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September 28, 2014 at Advent Lutheran Church in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. 16th. Sunday after Pentecost. Matthew 21:23-32. We have met the enemy and it is us! Pogo cartoon. Used by Walt Kelly on the first annual Earth Day, April 22, 1970. International Climate Summit at the United Nations in New York.
Question: Who said the words: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
I ask this because that’s the title of my message today. A continuation if you will of last Sunday’s message where I stated that I did not believe in the Fall of Manor Original Sin doctrine that is so common in Christian tradition and gave way to the Atonement Theology that Jesus had to die to take away our sin.
The quote actually originates from Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who upon defeating a British Navy squadron on Lake Erie during the war of 1812 said; “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
You are probably familiar with his other more famous quote; “Don’t give up the ship.”
Cartoonist Walt Kelly was asked to design a poster for the first annual observance of Earth Day held on April 22, 1970. In the poster, under the quote, Pogo is seen holding a litter pick-up stick and a burlap bag.
He appears to be getting ready to start cleaning up the garbage humans have thrown all over Okefenokee Swamp where Pogo lives.
Last Tuesday mmore than 120 heads of state began convening the climate summit at the United Nations to signal commitments on fighting climate change, the new designation for what has been called Global Warming in the past.
For doubters of global warming, which has become a political football in many ways, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change representing 800 leading scientists recently published a report that reaffirms that climate impacts are already occurring and having a dramatic effect on society.
Most of the scientists agree that although there are complex issues involved the predominant reason for climate change is our dependence on fossil fuels.
This past winter was the eighth-warmest on record. The world last year experienced 41 weather-related disasters that caused damages totaling more than 1 billion dollars.
Indeed this debate and virtually all of life is directly connected to scripture both Old and New Testaments. For instance from Ezekiel 18:
“The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?”
In the book of Deuteronomy, a book of rituals and religious rules that must be followed,there is a discussion about how the sins of the parents will be visited upon the children to the tenth generation. It seems so unfair. And it is.
But a more insightful reading of this text and it becomes powerfully true. If you live in Cedarburg then you already know about Kiekafer and Mercury Marine and the pollution of Cedar Creek. It is still not cleaned up and who knows how many generations in total will have been effected by what was done.
Last Sunday I explained that I do not believe that we are conceived and born in sin, rather what we do with the miraculous creation God has given us is what is so often sinful. Or in other words, harmful to our health and well being. Ultimately, for me, that’s what sin is. Not a religious violation of some kind, but rather anything that takes away from God’s intended and pronounced “good” creation.
I have spoken about the Jewish word Shalom which we translate as “peace,” and that is partially true. But there is more. The word and the meaning behind it is much richer than that. We have no equivalent in English but the closest idea would be complete and total harmony in all things. Shalom means complete wholeness in mind, body and soul.
Speaking of peace consider this:
Not far from here in Milwaukee hardly a night goes by without a shooting. In the world beyond our shores more than 80 of the world’s nations are at war right now. According to the Washington Blog the U.S. is currently fighting 74 different wars that we publically admit. Refugees are fleeing the country of their birth and roots by the millions with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Unless we have been in that kind of situation we cannot begin to imagine the horror of it
My personal family history was written by war and refugee status. Although not as horrendous as much of what I read and see on the news, nevertheless I understand. And I understand that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Do you ever think about that?
Recently the Scots voted to remain as part of Great Britain. Do you realize that their voting turnout was just about 90% of eligible voters? In our national elections here in the U.S. we are lucky if we pull a 50% number. The actual number in 2012 was 53.6%. And many considered that high.
Shame on us if we ever complain about what we don't like about the government when elections go in a direction that we don't like. America still holds the promise of "Government by the people." Here in Ozaukee County our 65% numbers are more impressive but still lagging way behind Scotland. Remember this, all those super rich guys that some of us grouse
We often talk about, because we believe it too, that we should pray for one another and ourselves because prayer has the power to change things. And it does. But prayer is only the beginning. Prayer must also translate into action.
This is so poignantly illustrated by a poem called Listen Christianwritten by Bob Rowland that haunts me with its power since I read it many years ago:
I was hungry,and you formed a humanities club
and discussed my hunger.
Thank you.
I was imprisoned
and you crept off quietly
to your chapel in the cellar
and prayed for my release.
I was naked
and in your mind
you debated the morality of
my appearance.
I was sick
and you knelt
and thanked God
for your health.
I was homeless
and you preached to me
about the spiritual shelter
of the love of God.
I was lonely
and you left me alone
to pray for me.
Christian,
you seem so holy;
so close to God.
But I am still very hungry,
and lonely,
and cold...
If all we ever do is pray with our mind and with our words then Bob Rowland’s words are sadly and pitifully true. Whether it is the environment that we are destroying or the cruelty with which we treat our fellow creatures that inhabit this planet or our callous disregard for our fellow human beings – it is all the same. It is sin.
That is the very heart of today’s Gospel lesson and the illustration that Jesus uses about the two sons.
The first son represents people who are either not interested in religion or not religious at all so the father’s request to work in the vineyard, which represents “doing God’s will,” is met with “I will not.”
Thanks but no thanks I’m not interested in that.
There is no question that the second son represents the religious people of the day, mainly those who have worship down to a science. Their liturgies are flawless and their prayers sound like sacred poetry.
He says, “I go sir.” He is the consummate church member. Never misses Sunday worship. Can quote Bible verses faster than a speeding bullet. He will be happy to tell you that he has all the answers to questions of faith. Yet when it comes to “doing God’s will,” he falls miserably short. He is too busy talking about it.
These are the kind of people who know everything that is in the Bible, and nothing about what it means. That’s just another way of saying what is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching throughout the Gospels.
912We can’t just blame the big bad corporations for the environmental problems we face. Most of the time, they are giving us what we demand as consumers. That’s how capitalism works. We get the products we demand, at a cost we are willing to pay, and abide by laws created by politicians we elect.
We all need to do our own small part realizing that there really is no small part for we have met the enemy and he is us! AMEN.
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