonates with me because it shows the power of saying “no.” It’s a reminder that our voices matter, and sometimes the greatest impact comes from standing up against injustice. I want my daughters, Hazel Grace and Winnie, to know this story. I want them to understand that when they face uncomfortable situations, they have the right to say no. They should never feel pressured to compromise their dignity or self-worth.

As we finish this sermon series, let's remember Queen Vashti, the woman who said no. May we all find the courage to stand up for what we believe in, knowing that our voices can make waves of change in the world.

In the name of God, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, may all of us, God’s beloved children, say amen.

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Stephen Fearing

Stephen was born in 1988 in Cookeville, TN, where his parents met whilst attending Tennessee Tech. Shortly after, they moved to Dalton, Georgia where they put down roots and joined First Presbyterian Church, the faith family that taught Stephen that he was first and foremost a beloved child of God. It was this community that taught Stephen that it was OK to have questions and doubts and that nothing he could do could every possibly separate him from the love of God. In 1995, his sister, Sarah Kate, joined the family and Stephen began his journey as a life-long musician. Since then, he has found a love of music and has found this gift particularly fitting for his call to ministry. Among the instruments that he enjoys are piano, trumpet, guitar, and handbells. Stephen has always had a love of singing and congregation song. An avid member of the marching band, Stephen was the drum major of his high school's marching band. In 2006, Stephen began his tenure at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he majored in Religion and minored in History. While attending PC, Stephen continued to explore his love of music by participating in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Trio, as well as playing in the PC Handbell ensemble and playing mandolin and banjo PC's very own bluegrass/rock group, Hosegrass, of which Stephen was a founding member (Hosegrass even released their own CD!). In 2010, Stephen moved from Clinton to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary to pursue God's call on his life to be a pastor in the PC(USA). During this time, Stephen worked at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. For three years, Stephen served as the Choir Director of Columbia Theological Seminary's choir and also served as the Interim Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 2014, Stephen graduated from Columbia with a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with an emphasis in liturgy, music, and worship. In July of 2014, Stephen was installed an ordained as Teaching Elder at Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in Shelter Island, NY. Later that year, Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and they share their home on Shelter Island with their Golden Doodle, Elsie, and their calico cat, Audrey. In addition to his work with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, Stephen currently serves as a commission from Long Island Presbytery to the Synod of the Northeast and, beginning in January of 2016, will moderate the Synod's missions team.