Reprinted from the May-June 2015 Post Script of Church & Life.
Professor Joe Sittler‘s statement quoted in Ralph Andersen’s conclusion about the legacy of the AELC (American (Grundtvigian) Evangelical Lutheran Church) is astonishing. “You are the only group in western Christianity which has taken nature with theological and moral seriousness.” Sittler distinguished the AELC church as the church that takes the first article of the Apostolic Creed more seriously than any other: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” Most other Christian churches focus on the second article: “And in Jesus Christ, his only son…etc. ” Perhaps it should not have been such a surprising statement that ours was the only(?) Church which emphasizes life on earth as ”An appropriate place to praise God, thank God and find fellowship with God”… the place for “divine redemption and the realm of reconciliation.” Sittler made this statement in 1976. We did not understand in the 60s or the 70s (let alone in the 1800s during Grundtvig’s time) how important this aspect of our heritage is. We were not aware of climate change, global warming, carbon emissions, fracking, mercury poisoning, water and mining pollution, rising levels of oceans. Further, the political power of the oil lobby did not seem to be threatening our democracy and our future. No wonder caring for the earth didn’t seem that critical. Thankfully, today, other Christian churches have become much more earth conscious.
Professor Joe Sittler‘s statement quoted in Ralph Andersen’s conclusion about the legacy of the AELC (American (Grundtvigian) Evangelical Lutheran Church) is astonishing. “You are the only group in western Christianity which has taken nature with theological and moral seriousness.” Sittler distinguished the AELC church as the church that takes the first article of the Apostolic Creed more seriously than any other: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” Most other Christian churches focus on the second article: “And in Jesus Christ, his only son…etc. ” Perhaps it should not have been such a surprising statement that ours was the only(?) Church which emphasizes life on earth as ”An appropriate place to praise God, thank God and find fellowship with God”… the place for “divine redemption and the realm of reconciliation.” Sittler made this statement in 1976. We did not understand in the 60s or the 70s (let alone in the 1800s during Grundtvig’s time) how important this aspect of our heritage is. We were not aware of climate change, global warming, carbon emissions, fracking, mercury poisoning, water and mining pollution, rising levels of oceans. Further, the political power of the oil lobby did not seem to be threatening our democracy and our future. No wonder caring for the earth didn’t seem that critical. Thankfully, today, other Christian churches have become much more earth conscious.
Nevertheless, I find that here in the north woods next to the Porcupine Mountains most environmentalists are not practicing Christians. They have not experienced the church as an institution concerned about climate change, mining, or preservation of nature. For several years I was involved with Earthkeepers, an interfaith group here in the Upper Peninsula. Earthkeepers did a lot of good—but it was disappointing that even a few years ago care for the earth was seen as very much a side issue, especially by church leaders, in terms of ones spiritual journey.
I like the image of God as a parental figure. “I believe in Father/Mother God—The maker of heaven and Hearth. God made the earth. Creation. I think about creations made by my human mother and father. My dad liked to do woodwork and made tables. We called ours the house of seven tables, although he had only made six. I still have one of his tables, and a skirt my mother sewed. Something in these creations are precious because they reflect their unique creativity. God made the Earth! A fantastic display of God’s creativity genius and goodness—including us human beings!
But the important point—how does one respond to this critical legacy? Sittler advises that “what is needed is a cadre of teachers prepared to bring to theology, anthropology, economy, public life, that which is the value of our heritage…Unless this goes from emotion to thought to program, the past will have been well and good but will not relate to the needs of either present or future.” What can we children of this legacy do? We have been affected (infected?) by the ideology of those who do not take God as Creator seriously but instead tout such issues as anti-abortion even in terms of rape and incest, and “marriage only between men and women” as Christian morality. Let’s be serious! As well as not being theologically defensible, these are not issues which threaten the future of our planet home. They merely make noise, cause harm as and disharmony.
What then are we to do? Three recommendations:
First, include the earth in our prayers and meditations, alone and in groups. Take walks, look around you. Thank God for the sunset, the birds, the trees, the rain, everything you love here!
Secondly, do what you personally can to appreciate and care for the earth, whether that is recycling, or how and where you shop and in what you invest.
Thirdly, make your vote count. Find our how your state and national representatives vote in terms of the environmental concerns. For elected offices go to the League of Conservation Environmental Score Card website: www.lcv.org. My representative, Dan Benishek, has a low score of 5% compared to Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow at 85% and Carl Levin’s 81%. Benishek’s low environmental score is now well known. I intend to help change that.
www.lcv.org
www.josephsittler.org/biography/
ji
I like the image of God as a parental figure. “I believe in Father/Mother God—The maker of heaven and Hearth. God made the earth. Creation. I think about creations made by my human mother and father. My dad liked to do woodwork and made tables. We called ours the house of seven tables, although he had only made six. I still have one of his tables, and a skirt my mother sewed. Something in these creations are precious because they reflect their unique creativity. God made the Earth! A fantastic display of God’s creativity genius and goodness—including us human beings!
But the important point—how does one respond to this critical legacy? Sittler advises that “what is needed is a cadre of teachers prepared to bring to theology, anthropology, economy, public life, that which is the value of our heritage…Unless this goes from emotion to thought to program, the past will have been well and good but will not relate to the needs of either present or future.” What can we children of this legacy do? We have been affected (infected?) by the ideology of those who do not take God as Creator seriously but instead tout such issues as anti-abortion even in terms of rape and incest, and “marriage only between men and women” as Christian morality. Let’s be serious! As well as not being theologically defensible, these are not issues which threaten the future of our planet home. They merely make noise, cause harm as and disharmony.
What then are we to do? Three recommendations:
First, include the earth in our prayers and meditations, alone and in groups. Take walks, look around you. Thank God for the sunset, the birds, the trees, the rain, everything you love here!
Secondly, do what you personally can to appreciate and care for the earth, whether that is recycling, or how and where you shop and in what you invest.
Thirdly, make your vote count. Find our how your state and national representatives vote in terms of the environmental concerns. For elected offices go to the League of Conservation Environmental Score Card website: www.lcv.org. My representative, Dan Benishek, has a low score of 5% compared to Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow at 85% and Carl Levin’s 81%. Benishek’s low environmental score is now well known. I intend to help change that.
www.lcv.org
www.josephsittler.org/biography/
ji
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