|
|
|
Recently I read in the New York Review of books a review by Freeman Dyson of Vaclau Smil’s The Earth’s Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics and Change. The book and the review raised many issues and provided few answers. What did come through with clarity was that climate change is a complex matter. The earth has always been in the midst of change, including climate change. Ice ages, for example, have come and gone. Dyson says that for at least the last 800,000 years, there has been a natural cycle operating. He says the length of each cycle is about 100,000 years, with an ice age of about 90,000 years. This leaves a warm period of about 10,000. At present we are in a warm period that has lasted 12,000 years. It seems as if an ice age is overdue. It could be argued, and it is, that human activity, and especially the burning of fossil fuels, has interrupted this cycle. Dyson says, however, we just do not know the answer. What does seem clear is that greenhouse gases are increasing and industrial plants and automobiles contribute substantially to these gases. Even if one grants that many questions about climate change and the staying capacity of the earth remain unanswered, it seems only responsible and prudent to take steps to reign in humankind’s contribution to the rise of so-called greenhouse gases. This will not be easily accomplished, in part because of what seems to be a prevailing ideology. According to this ideology, the measure of success is determined by the amount of goods that can be gathered. The owner of capital wants the largest possible return on investment. This desire for maximum profit encourages specialization that dramatically increases productivity. The resulting products seek ever wider markets. John Cobb reminds us that there are some benefits to this system. An expanding population needs more goods, though it must be acknowledged that the distribution of these goods is by no means equitable. Nonetheless, six billion people need a lot of goods. One must admit also that modern industrial technology can be remarkably efficient. The seeking of new markets can have the effect of breaking down destructive boundaries. Yet, there are massive problems. Production of some items goes past any rational need. The result is that there is an excessive use of resources. Moreover, the energy used in the production processes spills waste into the environment. The use of fossil fuel that contributes to greenhouse gases continues to expand with no real end in sight. One of the distressing things about our situation is that there appears to be reluctance to actually make changes in the way we live until we know the limits of what the earth can tolerate. It is as though the human family does not wish to make changes until absolutely necessary. Logic says that at some point we shall pass the point of no return with respect to greenhouse gases and other things destructive of our earth. We may not recognize this point until we are well past it. Why do the family of nations gamble with this kind of risk? It would be well to keep in mind that our nation is the one that uses the largest disproportionate share of the earth’s resources. Ronald K. Johnson, pastor For the Common Good - For Justice Our confession as Christian people is that all people are part of the household of God. There are no exceptions. In the light of this affirmation, the ELCA social statement titled “Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All” says it is the responsibility of Christian people “to assess economic activities in terms of how they affect all people, especially people living in poverty.” The “household” is optimally healthy only to the extent that all people have adequate resources and opportunities. It is the responsibility of Christian people to be involved in the political process for the purpose of shaping government policy in ways that give expression to economic justice. The Minnesota State Legislature has come to the moment of decision. Apart from a strong public voice, justice could well again be a victim. This is the third consecutive biennium in which the Legislature has confronted a deficit. In part, the deficit situation is the result of an aggressive effort to reduce taxes. The deficit has been addressed through the use of reserves (now depleted), service reduction and fee increases. It could be argued that fees are really taxes, but the Governor and some members of the Legislature play a game of ‘let’s pretend” on this matter. This game is grounded in the ‘no tax pledge’ that they made in the midst of an election campaign. The additional fees and reduction of services have not been evenly distributed. They have disproportionately impacted lower income people. One area in which this is painfully evident is health care. Minnesota Care is a premium based health care insurance program designed to support working families that do not have access to afford-able health insurance through employers. A minimum wage worker very likely does not receive any medical insurance through an employer. Such a person almost certainly could not afford health insurance. The situation is bad enough for a single working adult. The situation is even worse for someone with family members, especially should there be an ongoing health problem with one of them. The Minnesota House and Senate have passed two very different bills relative to health care. The House bill would eliminate MinnesotaCare for all adults without children. It restricts eligibility in other ways, plus requiring further spend-downs, co-payments and caps to benefits. The Senate bill actually expands eligibility for MinnesotaCare, removes caps that are too low, eliminates some co-payments and allows small employers to participate. The difference in dollars between the two bills is about $700 million. In my judgment, this is the price that must be paid for minimal justice. It should be kept in mind that the reductions proposed by the House and Governor come on top of large reductions in the previous two bienniums (particularly the last biennium). The Senate bill requires a tax increase. While no one enjoys paying taxes, polls have for some time indicated a willingness to pay higher taxes in order to provide essential services. Please consider sending a message to Governor Pawlenty, Speaker Sviggum, and Senate Leader Johnson. Indicate support for health care along the lines of the Senate bill. Also support the idea of fair taxation to affirm this work for the common good. