My view


In Jesus’ name Martin Luther has a better reason for praying in the name of Jesus (November, page 18), which is more in keeping with Jesus being our inter- cessor, mediator and advocate. Take a listen: “It is praying aright in Christ’s name, when we trust in him that we be received and heard for his sake, and not for our own sake .... We will obtain nothing but wrath and dis- grace [if we] wish to be people whom God should regard without a media- tor” (Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicholas Lenker, 3:171). The Rev. Ronald F. Marshall Seattle


Take care of creation In response to the letter “It’s God’s creation” (October, page 48), climate concerns are not political but fac- tual statements by scientists showing evidence that our earth is changing and not for the best. There are many things we can do, and we can edu- cate everyone on how to improve our world and live better. God gave us free will, furnishing us with knowl- edge to make our earth more accept- able. God created the earth for us and we need to take better care of it in God’s honor. Carol Hundeby Lilburn, Ga.


Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: 773-380-2409; email lutheran@thelutheran.org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state otherwise. The Lutheran publishes letters representative of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clar- ity. Letters must be signed, but a request for anonymity will be honored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.


& all it can accomplish We can be part of ministry anywhere


I


love money. I know that the love of money is the base for all evil according to the Bible, but I love money anyway. The evil of money, however, is not rooted in money itself,


but in our attitude about it. The reason I love money is even more important to me.


I am not in a position to be a major sponsor of anything, no matter how dear it might be to me. But I can still be a part of ministry anywhere I choose, whether locally or nationally or anywhere in the world. My love of money allows that. My money might become sacks of rice somewhere in


the world, or part of the expense of drilling a well in Africa (www.elca.org/hunger), or earthquake recovery in Haiti. I can take satisfaction in that. I can be a part of our church’s relief work following a


major disaster, like hurricanes Katrina or Sandy or the tornadoes in Oklahoma. I will be there when the trauma of these events sets in. That’s when real help is needed as those coping with these disasters realize the extent of their loss.


I would not be much more than in the way if I went to


a disaster site, but I can help to empower someone who is more skilled and more capable than I to make it all happen. The trauma associated with the losses these folks have


experienced goes on long after their immediate needs have been met. I can be there after the relief folks have gone home through the long-term assistance provided by the ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response (www.elca.org/ disaster). Far too many members of our congregations are igno-


rant about these wonderful programs and that all of the money I give will go to the work I intend to help—every penny of it. The youth in the church I attend go on mission trips.


I can empower that trip, at least in a small way, and make it my own by keeping up with what they are doing. I’m there because I lived out my love affair with my money and empowered in a small way the youth in their ministry. Ah, money. It lets me be a part of so many wonderful


things that are happening in our world. And to think I could so easily turn it into something evil. I like my way of loving it so much better. 


“My view” submissions should be 440 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submissions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view,” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; email: lutheran@ thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.


January 2014 49


Author bio: Swanson of Onamia, Minn., is a retired ELCA pastor who spent some 25 years in interim ministry.


For the love of money


By James Swanson


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