My view


the church. The behaviors that are toler- ated in the ELCA these days (shunning of God’s triune name, intimidation of congregations by bishops, approving of sinful sexual behaviors, and denying our publishing house employees of their pensions), are not only outrageous but


signs of a truly unhealthy church body. The Rev. Rodney A. Juell Joliet, Ill.


Bully for you As a pastor, I can truly say “been there, done that”—bullied by parishioners, that is. However, I find comfort in the knowl- edge that supposedly good religious peo- ple often attempted to bully Jesus. His model: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Bullies almost never recognize


the consequences of their actions. The Rev. Harold E. Burnette Edinburg, Va.


Article rings true As a church council member in a small rural ELCA church, I identified with the “parking lot meeting” syndrome, as well as the patriarchal structure in churches discussed in the bullying article. While you may get to it in February (page 30), what about bullying by a pastor? We do appreciate The Lutheran’s reporting on the trials within the church as some congregations vote to leave the ELCA. At least we are seeing honest coverage.


Thank you. Richard Ekholm Windom, Kan.


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


“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; e-mail: lutheran@ thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.


Keeley is pastor of New Hope Lutheran Church, Dayton, Ohio.


By Andre E. Keeley Sr.


Human needs are first It is for the ‘least of these’ that we act


he times in which we live can only be described as trou- bled. I don’t know if these are the times that Jesus and Scripture speaks of in Matthew 24:3-14, but one thing is certain, the prophets Amos and Micah did prophesy about similar times and conditions. The issues arising from the current concentration of wealth and its effect on society beg the question of theological context in a 21st-century world. The one piece of Scripture Christians must remember


T


is Matthew 25:31-40. The simple works we do in advanc- ing the Christian mission in the world is God’s work. The politics of our times try to convince us that social Christian ministry is not fundamental, simply not what Christians are called to do.


The basic human needs of every society are food, shel- ter and clothing. But there are those who would deny these basic needs for economic and political gain while oth- ers struggle simply to maintain themselves with dignity. Is that God’s desire and intention for creation? Scripture says “you cannot serve God and mammon”—i.e., riches, money, material possessions. The dignity of human exis- tence is far greater than any amount of riches. The existing economic/social paradigm that marks present day society is that of rich vs. poor and haves vs. have-nots. Life at either extreme presents many moral challenges to society and is a good summary of Amos’ and Micah’s prophesy to the people. It is a message that we do well to heed. Theology and politics will always have diverging points. When those differences elevate mammon over humanity, the faithful must speak out. Leadership, both theological and political, is crucial to advancing the collective well-being and social cohesiveness of a healthy and productive society. Distinct and marked political dif- ferences do exist to achieving a productive future for our nation. It is our responsibility, as Christians, to make the differences clear and to help discern and facilitate God’s will as our nation struggles in the divide. It is in the divide that the Christian faithful are called to serve. Christian principles and values must stand front and center as fear invades, security is threatened and self- ish materialistic values attempt to prevail. Our Christian core belief is that God is truly in control of creation. As we do God’s work we are simply asked to remember Jesus’ words “as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). The church does God’s work and in it Jesus, Scripture and the prophets shout that demand. M


February 2011 49


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