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor Monday is Memorial Day. For many it is simply part of the first long weekend of the summer and a time to catch up on work around the home or get away to the cabin. Often forgotten is that Memorial Day was established for remembering the many women and men who died in the service of their nation. If one added up all the dead from the wars in the service of this country, the number would be staggering. Not all military conflicts have been recognized as wars, but clever words cannot disguise their true character. Not all the military conflicts, the wars, have been justified. In most recent times, the war in Vietnam and in Iraq did not meet, in my opinion, the long established principles of ‘just war.’ None of this, however, diminishes the importance of remembering the women and men who lost their lives. Few soldiers chose to be in war. They did, however, as the leadership of this nation required of them. One of the most tragic and brutal wars in the history of this nation was not against a foreign power. It was a war in which American fought against American and family against family. The Civil War was also inordinately destructive of communities and human life. Perhaps the most famous battleground of the war is Gettysburg. It was there that in the space of just three days, more than 50,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or declared missing. I recently visited the Gettysburg battlefield. It is a large expanse of land that is today lined with monuments. Incidentally, an ELCA seminary (Gettysburg) is on the battlefield. It is said to have served as a lookout during the battle. In the battlefield visitor’s center there is presented an electric light reenactment of the three-day battle. It is both well done and sobering. One is reminded of how intense and intimate was the fighting. Armies lined up just a few hundred yards from each other and then charged. The fighting was often literally hand-to-hand. At the end of three days, the debris of war was vast. Included in this were tens of thousands of bodies, horseflesh and manflesh rotting in the July heat. Some were hastily buried and then reburied at a later date. Attempts were made to separate bodies according to South and North and according to State and company. In the end, bodies often were mixed up. Perhaps this was a final irony, for all the bodies were American bodies. In November of 1863 a cemetery established for the dead at Gettysburg was dedicated. It was a big occasion. The principal speaker was Edward Everett, generally recognized as one of the greatest orators of the day. His presentation was two hours in length. It was Everett’s schedule that determined the date for the dedication. Barely a month prior to the dedication an invitation was extended to President Lincoln. His speech was only 272 words in length. It is now recognized as one of the most well crafted and influential speeches in human history. In many respects, it redefined this nation. Lincoln brought together a lifetime of reflection and learning, learning that demonstrated acquaintance with the great classics, political shrewdness and uncommon vision. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor
For about half a year the church has been following a story. It is the same story it follows every year, but with a three-year rotation of biblical texts. This rotation helps to provide variety in perspective and thus a more complete presentation. The primary theme of the story is ‘God’s presence in Jesus the Christ and in the life of the world.’ The church year begins with preparation for and announcement of the birth of Jesus. It continues with an account of his ministry, beginning with the gathering of disciples. These disciples are instructed and prepared for participation in mission. The response to Jesus and his message is mixed. He is embraced by some and rejected by others. Encounters with the powers of evil culminate in the crucifixion. The faith of the early church is, however, that the power of death does not represent for Jesus a final word. Thus it is that the church proclaims the resurrection. This part of the biblical story is told from Advent through Easter. On the day of Pentecost (last Sunday) attention is directed to the formation of the Christian community of faith and the gift of the spirit. We are now ready to enter the second half of the church year, sometimes referred to as the season of “ordinary times.” The word “ordinary” suggests there are not great peaks and valleys. There are no days comparable to Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, or Pentecost. Yet ordinary days are important because they provide opportunity for a relaxed, thorough, and systematic exploration of the meaning of God’s acts in history. The first stop on the journey through “ordinary times” is a day called The Holy Trinity. It is a day for directing attention to the nature of God. The church has long used Trinitarian language in speaking of God. Trinitarian language is said to be that which distinguishes Christian understandings of God. There is no mention of the word Trinity in scripture. There is no talk of ‘three in one’ or ‘one in three.’ Nonetheless, scripture does reflect experiences that led the church to employ the use of Trinitarian language. It is a way in which Christian people attempt to articulate their experience. Language concerning God is always provisional. Never can it be assumed to represent a final or complete word. On Sunday the homily will explore the nature of God. The witness of people through the ages will be a resource. There is no substitute, however, for bringing to this exploration one’s own experience and imagination. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor
|
|
______________________________________________________________________ Home About Us Calendar Child Care Christian Ed Contact Us GLBT Guides Housing Newsletter Pastor Resources Search Staff Tanzania This Week VCS Worship ©2007 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406 For emergencies or pastoral care please call the church office at 612-729-8358. Please send feedback about this site to the Web servant. |